“If you can’t go to Africa, Africa comes to you.”

So says Samba Sene, speaking between numbers during his support slot at the Voodoo Rooms. And he’s right.

Tonight we’re treated to the rhythms, emotion and joy of some top quality world music in Edinburgh, courtesy of Senegalese Samba and main act Vieux Farka Touré from Mali.

More normally fronting his full band Diwan, tonight Samba Sene sits on the stage with an acoustic guitar, accompanied by a single musician on an African mandolin. Together, they perform a set of low-key, personal numbers, dealing with Samba’s loves & losses. Samba’s playing and singing is emotive and subtle, as his rich voice effortlessly fills the Ballroom to an appreciative audience.

Proving he’s as comfortable in an intimate and personal setting as he is when leading Diwan through their gloriously upbeat numbers, Samba is a pleasure to watch and listen to, particularly when he wins over the crowd with his song devoted to his now hometown of Edinburgh.

Vieux Farka Touré is recognised as one of the finest guitarists on the world music scene today, and on the strength of tonight’s performance it’s easy to see why. Backed by a bassist and percussionist, his songs are long, hypnotic affairs, weaving their rhythms between the dancing feet of the packed crowd.

The length of the numbers allows Vieux’s musicianship to shine: whether adeptly blurring his fingers in a series of impressive solos; or bouncing his playing off his fellow band members, trading rhythmical snippets of music as if passing a ball between them.

Throughout, Vieux’s obvious passion for the music beams out, as his infectious and joyful stage presence spreads waves of warmth around the room.

Back outside in the cold air of a February evening in Edinburgh, Samba and Vieux have indeed brought a little piece of Africa to us: more than enough to keep us warm all the way home.

Samba Sene and Vieux Farka Touré played at The Voodoo Rooms, Tue 7th Feb

Edinburgh-based grunge rockers Art of Privilege unleash four minutes of piledriving rock with new single The Crawler, a no-nonsense, no-apologies blast along the metal motorway at a million times over the speed limit.

The single has a raw and relentless feel which suits its theme of nights in sleazy bars with easy women. Drums and bass keep the engine running behind some blistering and accomplished guitar licks which rev things up nicely between choruses which kick like double JDs on the rocks.

The Crawler shows Art of Privilege are a band who’ve studied hard at the School of Rock – but manage to make things sound effortless as they speed past with a track which makes you want to hit repeat as soon as it’s over.

The Crawler is out now on iTunes

An evening of infectious world rhythms and blistering guitar lies in store at The Voodoo Rooms on Tue 7th Feb when Vieux Farka Touré visits town.

Often referred to as ‘the Hendrix of the Sahara’, Mali-born Vieux is renowned for his dexterity and skill with a guitar. With his charisma and positive attitude, he fuses rock, Latin and African influences to great effect in his music, which caught the attention of FIFA when they asked him to play at the opening concert for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

With his skillful guitar-playing and charismatic smile, Vieux has established himself as a world talent, and Tuesday’s gig at the Voodoo Rooms provides a rare chance to experience his talents first hand.

Samba Sene

Songs from Senegal and music from Mali combine in a gig which looks set to provide an enjoyable and uplifting evening, bringing a little bit of African heat and rhythm to a (no doubt) chilly February evening in Edinburgh.

Vieux Farka Touré and Samba Sene are at The Voodoo Rooms in West Register Street from 7pm on Tue 7th Feb. Tickets are available here.

Edinburgh Spotlight loves living in ‘Festival City’ and already has all these dates in its calendar – here’s the rundown of 2012′s festivals.

Mary King’s Ghost Fest TBC for 2012

Paranormal investigations, celebrity ghost hunts and other spooky goings on at The Real Mary King’s Close.

Ceilidh Culture 16 March – 25 April

Edinburgh’s traditional arts festival, featuring music, dance, storytelling and more.

International Science Festival 31 March- 13 April 2012
The International Science Festival features a host of fun and educational events, lectures and attractions celebrating all things scientific.

Beltane Fire Festival 30 April 2012
Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival and Edinburgh plays host to some colourful and exciting celebrations to mark the date.

Imaginate Festival 7 – 14 May 2012
The Imaginate Festival is Edinburgh’s children’s festival and has loads of plays, activities and fun things to do for youngsters of all ages.

Leith Festival 8 -17 June 2012
Come and celebrate all things Leith at this festival, featuring music, dance, art and other exciting events.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 20 June – 1 July
The Edinburgh Film Festival is an internationally-renowned event on the movie festival circuit and attracts premieres and stars from all over the world.

