Live Music in Edinburgh

Live Music in Edinburgh

Home to a multitude of live music venues, annual festivals and the birthplace of talented homegrown bands - Edinburgh is a hub for music fans that satisfies all musical tastes. Whether you want to catch an intimate gig or soak up the sounds at a concert, the Scottish capital is a destination that all music buffs should experience.

You can go wild and boogie the night away or cosy-up in a small bar and listen to a local band for a few hours. From indie and folk to rock and reggae; head to Edinburgh to dance your way through a memorable trip to the city.

Sit back and relax on a CrossCountry train to Edinburgh, while listening to our Spotify playlist featuring top tracks from some of the city’s best bands and other Edinburgh-related tunes.

Edinburgh Concerts in 2018

Catch a train to Edinburgh and watch a gig from any of the many local bands that are making their mark on the city’s music scene. You can watch an impressive live show rock a huge arena or sweat it out in a bustling underground haunt with a bunch of strangers.

Here are some of the best upcoming gigs in Edinburgh in 2018:

Who: The Rolling Stones                               Who: Liberty X, B*Witched, Boyzone, East 17

Where: Murrayfield Stadium                         Where: Royal Highland Centre

When: 9^th June                                           When: 7^th July

 

Who: Rag’n’Bone Man                                  Who: Barenaked Ladies                  

Where: Princes Street Gardens                     Where: Queen’s Hall  

When: 14^th August                                      When: 20^th April

 

Paloma Faith is also due to entertain crowds in the city in August, along with Kasabian, Bastille, Garbage, Katie Melua, None Below Zero and rockney legends: Chas ‘n’ Dave.

Edinburgh Music Venues

When it comes to where to go to enjoy a live concert, you can choose between friendly local pubs, hardcore underground sweatboxes and sprawling arenas that hold thousands of fans.

Popular Venues

You can enjoy year-round performances at Queen’s Hall; an old converted church with a quirky personality that welcomes an eclectic rota of musical acts through its doors. The dramatic lofty ceilings and original pews can host up to 900 screaming fans who flock here to watch shows put on by huge names in the business, including Mumford & Sons. The Voodoo Rooms is another fascinating venue that showcases acts spanning all music genres, from electronica and indie to fold and blues.

The grandiose Usher Hall and funky Edinburgh Corn Exchange have attracted rivals Blur and Oasis to play on their stages, while the Liquid Room also draws a constant slew of recognisable acts.

Intimate Venues

The city also boasts heaps of smaller venues that are frequented by locals and visitors with equal excitement. Sneaky Pete’s is arguably the best, with its 150-capacity and an ability to retain a reputation normally only associated with the darkest of underground bars, thanks to its trendy-yet-mysterious ambiance. Studio 24 is aimed at anyone who abides by the go-hard-or-go-home rule, with its programme of heavy metal and edgy techno.

We recommend that you get in on the action and make sure you catch at least one live show during your stay. 

Up-and-Coming Edinburgh Bands

There’s a host of well-known names in the music business who hail from Edinburgh, as well as a medley of lesser-known but super talented musicians. Let’s take a look at some of the upcoming stars to look out for:

1. King Eider

Introducing King Eider; a five-piece Edinburgh band that is known for creating smooth folk-blues music. They’re famous for their harmonic strengths that emanate from the trio of harmonies served by sounds from drums, bass, acoustic guitar and classical strings. You can chill to their softer tunes or groove along to their louder melodies, as King Eider has a huge repertoire of songs to dip into. Perfect for anyone who loves listening to traditional musicianship with a more modern acoustic core.

2. Honeyblood

This duo love to rock the stage with their energetic performances of garage, rock, punk and indie sounds. With a few album releases already under their belts and their fame growing every year, keep your ears peeled for new releases by this spirited twosome.

3. Bombskare

The self-proclaimed ‘nine-skulled skanktastrophe’ ska juggernaut called Bombskare has been making their mark on the UK music scene since 2006. They’re busy tearing up stages with their hardcore ska sounds, which combine unique tunes with quality songs that are popular with their die-hard fans. And they’re fanatical for good reason. We highly recommend catching a gig by these nine wild guys and if you watch them play to a hometown crowd in Edinburgh – even better!

 

Famous Artists from Edinburgh

A long list of famous bands and influential artists hail from Edinburgh, along with many that are busy claiming their territory on the local music scene.

Read on to see some of the most prolific artists from the city who have enjoyed global recognition in the music biz:

• Bay City Rollers
• Idlewild
• Shirley Manson
• Oi Polloi
• Ballboy
• The Exploited
• The Incredible String Band
• The Beta Band

Davey Johnstone, Broken Records, Paul Haig, The Zephyrs, Finitribe and The Fuse are also all from the Scottish capital and next we’re going to take a look at the best places to go to watch a live concert.

Whether you are travelling to Edinburgh or another destination in the UK, buy CrossCountry Advance tickets to connect to a great experience. Find out more by using our Journey Planner today.