An internationally renowned audiovisual art and experimental music festival will return to Glasgow in later this year.

Sonica will once again transform Glasgow into a platform for contemporary artists working at the intersection of sound, image and architecture. This year’s edition will present over 150 artists from 24 countries across 11 venues throughout the city.

The festival, which has been running since 2012, will take place between 24 September and 4 October.

Specially commissioned works come from acclaimed Scottish artist and filmmaker Rachel Maclean who brings ‘They’ve Got Your Eyes’ to Sonica, a new short film that approaches the escalating AI arms race through Maclean’s unmistakable lens of dark satire and visual excess.

And also Folding Songs, an atmospheric collaboration between multi-award-winning musician and Ivor Novello-winning composer Martin Green, Serbian vocal luminary Svetlana Spajić, and guitarist Graeme Stephen, opens at Perth Theatre and Concert Hall on Friday 24 April, before travelling to Sonica Glasgow.

The festival will also mark 10 years since the death of music icon David Bowie. At its centre is Philip Glass’s ‘Symphony No. 4 “Heroes”’ conducted by Patrick Hahn, an expansive orchestral reimagining of Bowie and Brian Eno’s iconic Berlin-era album. The performance by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will be accompanied by live visuals from Japanese composer and audiovisual artist Tatsuru Arai, whose work explores the translation of sonic structures into moving visual form.

Rachel Maclean's They’ve Got Your Eyes’ approaches the escalating AI arms race through Maclean’s unmistakable lens of dark satire and visual excess. | FACT x Images

placeholder image — Rachel Maclean's They’ve Got Your Eyes’ approaches the escalating AI arms race through Maclean’s unmistakable lens of dark satire and visual excess. | FACT x Images

Cathie Boyd, Artistic Director of Sonica Glasgow, said: “We’re incredibly excited to unveil our first two major Sonica Commissions, made possible through the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund. These ambitious new works celebrate the very best of Scotland’s creative talent, and we hope they will travel the world and captivate international audiences for many years to come.

“We first worked with Rachel Maclean in 2011 through our Cryptic Nights programme. Rachel’s work is brilliantly sharp, funny and visually extraordinary. We’re delighted to commission this new work and grateful to our co-commissioners FACT Liverpool, who will present her work from 20 March to 16 August.

“As a long-time admirer of Lau, it’s also a real honour to commission Martin Green, a truly innovative musical mind. Martin has brought together an outstanding creative team, and we’re excited to see this new work come to life with our co-producers, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall.”

The full programme, comprising many more international artists, premieres and commissions, will be revealed in May.