Edinburgh International Magic Festival 29 June – 6 July 2012

2012 will see Edinburgh host the third International Magic Festival with a range of performers show-casing their magical talents.

Edinburgh Art Festival August 2 – September 2
Edinburgh Art Festival celebrates the visual arts in all its diversity, from world-class exhibitions to strikingly original installations.

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 28 July – 6 August 2012
Get your gladrags on and party to the sounds of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, a popular event which attracts international talent.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3 - 27 August 2012
Getting bigger, better and – some may say – weirder every year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the highlight of many a festival-goer’s calendar.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3 – 25 August 2012
Selling out months in advance, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular event taking place on the Castle Esplanade.

The Edge Music Festival TBC 2012
Adding alternative music to the August festival mix, The Edge Music Festival attracts A-list bands as part of its programme.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace TBC 2012

The Festival of Spirituality and Peace features music, dance, talks and other events highlighting humanitarian issues and causes.

Edinburgh International Festival 10 August – 2 September 2012
The one that started it all, the Edinburgh International Festival is a feast of world-class music, dance and theatrical performances.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 - 27 August 2012
This literary event attracts major names in the writing, publishing and political fields to the serene Charlotte Square Gardens setting.

Edinburgh Mela Festival 31 August  - 2nd September 2012

Celebrating the cultural diversity of the city, the Mela Festival brings colour and exotic flair to Edinburgh in August.

Scottish Story Telling Festival 19-28 October
Celebrating the great Scottish oral tradition, the Story Telling Festival showcases the talents of national bards, poets and tale-spinners.

Edinburgh’s Christmas TBC – late November – End Dec 2011
Edinburgh sparkles at Christmas and features events, attractions and shows for all the family to enjoy during the festival season.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30 December 2012 – 2 January 2013
End the year with the biggest street party in the world!

Of Ash & Water - Emissary

Close your eyes whilst listening to Emissary‘s debut EP and their music evokes the airbrushed landscapes of 70s fantasy artist Roger Dean. And, with their complex and accomplished songs which conjure up the spirits of Rush and Wolfmother, the band’s sweeping and epic sound is well-placed to inhabit them.

A four-piece post-metal band formed from the ashes of Visperas, Aos Si and other groups on the Edinburgh rock scene, Emissary emerge newly-forged with guitars slung over their shoulders like weapons, chiselled jaws jutting towards the horizon and their eyes fixed on the setting twin moons of Asengard (or something).

Standing Stone opens things in suitably gargantuan fashion, with explosive guitar riffs which shake the earth from its orbit. ‘You struck the fear of god into me,” sings vocalist Luke, as the music crashes and swirls around him like a vortex.

Indeed, Emissary understand the power of an almighty riff, and all four tracks on offer here bristle with hooks and refrains like they’re preparing for some full-on guitar-based assault.

It Was Always You is perhaps the best example of the Emissary sound. The first half is a delicate, baroque composition; which then lets its hair down and hurtles towards a tumultuous and fiery conclusion. The song has a metal-melting ferocity of the kind that the Gods of Rock intended when they first bestowed electric guitars upon the world.

If you’re a fan of sweeping and epic rock but are struggling to find anyone on the local scene to satisfy your urges, Emissary have arrived after an epic journey at the gates of Edinburgh with an impressively writ-large missive of hope.

And the Gods of Rock are pleased.

Beat Your Fist by Underclass

Beat Your Fist crunches its way straight into the ring from the outset, setting the tone for a tight and wiry scrapper of a track that delivers a knockout before three minutes are up.

Mikey Robertson’s guitar has a satisfyingly meaty quality to it, and you can’t pinch more than an inch on Sean Kelso and Callum Macgillivray’s lean and mean rhythm section. Kev O’Rourke’s keys add some understated colour whilst John Keenan’s vocals soar above his band’s piledriving sound.

“She’s gonna explode,” sings Keenan, as the song reaches its climax – he may as well be talking about Beat Your Fist itself, which has been threatening to go supernova since the first chord. The only reason you’ll be wanting to beat your fist against your head after hearing this single is to try and dislodge the hook-laden tune from your brain.

With a broad, radio-friendly appeal and a tightness that doesn’t carry an ounce of extra weight, Beat Your Fist could be the song to turn Underclass from contenders into champions.

