Music
| 27 August 2011
Mud, mud, glorious mud,Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!
So follow me, follow-
If you are already singing heartily along, then this hour of Flanders and Swann songs will be right up your street. Cobbled together by multi-award-winning comedian Tim FitzHigham and BBC Radio 4 ‘Showstopper!’ star Duncan Walsh Atkins this hour of legendary songs is good, old-fashioned fun for everyone.
| 25 August 2011
Crowded into the HMV Picture House, excitement hung heavy in the air. The night was kicked off by the energetic Woodenbox with a Fistfull of Fivers, whose upbeat folk accentuated by an incredible horn section managed the often difficult task of grabbing and keeping the attention of an audience waiting for the main act: Gomez.
| 25 August 2011
I had the pleasure of seeing a multi-culturally-inspired a cappella group called Voices last night in an underrated show at New Town Theatre.
| 25 August 2011
Not all musical conglomerations can live up to the tagline of ‘supergroup’. However, this is not at all the case with the Burns Unit, and tonight’s Queen’s Hall gig proves this Scottish/Canadian group is a super one for certain. | 23 August 2011
Seeing Soweto Entsha perform is a truly uplifting experience for two reasons: firstly they are living proof that talent and dedication can get you anywhere, and secondly they are quite simply superb at what they do.
| 21 August 2011
I’ve been a fan of Amanda Palmer since I was about 13, following her through the days of the Dresden Dolls, Amanda F****** Palmer and now Evelyn Evelyn. I’ve been to just about every gig she’s done in Edinburgh; I saw one years ago in Cabaret Volitare when Jason Webley was her support act. I’ve spent Edinburgh Festivals since spreading the gospel of The Drinking Song, when he got the audience to raise a glass and spin 'round and 'round. | 19 August 2011
Just as her introduction tonight puts it, this is not a serious show, but it is a quiet one. Kristin Hersh, of 80s alt-rock group Throwing Muses, emerges onstage dressed simply in a white T-shirt and looking years younger than forty-five. The murmurous crowd halts to a complete hush as lights disappear and the mixed-bag of an audience prepares to listen up.
| 19 August 2011
Nestled beneath the Fringe-filled streets, Cabaret Voltaire served up a fine, indie-rockin' bridge between Edinburgh and Seattle in the form of Blank Canvas and The Cave Singers.
| 16 August 2011
When seeing a band for the first time, I always try to work out if it will appeal to me by looking around at the rest of the crowd. In this case, it was virtually impossible as their fan base is entirely mixed – an across-the-board range in age and demographic. It is exciting to see a band that can literally appeal to everyone.
| 12 August 2011
The Twoks are pretty unusual, pretty and unusual. Xani Kolac plays the electric violin like a siren. I mean, she’s a siren, like bohemian Karen O meets Joanna Newsome. She writhes around the stage in a one-piece bodysuit, howling out enchantment. She’s a maverick, playing her instrument with a looping pedal she controls with her toes, swelling the melodies into rhapsodic choruses. Mark Leahy’s drumming is dotingly merged into the rapture. I joked, “Jeez, he’s good to be able to work with that” because Xani can go off on an impromptu detour, but he really is.
| 06 August 2011
With eerie blue lighting, minimalist props and a dark-suited orchestra poised for the performance ahead, there was a real sense of atmosphere and anticipation as the audience took their seats for this double helping of chamber opera. Expectations were raised further with the experimental electro-acoustic score and lyrics being dubbed ‘challenging’ and ‘unconventional’. Unfortunately with such promise, came much disappointment.
| 05 August 2011
It’s hard to know what to expect from Scandinavian a cappella group Fork. I’m certainly expecting a decent performance given the busy venue, not to mention the good things I’ve heard. My initial confusion comes from the music blaring out as the group bursts onstage – if you were expecting unaccompanied harmonies think again: there's a backing track playing throughout. Secondly, I wonder how seriously this group really takes itself. ‘Sit back’, whispers the blonde male vocalist, grinning. ‘ We are professionals!’
| 05 August 2011
Centre stage within the vintage walls of the Bosco Theatre stands a songstress ready and more than willing to bring you back to the bygone days of glamour, with her nightingale vocals and penchant for everything delightfully yesteryear. Indeed, Miss Lili La Scala not only promises to entertain this festival season, but promises to slap a smile on our forlorn faces, too.
| 03 August 2011
The tragic death of his E.S.T. bandmate made Swedish jazz musician Magnus Öström all the more determined to keep his vision alive. Magnus Öström likes visiting Edinburgh. It was just after they played their first Edinburgh gig, at Henry’s Jazz Cellar in May 2001, that E.S.T., the group he played drums in at the time, became jazz’s hottest property in the Noughties.
| 03 August 2011
An eight-piece brass ensemble straight from Louisiana bring their own savory brand of New Orleans jazz to the Spiegeltent tonight with the mission to ‘blow the roof off this tent.’ What seems to be the whitest audience they have probably ever performed to happily consents to stand up, put its hands up and ‘get ready to party.’
| 03 August 2011
Anticipation is high at an expectant Queens Hall for the welcome and overdue return of Edinburgh's very own Niki King to her native city. With a critically acclaimed new album and a stonkingly hot band, The Elements, behind her, the buzz surrounding the Scottish songbird with the extraordinary soul voice sees the venerable venue packed and on tenterhooks.
| 27 August 2010
The Ukelele Project’s clear love of making music is deeply refreshing, although, of course, the ukulele would perhaps be the least appropriate instrument to play reluctantly.
| 27 August 2010
The Fringe can sometimes seem to be a bit of a desert where music is concerned. Between the tawdry titillations of cabaret singers and the earnest folk of, well, folk, there stretches a wasteland only enlivened by The Edge Festival’s big name, one- or two-night acts. That’s where The Magnets come in, a welcome burst of colour and fun in the big purple cow.
| 25 August 2010
Imagine a group of Oxford choristers locked away with only MTV and a very talented musical arranger for company. Tenuous image, I know, but the result is entertainment genius. | 24 August 2010
South Africa’s world famous gospel choir descend upon Scotland to perform a combination of traditional African, gospel and reggae songs with all the gusto and magnificence that have made them so famous. Formed from singers from the churches of South Africa’s largest township, their joyful music has led them to some of the world’s greatest stages, and Edinburgh was lucky enough to be one of them this year.More Articles...
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