THE launch party a few months ago for the Riverside Festival offered the first hint at what underground dance music fans can expect at this year's shindig.

The free night at SWG3 showcased sets from Slam, Hektor Bizerk, Fly Club and a host of names from the city's club scene in a taster session guaranteed to whet the appetite.

Put on for locals only, the night offered the chance to have a listen and get a feel for what the event is all about. And there is much to say about 2015.

The biggest festival of its kind in Scotland, now in its third year, it is staged in the grounds of Glasgow's Riverside Museum and has a line-up that attracts music fans from all over the country. Local DJs and promoters, who played at the launch party, will get their moment in the spotlight alongside top international names.

"This is a good showcase for the local guys, they've all earned it," says Dave Clarke of Pressure and Slam who organises the event with Mark Mackechnie of Electric Frog. "They've got their own followings and put on their own parties but with a big event like this, with a lot of international talent, they are very happy to be a part of it and we're delighted to give them a chance.

"They can certainly hold their own, names from Glasgow and Scotland are held extremely high in the DJ world."

Alongside Melting Pot, Thunder Disco Club, Sunday Circus and Platform 18, party-goers will also hear from headliners Siriusmodeselektor, Joy Orbison, Ben UFO and Robert Hood, among others.

"Siriusmodeselektor, a combination of German electronic bands Siriusmo and Modeselektor that have had an affiliation with Radiohead in a few different formats, are combining for one summer to do a series of headline shows and are playing at ours," says Mackechnie. "And there's a big thing with DJs at the moment called back to back - one puts on a record after the other, instead of a two-hour set from one person.

"We've got some pretty big names involved in that, Joy Orbison is playing with Ben UFO in a bit of DJ ping pong."

Detroit legend Robert Hood will be appearing under the pseudonym Floorplan with his version of disco-influenced techno, and Sven Vath's Cocoon outfit, one of the biggest party organisers in Ibiza, is hosting two stages on Saturday, featuring Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Craig, Magda and Nina Kraviz.

On a bigger site this year, the festival now has three stages. A beefed up sound system means big-name DJs and live acts will be playing on the very best equipment when the event kicks off each day at 4pm. Away from the stages there will be craft beer stands along with a deli and pop-up eateries that sated the appetites of visitors to last year's Merchant City Festival.

"We have a great light show and LED screens that are the backdrop to the two main stages," says Clarke.

"They are quite visible in the daylight. We get a bit of darkness for the last hour and a half when the sun goes down. The smaller stage on the west side of the museum, we have, kind of tongue in cheek, called the sunset stage, so we are banking on good weather."

That stage will feature Horse Meat Disco, who recently played at a private party for Madonna, and pioneer of Chicago house Ron Trent.

It is all a credit to the music programming which caters for a very specific audience and doesn't pander to more populist appeal. Apart from the cutting-edge music, what makes the festival unique is the venue, alongside the iconic Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum, with the Clyde as a backdrop.

The new date for 2015, on May 29 and 30, a change from previous years when the festival was hosted at the start of the month, means Scotland's student population can party on, safe in the knowledge that their exams are over. That also provides plenty of time to make use of the new hospitality and VIP area at the Tall Ship, for those whose name is on the list, of course.

"It's also convenient for people as it is so close to the city centre," adds Mackechnie. "And though it's not exactly weather proof we don't have that festival thing where you're stuck in mud if it rains as we have two large marquees."

What started as a street party by Electric Frog at SWG3 has turned into an event on a much bigger scale that can now accommodate up to 5000 people per day. The after party carries on at SWG3 with a warehouse party to round off the night.

"It's ambitious but it is established now and has grown every year," says Clarke. "We haven't pulled any punches with the line up we have curated. We're pretty sure most clubs in the city will benefit as people are coming from all over and some of them might be sampling Glasgow nightlife for the first time. Hopefully it will be a big buzz all weekend."

If the launch party was anything to go by, satisfaction is guaranteed.

Riverside Festival, Riverside Museum, Glasgow, May 29 and 30. Visit www.riversidefestivalglasgow.com