Beat Your Fist is available to download on iTunes and Amazon.

The latest single from Edinburgh-based alt-country noir rock band Augustalia is a dark little ditty which wouldn’t sound out of place on David Lynch’s car stereo as he goes cruising down Mulholland Drive at 3 in the morning.

“You’re not afraid of me now but you should be” sings Hannah O’Reilly, her sweet-sounding vocals edged with razor-sharp menace as she tells the tale of bloodletting and stilettos (daggers or heels, possibly both). This is a song which wants to wake you up in the middle of the night, whisper nightmares in your ear, then slip you something to make you fall back asleep again.

Musically, things start off with gentle strummed guitar punctuated by a smattering of drums sounding like thunder in the desert. Then, Stiletto begins to creep up on you: every time you turn round, it’s a little bit closer, until the production reaches its murderous crescendo, with guitar, bass, drums and Hannah’s harmonies all competing for the privilege of delivering the final blow.

Take the lyrical content away and Stiletto is a brooding and atmospheric spinetingler. Add in the tale of vengeance and murder, however, and it turns into a gloriously dark trip into Augustalia’s noirish head – but fortunately a head with its tongue still firmly in its cheek.

Making some of the most distinctive and original music on the Edinburgh scene, you may not be aware of Augustalia now – but you should be.

The Barber of Seville - Scottish Opera

Scottish Opera bring their acclaimed and popular production of The Barber of Seville to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre this week, with performances of Rossini’s classic on the 15th, 17th and 19th of November.

Tenor Thomas Walker plays Count Almaviva, matched by Claire Booth’s soprano turn as Rosina with Ville Rusanen as Figaro, in a production directed by Sir Thomas Allen which promises to conjure up all the colour, heat and passion of the Spanish setting.

Scottish Opera's chorus and their Movember quest

The barber himself may find himself a little less busy than usual too: as half of the 18-strong male chorus are currently in the midst of the annual Movember charity fundraising campaign – although there’s a rumour some may be raiding Scottish Opera’s makeup and props department to get a head start…

There’s even an app for your iPhone to allow you to join in the moustachioed operatic fun – Tache Tag lets you see how you would look with a magnificent set of whiskers worthy of a 19th century Spanish gentleman!

The Barber of Seville has already delighted audiences and gained glowing reviews during its run at Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen. Now Edinburgh audiences have the chance to enjoy what promises to be an enjoyable and colourful production (with some real moustaches!)

More details are on the Scottish Opera and Edinburgh Festival Theatre websites

Slow Burner - Al Shields

Tonight’s gig at The Voodoo Rooms is to celebrate the launch of Al’s debut long player ‘Slow Burner’, a collection of self-penned songs steeped in the 20th century Americana which he obviously loves so much. With titles like Travelling Man and Had A Little Lovin’, you get the sense Al would be more at home in some dustbowl diner in the mid-west rather than a grand ballroom in the east end of Edinburgh.

Kat Healy

Support comes from Edinburgh singer songrwriter Kat Healy, whose short but sweet set of country-hued acoustic songs set the mood perfectly. Joined by guitarist Rory Butler, Kat has a stage presence which mixes vulnerability with good humour and has a voice and songs which drip with fragile emotion. The harmonies with Butler are something special; but Kat has an undeniably strong impact solo too, when her lone presence on stage emphasises her ability to take an audience on a heartfelt journey through her music.

Guitar men: Al Shields and Matt Norris

What comes as more of a surprise is the fact this band doesn’t really exist – it’s been created specifically for this launch gig. So – although Duncan and Shields are long-time collaborators – the level of tightness on display from Norris and the others is impressive, coming across as if this band have been travellin’ the railroads together for a long time.

Shields acknowledges his good fortune at having such talented friends; but the night is his, and his set of songs about bad work, bad luck and bad lovin’ shows his ability not only to evoke the spirit of the lone bluesman, but also to pen some mighty fine tunes into the bargain.

As the band depart, leaving Edinburgh’s Man In Grey alone on stage playing a couple of his songs solo, Al Shields has launched his album in style – and turned the Ballroom of the Voodoo Rooms into a little long-lost state of America.

Taking place on Sunday 25th September and spread across six city centre venues, EH1 Live is the latest addition to Edinburgh’s music festival calendar. We caught up with the organisers to hear a bit more.

Tell us a bit about EH1 Live…?

