The Rah's EP launch - 26 May

Drawing influences from modern-day heroes like Kasabian and Arctic Monkeys, their music is also coloured by the lads’ love of era-defining sounds from Hendrix & The Stones: combining together to make The Rah’s distinctive and appealing sound.

In a couple of weeks’ time, the band will be launching their Give Me Life EP at Cabaret Voltaire, supported by two big names in the Edinburgh music scene, Greg Pearson and The 10:04s.

Promoted by This Is Sound, The Rah’s EP launch on 26 May is all set to let the good times – and, of course, the good music – roll.

Tickets for The Rah’s EP launch can be bought online at Tickets Scotland and are also available from Ripping Records.

Camille O'Sullivan - Feel

Although the light reflecting off a mirrored fascinator half-obscuring her face dances across the walls and ceiling during the number, the singer’s presence flits and soars throughout the venue during the whole of this powerful and immensely enjoyable performance.

Like a bumper version of her much-loved and acclaimed Fringe shows, tonight’s show – part of her UK ‘Feel’ tour – lasts over two hours. This allows Camille to air tracks from her new LP Changeling; as well as a host of past favourites from previous shows: an opportunity she seems to relish as much as the audience.

We therefore get the raw unaccompanied power of Amsterdam and the glittering glamour of In These Shoes; sharing Camille’s songbook with the pounding bitterness of Hurt and the fatalistic romanticism of Brompton Oratory.

Camille makes the cover versions very much her own, wringing the emotion from each song: whether lust and passion; or – more usually – heartbreaking sorrow. Yet, even though the songs edge towards the dark edge of the spectrum, her stage presence and between-song interaction with the crowd avoid the risk of things getting oppressive.

It’s testament to the talent of Camille and her trio of musicians that the show contains no filler; nor does it lag for a moment, with a well-balanced and varied set holding attention throughout. Musically, her band demonstrate a range and versatility to equal the singer’s own: able to drop things down to a barely-audible beat, then ramp things up to a more raucous rhythm with ease.

As the place where she first began to taste her deserved success, Edinburgh holds a special place in Camille’s heart. On the basis of the standing ovation she receives after tonight’s extended encore, that love – like the light from the mirrors during True Love Waits – is reflected straight back at her.

Camille O'Sullivan - Feel

Camille will of course be back in August, where she’ll be appearing in the Fringe once again; and also for the first time as part of the Edinburgh International Festival in The Rape of Lucrece.

She’ll also be dropping by Edinburgh next week at the Queen’s Hall as part of her UK Feel Tour, where on Tuesday 8 May she’ll reprise last year’s Fringe success in the acoustically-blessed venue in Clerk Street.

Expect songs to tug at your heart, to set shivers racing up and down your spine; and more than a few to get your feet stomping too, in a show which will see Camille open her storybook full of classics and tell them in her own unique and mesmerising style.

Ticket information is available on The Queen’s Hall website.

We’ve been big fans of Smoothiesforme since first hearing her music a few months ago.

The talented 17-year-old singer songwriter from Edinburgh has built up a huge and deserved following on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, and is now set to take things even further after being selected to appear at the influential goNORTH festival and event in Inverness in the summer.

Playing as part of the event’s music showcase, goNORTH will give Smoothiesforme the opportunity to rub shoulders with other bands and artists like Matt Norris & The Moon, The Stagger Rats and Stanley Odd; as well as the chance of being seen by a host of music industry & media professionals.

As she writes, records, produces and promotes all her own material, this is a great success for Smoothiesforme – and also shows just how much a talented artist can achieve through their own efforts.

So congratultions to Smoothiesforme for being chosen to go north in the summer!

You can follow Smoothiesforme and hear her music on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Her EP New Beginnings is available to download for free here.

The second of our free compilation albums featuring the best of Edinburgh’s local music scene, Sounds of the City: Volume 2 has something for everyone.

Folk, acoustic rock, pop, punk, grunge and blues: they’re all here, performed by a collection of artists who yet again prove how much musical talent Edinburgh has to offer.

So sit back and enjoy the music – or download the album for free here.

Long-time fans of Edinburgh band The OK Social Club may be surprised to learn the band are only now just about to release their debut single.

“We should’ve changed the name!” says frontman Raff. “Though a couple of the old songs are still there, it literally is a different band.”

“It’s the first time we can really say the band and the music take care of themselves,” adds guitarist Chris. “We all know our roles; we all know what we want.”

After having undergone several changes, The OK Social Club have now settled on a lineup. Raff & Chris are now joined by Gordy on bass and Jordan on the drums.

“There’s been a change in music dynamics,” says Gordy. “Jordan and me have come from different musical backgrounds.”

“It’s a lot more collaborative now,” says Raff. “Before, it was like handing out music sheets to a choir: now I just write the words & melody and everyone does their own parts themselves. It’s like I come in with a black and white picture, which everyone else colours in.”