EH1 LIVE is a celebration of the best unsigned music in Edinburgh and Scotland. Its an all day festival where over 50 bands will be playing over 6 venues in Edinburgh all on Sunday 25th September. EH1 LIVE will be for all ages. With 2 of the venues (The Store and Studio 24) breaking the over 18 age restriction, allowing a selection of the best under 18s bands have the opportunity to play alongside some of the bigger bands. Headliners come from The Dykeenies and Jakil with a string lineup in support.

One ticket gains access to all venues on the day!

What are you hoping to achieve with it?

We want this to be one of the highlighted dates in the Scottish music calendar for years to come by making sure this year’s leaves everyone being proud of the great music in Scotland especially in Edinburgh.

We also want people that come along on the day to be introduced to new bands and acts that they might have not heard of before and also to provide support to the ones they do. We also want primarily for everyone to go out and have a good day out and wake up with a wee bit of a sore head in the morning!

Who’s behind EH1 Live and how are the preparations going so far?

There’s a few of us behind EH1 LIVE, its a combination of two Edinburgh promotions group “This is Sound” and “We Luv Musik” who have put this together.

Preparations have been well planned out for this and we actually first started putting this together way back in February where we all met up over a drink and thought that this would be a great way to celebrate the great music in Scotland. The workload of this has obviously been demanding and we all have been put a lot of hard work in setting it up.

EH1 Live's lineup

Bands we personally say are worth checking out on the day is The Lysergic Suite from Leicester. Were all massive fans of this band and Tom Meighan from Kasabian has featured on thier latest EP!

Bands we also cant wait to see on the day are of course the headliners The Dykeenies and Jakil. But we will definitely be making time to see the likes of Pose Victorious, The Laymanites, Greg Pearson, Blow!, Xavia, Little Fire and The Twist.

Also we’re dead looking forward to seeing two great young bands who aren’t yet over 18…The Rah’s and The Trampettes – so if you’re looking to see some great young bands with great potential then check them out!

Any hot tips for people planning to attend?

Our tips are to check out www.eh1live.com, look at the set times tab and plan your day in advance so you know what times the bands are playing when. There will be set time leaflets on the day.

Also get down early to catch the first lot of bands from 2pm. DARC are opening the The Store then so if you fancy a bit of dubstep early on then check them out. If you want to start the day a bit slower and listen to a great acoustic artist then check out Chris J Smith at Electric Circus from 2pm.

Also if you’re still making it out past 11pm then head down to the EH1 LIVE after party at The Electric Circus, where we will be partying on till the early hours of the morning.

What next after September’s event?

EH1 LIVE 2012 obviously!

As for promoting gigs independently…We will both be taking a month off, recharge the batteries and we will be back with a bang in November! Check out for This is Sound and We Luv Musik then.

Keep up to date with news on EH1 Live on the website and Facebook.

With a tarmac-melting riff and a blazing chorus, Do You Ever? by Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones’ new band is the perfect song to be played on the DeLorean’s stereo in Back To The Future.

That’s not to say it’s a blast from the past – though the track is decidedly rockier than his ‘dayjob’ band’s more recent output. Similarly, Jones has less of an accented vocal delivery than Woomble, and comes across as all the more relaxed and accessible for it.

Though there may not be anything startlingly original here, Jones shows that his band isn’t some navel-gazing personal project: no, there’s something far more punchy and chunky on offer here, and The Birthday Suit’s progress as a band in their deserved own right should be an interesting one to follow.

The Job, The Flat, The Girlfriend

The Job, The Flat, The Girlfriend is their debut EP: an accomplished trio of tracks which slowly peel back their onions skin layers of textured guitar and complex structures.

Paralysed is the opener and standout track – managing to sound beautifully understated and majestically epic at the same time as the tune swirls around in a shoegazing mixture of Snow Patrol and Frightened Rabbit: a gentle sigh with an underlying murmur of menace at its heart.

I’m Not Dead is jerkier and more angular, with Jamie’s vocals taking on David Byrne at times in the chorus in a track which gathers its strength before blasting out with a passionate energy. Look On Your Face hushes down again, a lapping coda to the EP, featuring production which gives the guitars, synth and vocal harmonies the room to breathe gently upon each other.

This is a strong debut from the band: mainstream enough to have a wide appeal; yet with an alternative edge which lets them hold their own amongst their contemporaries. You get the sense that the deep red of their sky is the sunrise heralding a very promising future.

Check out The Deep Red Sky on the web, where you can sample and buy The Job, The Flat, The Girlfriend and find out more about the band.

If Edinburgh can be said to have an indie scene, then The 10:04s are right up there at the front of it flying the flag.

Generating a large amount of interest in the city – and beyond – with their energetic and dynamic post-Libertines sound, the band have a live presence and attitude which increases their fanbase every time they play.

The 10:04s

Their next gig is at The Liquid Rooms on Sat 11 June, where the lads will be headlining a late nite gig with 4 other acts (The Stagger Rats, Xavia, Seven Deadly Sins and Michael McNelly; with DJ sets from Madchester and Exhibit turntable spinners).

Starting at 9pm and finishing off at 3am, this is not only a rare chance to go to a gig which doesn’t rush everyone out the doors at 10pm; but also to witness The 10:04s drop-dead cool live set at a gig which has all the makings of a being a night to remember.

More details are on the gig’s Facebook event page.

Ben, Mark, Cammy and Andy - The Nature Boys

Mark – together with bandmates Andy, Ben and Cammy – adopts quite a different guise when playing with The Nature Boys. Like feral children raised on scraps of Iggy Pop and the Pistols, the Boys steal from the punk greats to create a raucous and in-your-face sound, tempered with the occasional burst of low-fi punk poetry on songs like Upside Down Sinner.

Live, a Nature Boys gig is always an event worth witnessing. Due mostly to frontman Cammy’s chaotic capering and the fact the band are good mates with other bands like The 10:04s and The OK Social Club, their gigs take on the atmosphere of a great big party (one you’re glad you don’t have help clear up afterwards).

Young man, there's a place you can go...The Nature Boys

Cammy promises he has “a wee surprise up his sleeve” for this gig – which judging from past appearances could range from anything from dressing up as a dalmatian to trashing anything onstage which isn’t nailed down.

We’ll certainly be there to see what pops out from his cuffs this time; even if we do end up chickening out and watching from a safe distance…

The gig is on Friday 3 June, 7-10pm at Cabaret Voltaire, and features support from The 7 Deadly Sins and Blank Canvas. It is presented by Bainbridge Music as one of their regular ‘The Mine’ nights.

The Wee Red Bar – the student union at the Edinburgh College of Art – is a great little venue for a gig: good sound, cheap drink and an understandably arty atmosphere. However, even though it’s a stone’s throw from the Grassmarket and Cowgate, it remains one of the city’s lesser-known venues – which means trying to get a crowd along to it can be a challenge.

Bainbridge Music continue to try to help put the Wee Red Bar on the map with the launch of The Quad, a new monthly night featuring bands from Edinburgh and further afield, at a rock-bottom price.

Al Shields

Tonight features a strong alt-folk and alt-country lineup, giving the first Quad a quirky bohemian edge. First up is singer songwriter Al Shields, whose set of Deep South-tinged country and blues numbers conjure up images of train-hopping hobos fishing by the bayou.

With a warm, mellow voice and some meticulous finger-picking, Shields’ laid-back songs and delivery matches the mood; and set things up nicely for the livelier acts to follow.

And if it’s lively you’re after, Glasgow-based Kochka will deliver (with a side-serving of pickled originality and joyfulness).

Kochka

With their Eastern-European influenced sound, the band’s most obvious reference is the gypsy punk madness of Gogol Bordello; but Kochka have a special flavour all their own. Frontman Markk demonstrates this from the outset, wandering through the crowd barking welcomes through a megaphone before the band launch into an infectiously upbeat set.

Guitars, synths and strings all contribute to the Kochka sound; with Sherryl’s drumming binding the whole thing together as she rapturously gives herself over to the swirling rhythms. A cover of traditional Russian folk song no-idea-of-the-name-of-it-but-it’s-the-theme-from-Tetris is a highlight, even causing an impromptu bout of Cossack dancing from the floor…

As Markk weaves his loudhailed thanks through the crowd once more, the stage is set for headliners Augustalia. Dominated by Hannah O’Reilly and her bleached-blond quiff, Augustalia’s music is – like an absinthe milkshake – an intoxicating cocktail of ingredients which shouldn’t really work, but which proves guiltily irresistible.

Augustalia

The straight-on country tones of the swoonsome single Foolish therefore rub innocently pure angel wings with the dirty little horns of their debauched twins, such as the mischievously maverick Lick Up Your Daughters and the yelp-filled Love & Laudunum. The boys in the band provide a tight and driving sound, particularly when Adrian’s lead guitar is allowed to take a central role in proceedings, ripping through the alt-country cornfields like a teenage tearaway on a motorbike.