The OK Social Club’s debut single – The Shape of Things To Come – is released on Platform Records on 12 March; backed up by a launch gig at the Electric Circus on 24 March.

“We wanted to make sure the single was a brand new song,” says Chris. “We’re proud of what we’ve done.”

“It’s the first song I felt I could shine on,” adds Gordy. “The first one where we could all feel equal.”

With support from Edinburgh singer-songwriter Jack Rowberry and Glasgow band The Dots, the boys are looking forward to the gig. And – although the band are now managed by Bulge Promotions’ Tommy Hamilton and have a booking agent in England – they still keep their own creative control.

“It’s important to keep that DIY ethic,” says Chris. “We still load all our own gear!”

“It’s easy to get lazy, but we try not to do that!” says Raff. “But the people we have on board now genuinely believe in us.”

With venues closing and under threat on the one hand, and bands like The 10:04s being lauded as the ‘best new band in Britain’ on the other: it feels like Edinburgh’s in the spotlight at the moment – though not always for the right reasons.

“Everyone’s had a positive couple of weeks,” says Raff. “But it also feels like the carpet’s been pulled from under your feet with venues closing.”

“Truth is Edinburgh’s not really a live music city,” says Chris. “Not enough to justify having all the venues, anyway.”

“But it just takes one band to break through…”

And with a dedicated team behind them, a mighty fine rock & roll attitude and a line-up that now looks set to last, The OK Social Club have as good a chance of being that band as any.

The OK Social Club’s debut single – The Shape of Things To Come – is released on Platform Records on 12 March. The single launch gig is at the the Electric Circus on 24 March.

Edinburgh Spotlight Music - Sounds of the City: Volume 1

We love local music here at Edinburgh Spotlight.

Whatever your tastes, you’re likely to find at least one band or artist in the city catering to it – and usually performing it live with passion, drive and enthusiasm that proves the local music scene in the city is alive and well.

To help the best of Edinburgh’s music be heard by as wide an audience as possible, we’re releasing regular free Sounds of the City compilation albums: each one containing sounds and songs which have caught our ears; and which we wholeheartedly recommend.

This first release is a true sampler – acoustic rock, country, pop, post-punk, hip-hop, world music: the only common thread is that these songs represent some of the best of the varied and exciting music on offer in Edinburgh.

So why not download the free album and hear what some of the city’s talented musicians are capable of!

Track listing

shout first / last words by A Fight You Can’t Win
A Fight You Can’t Win are leading lights of Edinburgh’s alternative music scene, and are currently in the running for ‘Best Metal’ act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. Although they’re more punk & grunge flavoured than metal, they’ve got to be slotted in somewhere: and this claustrophobic head-burrower of a track will let you make up your own mind where they best fit.

Joker by Echo Arcadia
Echo Arcadia know how to take pop and polish it until it sparkles with hooks and harmonies aplenty. The Joker is a fine example of their multi-layered sound, which is capable of inducing shivers both on record and when playing live.

By The Sword by Titus Pullo
Singer songwriter Craig Robson can often be found on bass and vocals for the mighty Death Trap City. With Titus Pullo, he turns off the power and joins forces with some musical buddies for some heartfelt acoustic romanticism, as this standout track from recent debut EP Acoustic #1 demonstrates.

Ankh by Emissary
Emissary have been moulded from the molten remains of several prog-metal Edinburgh bands, and now they emerge newly-formed with this powerful and exclusive mix of their track Ankh. If you like your rock to be heroic and many-levelled, you’re going to like it.

Like A Fool by Smoothiesforme
Proof that talent knows no age limits, 17 year-old singer songwriter Smoothiesforme produces shimmering slices of pop which rank alongside the best. Like A Fool is a standout track from her New Beginnings EP, which is available for free download here.

If Love Is A Fight by Al Shields
Al Shields sets his sights west with his accomplished and appealing take on country music. If Love Is A Fight is the opening track from his latest LP Slow Burner, an album filled with the heat and dust of the Americana he conjures up so well.

Two Lovers by The Nature Boys
Live, The Nature Boys are a glorious anarchic riot, thanks mostly to frontman Cammy’s onstage antics. On record, they prove just as exciting, where the jagged spikiness of the tunes and Cammy’s punk poet lyrics can be appreciated in the comfort (and safety) of your own home…

Foolish by Hannah O’Reilly / Augustalia
Hannah O’Reilly and her band Augustalia also look to the US of A for inspiration, but through a dark, noirish lens. Their songs have a frisson of danger and intrigue which wouldn’t be out of place on a David Lynch movie soundtrack. Recent single Foolish sees them in romantic mood, with a harmony-laden track that impresses.

The Numbness by Stanley Odd vs The Banana Sessions
The brainchild of producer Garry Boyle, The Mashup Session is an exciting new musical project which sees two bands camp out in the studio, collaborating on a new version of one of their songs. Then, 24 hours later, the track has been mixed, mastered and is available for free download. This is the second Mashup Session, featuring the hip-hoppery of Stanley Odd and the big brass of The Banana Sessions.