Hannah’s banter is always a feature of an Augustalia gig and tonight is no exception, even with the small number of ears being treated to her particular line of foul-mouthed charm. Though some may view this as a bit anachronistic, it actually helps show what live music is all about: real tunes played by real people with real talent and real passion. More power to Hannah and her vernacular.

The first Quad is therefore a success – a well-planned lineup by the Bainbridges that serves up three entertaining acts linked by a common countrified thread. You really should make the effort to find out exactly where the Wee Red Bar is for the next one.

Prolific promoters Bainbridge Music unveil yet another monthly gig with this, the first of their Showcase gigs at The Bongo Club.

With a varied line-up and a headline act promoting their new single release, the gig is good value for money and – like most Bainbridge gigs – gives you a chance to discover some new local talent you may not otherwise have had the chance to hear.

Rachel Morrison

Things open in a laid back gentle mood with a short acoustic set from young singer-songwriter Rachel Morrison. With a mellow yet powerful voice and some pleasant accompaniment from her guitar, her self-penned tunes are easy on the ear and pleasingly mature for one so young.

Steve Heron

Steve Heron take the stage next; an Edinburgh-based power-trio specialising in angular post-punk tunes and straight-between-the-eyes no-nonsense rock.

Tracks like Golden Boy are standouts from an impressive set lifted from the band’s recent album; though a little more charisma and stage presence could see these guys take things to the next level.

Selective Service

A band who understand that well enough are Glasgow-based Selective Service. A heady brew of swirling keys, kinky afros and rock n roll swagger, they trip through an addictive set of reggae beats, post-baggy funk rock and snake-hipped grooves.

Frontman Ian is part Rod Stewart strut and Mick Jagger pout as he leads Selective Service through a set which gets some of the normally-static Edinburgh audience dancing. The unmistakable sound of Michael’s Hammond complements the psychedelic garage feel and the band impress many with their tunes and attitude.

Echo Arcadia

There’s a small tsunami of people when Leigh from Echo Arcadia asks the crowd to come down the front at the start of their set. Playing to celebrate the launch of their new single Joker, the band lead up to that track by playing a sweet confection of harmony and hook-laden pop; with slivers of lyrical sharpness hidden inside like razorblades stuffed into marshmallows.

Echo Arcadia are playing to a home crowd and feed off the positive vibes from the floor as they smile their way through an enjoyable set. Dan keeps steady time as recent bass recruit Marty lets the rhythm into his bones; Majied also shows keys players can rock out with the best of them as he doesn’t so much tickle his ivories as slap them into submission.

Husband and wife Vonny and Leigh share the six-string and harmony duties, at times melting the hardest of hearts in the Bongo Club with their shimmering melodies on tunes such as Satellite and Lucinda.

And by the time Leigh wraps his tonsils round Joker’s distinctive chorus, the band have delighted long-time fans – and hopefully won over a few more, who recognise them as a band with the right tunes and the right attitude to just possibly make it big.

The 7 inch single.

Back in the day, the feel of slipping out a shiny vinyl disc from its cardboard sleeve was hard to beat. Flipping it over in your hands to examine the labels; almost getting a feel from the music recorded on it from the shape and pattern of the grooves alone.

Maybe not going quite so far as sniffing it, but almost.

Bringing it back - Underclass' single

Underclass pay a nod to those prehistoric days with the release of their new single Bruised Eyes / Sheep (a double a-side, no less). Available on good old fashioned tactile vinyl from Bainbridge Music, each copy sold comes with a card unlocking a digital download, perfect for all those who wouldn’t know what to do with a vinyl record if it came spinning through the air towards them like a sharp black frisbee.

To celebrate the single launch, Underclass are headlining a gig at The Bongo Club. The merch stall is set up, the soundchecks are over, the floor is all sticky and things are about to kick off.

The Bongo’s a great venue for gigs. Although the likes of Henry’s and Sneaky’s are ideal for getting up close and personal with your favourite local bands, the Bongo’s stage and size make you feel as though you’re at a special gig, without having your view of the band obscured by that big tall bloke who always ends up standing in front of you.

Scrap Brain

First up are Scrap Brain, looking completely at home on the Bongo’s stage. Angie does her usual and prowls around like some kind of rock big cat, making full use of the space between her and Myke, who bangs out bass, guitar and synth riffs to help create SB’s whirling tornado of sound. Stew keeps them both in check with his signature beats and the band put on a great and captivating performance.

Though their energy and presence is immediate, Scrap Brain’s songs take a few listens before they hit home – but when they do, they burrow into your grey matter like little post-punky weevils.

The Red Show

Picking up where Scrap Brain leave off are Glasgow-based three-piece The Red Show. Their sound defies easy categorisation, but it’s filled with bluesy riffs and rock tunes which rise so high they get all tangled up in the netting hanging from the Bongo’s ceiling.

Frontman Gareth leads The Red Show in a tight and varied set: songs alternating between rocking chest-thumpers, where Swales’ bass comes into its seismic own; and some funkier stuff which showcases Mike’s versatility on the drums. This is no-nonsense rock music at its finest, and Edinburgh should always be ready to put on a warm welcome for these lads whenever they decide to play here.

John from Underclass

By the time local heroes Underclass take the stage, the venue is packed – it seems like all the band’s many fans have turned out tonight to celebrate their single launch with them.

Their set of powerful multi-layered rock songs is impressive; Mikey’s guitar and Kevin’s keys adding a kaleidoscopic texture to Sean’s bass and Callum’s drums as John belts out their hook-laden songs which reel you in by the ribcage.

There’s a camaraderie on stage as well, with the lads obviously enjoying themselves up there, which gives them a presence and energy to match their material (although a soaking-wet Mikey may disagree a little with this, after John drenches him with water midset).

By the time the gig’s over, there’s a queue at the merch desk and Underclass have proven themselves to be strong contenders as one of Edinburgh’s bands likely to smash their way out of their class restrictions and make it big.

Echo Arcadia

It’s a long time since we’ve been able to use the word ‘crystalline‘ in a review, but Joker, the new single from Edinburgh indie pop group Echo Arcadia deserves the use of the word.

Sparkling and freshly polished from its recording at The Depot a few days ago by Edinburgh producer Garry Boyle, the track uses layers of shimmering guitar and Leigh and Siobhan’s atmospheric vocal harmonies to create a multi-faceted little nugget of poppiness.

All this builds up to a classic vocal refrain which we guarantee you will be singing in the shower, on the way to work, shopping at the supermarket and everywhere else until all your friends tell you to shut up (or until they get their own copy).

A band who are going from strength to strength, Echo Arcadia’s next live appearance is on 5th March at The Bongo Club, where they will be headlining a four-band bill and letting Joker‘s refrain burrow into your head along with the rest of their set.

As an added bonus, the band will be giving away exclusive hard copies of the single (plus unique artwork) to the first 50 people to buy a ticket for the gig – get in touch with them on their Facebook page to reserve a ticket plus this exclusive collectors item (which you can then use to put your iPod on).

And we’ve just realised we never actually used the word ‘crystalline‘ after all. Phew.

Remind Me (Fatalima) by Samba Sene & Diwan

Remind Me (Fatalima) is the first release from Samba Sene & Diwan, featuring Samba’s rich and wide-ranging vocals, backed by a 10-strong band of international musicians, 6 guest artists (including guitarist Rise Kagona, an original member of the Bhundu Boys), and 2 female backing vocalists.

With 10 original songs all written and composed by Samba himself, the album is a vibrant rainbow of colourful beats and rhythms, running the spectrum from Afrobeat and reggae through to ska, funk and pop; with a touch of traditional African hues thrown in for good measure.

Songs like album opener Yonambi and Lolambe are joyful and exuberant dances between guitars, keys, horns and multi-layered percussion and drums, evoking all the diverse positivity and hospitality of Samba’s Senegalese home.

Keman swaggers to the ebb and flow of its sultry reggae rhythms, whilst Alone gets up on the dancehall floor with some addicitive ska-tinged beats.

Things slow down with the atmospheric Yaya Anna, a haunting track with a traditional feel where Samba’s voice soars above the hypnotic music. Warouna, another standout from this impressively varied release, also allows him to demonstrate the full range of his vocals over the mesmerising sound of the traditional wooden balafon, a West African xylophone-type instrument.

Things close with Africa, Samba Sene’s hymn to his homeland, and a fitting end to an album which represents the wide variety of styles and rhythms of the continent. Life-affirming and upbeat with a production which allows the music to sparkle and shine, Remind Me (Fatalima) is a welcome ray of Senegalese sunshine, highlighting some rich and rewarding sounds which you are bound to enjoy basking in.