Adunabi by Samba Sene & Diwan
Hailing from Senegal, Samba Sene is now based in Edinburgh and creates an uplifting fusion of world beats and sounds with band Diwan. Adunabi is a great example of Samba’s sound from recent LP Remind Me (Fatalima), practically guaranteed to get your toes tapping!

Hide Away by Jack Rowberry
Jack Rowberry can normally be found playing guitar for Pose Victorious. Now he’s following in the footsteps of some of his musical heroes with his solo singer songwriter project. This warm and relaxed acoustic number is his debut.

Stay tuned

One of the hardest things about creating this compilation was narrowing down who to include on it. Edinburgh has a huge amount of musical talent, which consistently impresses and delights us.

We already have Sounds of the City: Volume 2 planned, featuring exclusive live demos and the latest tracks from the best the city has to offer.

And if you’re an artist or in a band and would like to feature on a forthcoming release, drop us a line.

Acoustic #1 by Titus Pullo

The name of the EP’s a bit of a giveaway: Titus Pullo present four gently romantic acoustic numbers, with Robson’s distinctive sugar-coated sandpaper vocals giving them the feel of ripped up love letters pieced back together with tape.

Live By The Sword is a standout, with acoustic guitar, piano and strings embracing each other warmly in an emotional and affecting number. “You don’t have to make it alone,” sings Robson, and the song’s melancholic theme of undying devotion packs quite a punch: and ably demonstrates Robson’s considerable songwriting skills.

Pieces of Me follows a similar musical path, yet this time one walked by a spurned lover. And by the time the spine-tingling chorus has played for a third time, the song has lodged inside somewhere between your heart and the pit of your stomach.

Whilst it’s difficult to imagine the first two songs delivered other than acoustically, the more upbeat So Wonderful sounds as though it could stand its ground fully amped rather than unplugged; though the strums and picks of the acoustic treatment and the female backing harmonies give it a shine which still appeals.

In another example of appropriate naming, the EP closes with The End, a slow burner which adds in the strings, keys and harmonies as it progresses, with Richard Beeby and Garry Boyle’s understated production & mixing helping it build into a musical swell capable of sweeping you away.

Titus Pullo make music which will appeal to the romantic in anyone. Lush strings, gently lapping guitar and vocals which sound as though they’ve been up all night: these are excellently-penned star-crossed tunes which only the hardest of hearts will be unmoved by.

Acoustic #1 is available for free download now.

Smoothiesforme - New Beginnings

Smoothiesforme is a talented 17 year-old singer songwriter from Edinburgh. In 2010, she made it through to the finals of The Forth One To Watch Awards, and her self-penned and produced songs have gone on to win her acclaim and fans alike.

New Beginnings is a free-to-download EP, serving as a taster for her full Road To Happiness album – but also as an appetising product in its own right.

Smoothiesforme’s vocals have a vulnerable delicacy to them; a breathiness and tremulous quality which is both distinctive and mature. This is ably demonstrated on EP opener Forbidden, a deep and enveloping production spun with plucked arpeggio guitar wrapped warmly in sweeping strings, creating a subtle track which swells and ebbs like the ocean on a moonlit night.

“There is a road to happiness, we just haven’t found it yet,” she sings, summing up the melancholic lyrical themes on offer on New Beginnings: tales of love lost all too quickly, yet with a sense of optimism and self-belief driving them forward.

Will This Ever End? Is poppier and more upbeat, featuring a keyboard refrain which shoots through the track, giving it an energy and mood completely different to Forbidden. Smoothiesforme’s vocal delivery is the same however: understated and fragile, yet with an undertone of strength which results in a unique and compelling whole. An ambient remix of the song is also included, giving the original much more space to move, like a dancer alone in an empty ballroom just after midnight.

Like A Fool is perhaps the standout track on offer here: with its haunting guitar and moody, claustrophobic production, it begins in atmospheric style before slipping into a shuffling rhythm as it builds in intensity like a slow-burning flame. By the end, only the ashes of Like A Fool are left, but its powerful imprint remains, seared into your memory.

Into His Arms wears its beautiful melancholic heart on its sleeve, the guitar and strings underscoring a mesmerising song of broken-hearted loss and betrayal.

“You are nothing without me,” she sings on the final song Wreckage, which sums up this talented singer’s attitude perfectly: a new, independent voice which will make you sit up and take notice with its confidence and strength as much as for its youth.

Smoothiesforme is most definitely One To Watch: but above all, one to listen to and follow as she journeys from these new beginnings into a future which looks set to be bright for her indeed.

You can keep up with Smoothiesforme’s news and latest songs on her Facebook page and YouTube channel. Road To Happiness is available to download now.

“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.