Check out Samba Sene & Diwan on MySpace and Facebook.

The high-ceilinged bedroom of a top-floor tenement flat probably isn’t where you’d expect to find one of Edinburgh’s most promising bands practicing.

Echo Arcadia

“We like to have one quiet practice here every week,” explains keyboard player Majied, sitting in the bay window of drummer Dan’s room, “and one loud one in a rehearsal room.”

“The neighbours don’t seem to mind,” says lead guitarist Siobhan, smiling.

Echo Arcadia were formed as the lights dimmed on Brightside, the band’s previous incarnation.

“A couple of people left,” says frontman Leigh, “and we were advised to change the name as there were other bands out there with the same one. We wanted to take things seriously, so needed a unique name.”

“My girlfriend’s an art historian,” says English-born Majied, “and we were looking at stuff and saw the phrase ‘Ecce Arcadia’ – and thought that was perfect.”

“Though we changed it to Echo when the Scottish guys in the band told me ‘Eccy’ was slang for Ecstacy…”

“It feels like an appropriate name,” says Siobhan. “Garry Boyle, who recorded our EP, introduced us to the Space Echo pedal – ‘Radiohead in a box’ he called it – and that seemed to be the missing part we were always looking for.”

Echo Arcadia’s music is a little bit darker and spacier than the upbeat poppiness of Brightside. Influences like Radiohead are there, but the band are keen to forge their own sound.

“I’m really influenced by minimalist composers,” says Majied, showing his classically-trained roots. “Building a whole song around something as simple as this -” he picks out a simple two-note refrain on the keys which then shifts around a chord change to create an effective and atmospheric mood.

“And I’m a fan of using poignant lyrics on something a bit poppy,” adds Leigh. “Though we do like to have at least one face-melting song per set!”

“Whereas I’m trying to find my sweet spot,” laughs Dan. “I’m a fan of complicated music!”

Echo Arcadia have very recently had to undergo a line-up change as a result of bassist Paul moving to the US to work with Microsoft’s gaming division (“Xbox stole our bassist,” laughs Leigh).

Leigh, Majied, Dan & Siobhan welcome Marty to Echo Arcadia

In some kind of transatlantic exchange programme, new member Marty from Wyoming has stepped up to the mark and is currently shadowing Paul before he leaves to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.

“Yeah, it’s going great,” says Marty. “And I’m also trained in double-bass, so I’m going to see about adding that into the acoustic stuff.”

“Yes, we’ve got an acoustic EP planned soon,” says Leigh, “and seven new tracks in the works.”

“We really want to push things as hard as we can now. We’re not indie enough to fit into that scene; and we’ve not broken into the mainstream yet either.”

“Our plan is to look at supporting bigger bands and getting our music out to as wide an audience as possible.”

“Ideally, we’d love to play the festival circuit,” he says.

Their music – with its soaring choruses and cloud-scraping melodies – would certainly be a good fit for a large-scale open-air audience. And with their hard-gigging ethic, they’re building up quite a fanbase.

“We’d really like to thank everyone who’s supported us so far,” says Leigh. “Everyone who’s come to our gigs, bought the EP and to Garry Boyle who’s helped define our sound – we wouldn’t record with anyone else now.”

“We do want to keep our integrity,” he says.

“Yeah, and as long as it’s fun and we’re enjoying ourselves, we’ll keep doing it,” adds Siobhan.

Dan checks out Leigh and Siobhan's baby's singing voice

It’s no secret now that Leigh and Siobhan are Edinburgh’s first couple of indie-pop, after recently tying the knot – Echo Arcadia even put on a short set at their reception, where Siobhan played in her wedding dress. But their relationship wasn’t always public knowledge.

“We first got together when Siobhan joined Brightside,” says Leigh. “But we kept it private – we didn’t want it to cause any problems if things didn’t work out.”

Happily, things did work out, and Leigh and Siobhan are expecting a very special ‘new release’ in July.

“I’m definitely going to keep playing throughout,” says Siobhan, placing a hand on her stomach. “I want to show that a woman can still be in a band even though she’s pregnant!”

And with a pair of talented and passionate parents – and a band full of ready and willing uncles-in-waiting – Leigh & Siobhan’s offspring will probably be playing in Echo Arcadia before he or she can talk…

Keep up to date with Echo Arcadia on their website and on Facebook & Twitter. Their Broken Chapters EP is available to download on iTunes.