Folk Music in Edinburgh?

Subject: BS: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: DougR
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 12:57 PM

My wife and I will be in Edinburgh for three days in September. Any suggestions for Edinburgh Pubs that feature traditional music? 'Twould be appreciated. We are going to be staying in central Edinburgh.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 02:17 PM

Look at the forums on the Footstompin list (www.footstompin.com), this is a regular question there.

Sandy Bells (Scottish on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday nights, Irish most other nights) and the Tass (Scottish most nights) are always worth a try, but there are several others with a session one night a week, and others that have regular guest singers or bands. The Royal Oak is a pub that acts as a regular (very small) concert venue. And Edinburgh Folk Club meets in a concert venue that feels like a pub.

You don't need to restrict yourself to the centre, the bus service is good enough to get you back from events even as far out as Musselburgh, Balerno or Penicuik.

For something really different, try the storytelling night (last Friday of the month) upstairs at the Waverley Bar ("The Guid Crack Club").

I'll be away for part of September (I'm a regular at Sandy Bells on Sundays, sporadically at other sessions).

Subject: RE: BS: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: DougR
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 02:20 PM

Thanks, Jack, I appreciate your advice. Unfortunately we will not be in the city on a Friday night.

DougR

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: avrosimones
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 04:59 AM

Sandy Bells comes highly recommended.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: GUEST,Northerner
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 10:27 AM

I would second everything that Jack has said. Bumped into Jack at a session at Sandy Bell's a year or so ago with my shakers - hi Jack!! Sandy Bell's yes - but it can be horrendously overcrowded. Tass has some nice acts - a decent meal too and only a stone's throw from the Scottish Storytelling Centre. With a bit of clever planning you may well be able to go to a storytelling event earlier in the day and then go on to a pub for music and song - I do!!! Royal Oak too - has a good club on a Sunday evening. Don't forget the White Hart in the Grassmarket. It has a really pleasant atmosphere and isn't as crowded as Sandy Bell's. There was a really good old-fashioned ceilidh band playing on the Thursdays at the White Hart - really good atmosphere.

I'll be back up to Edinburgh again in the autumn for more workshops (I'm going to storytelling workshops at the centre) and am looking forward to the music pubs again.

Diane

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: redsnapper
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 10:37 AM

Are you just in Edinburgh DougR or are you venturing further North as well?

RS

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 12:16 PM

The White Hart session (Monday nights, mostly Scottish) stopped. The same people now lead the Monday night one at the Tass. It's a quiet night so you can hear everything and it's a nice varied mix.

Northerner came to Sandy Bell's on a Friday night, which is one of the busiest. The Sunday afternoon session is a lot quieter. But Bell's is a long thin pub, so even when it's jampacked with drinkers, most of the noise doesn't get down to the musicians' table. (Conversely, you won't hear the music at all if you're beside the door).

There is a monthly listings leaflet called "The Gig Guide", distributed in quite a few places around town, which includes folk/trad events. The listings columns in newspapers and magazines (the Metro, The List) are pretty useless for anything but mainstream pop.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 12:36 PM

The Royal Oak has sessions too. I went there during Eburgh Festival last year and stumbled out at 4 am.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 07:50 PM

Check out the Royal Oak in Infirmary Street, From Princes St. going towards the Bridges it's on the left hand side.I have been there many times, one of my favourate regulars is Neil Thompson.

Have a great time
Bill the sound

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Declan
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 08:26 PM

Ruth,

That's an occupational hazzard at the Oak, as I well know from experience of previous trips. Will probably be in Bells and the Oak sometime around 12th August.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Jim I
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 05:13 PM

You can also get The Gig Guide on the net at

http://www.gigguide.co.uk/edinburgh.htm

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 08:13 PM

The Ensign Ewart on the Royal Mile used to be good but I have not tried it for several years.
Bill the sound
PS
Ruth- why did you leave early?

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Cod Fiddler
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 04:51 AM

Best sessions I found were in the Royal Oak (basement bar) and the Antiquary on St Stephen Street (I think it's thursday nights). Sandy Bells was nice but didn't compare but it might just have been a quiet night.

Richard.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 07:54 AM

I go to the Antiquary sometimes and was there playing last night. There aren't many buses there (none at the time it finishes) and it's helluva noisy. The lineup and music are quite variable. Can be very good, though, and it's been a lot better since the smoking ban.

There is a smaller session in the same part of town at Bert's Bar in Raeburn Place on Monday nights.

One problem with central Edinburgh session pubs is that the drinks tend to be more expensive than the norm. I guess this is why the publicans like having the music.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Jul 07 - 08:01 PM

If you're in Edinburgh on the first Tuesday of September (4th), there's a session in Balerno in the "Grey Horse" pub in the Main street: mixed siniging and instrumental, from about 8.15.p.m. As Jack says, the no 44 bus (LRT or First Bus)will get you pretty near to the door.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: GUEST,Mad Jock
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 03:57 PM

Yes Sandy Bells, The Wee Folk Club At the Royal Oak downstairs ( concerts every day in Aug as part of the festival so try get there earlier than Sept!) and good sessions upstairs, The Leith Folk Club in ....Leith just down the road at the Village. The Edinburgh Folk club at the Pleacance. and Penicuik is not too far either if you have a car.

Pick up a "Whats on at most venues, tourist office in Pricess Gardens for lots of info for all kinds of music.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 06:17 PM

The tourist information office is in Princes Street, at the back of the plaza above Waverley Station. It's useless for infomation about folk music. In fact it's useless for damn near anything.

For the Edinburgh Festivals in August, the best summary of folk/trad events is at the Footstompin site:

http://www.footstompin.com/articles/festivals/august/edinburghfringe

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:43 PM

If you're around Edinburgh between 6th-9th September, it's not too far by bus or train to Linlithgow, where there's the 9th annual Folk Festival going on! You can find all the programme details on the website:
www.angelfire.com/music2/linlithgowfolkfest
Leith Folk Club meets every Tuesday night at 8, but Edinburgh Folk Club is on its summer break until 12th September (meets weds nights)

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: GUEST,mad jock
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 05:41 PM

yeah but the "whats On " is Great available at the tourist office and other enues.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: DougR
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 01:19 PM

Thanks, Catters, a lot. Sorry I haven't been able to reply sooner. My computer went kapoot on me. These are excellent suggestions and they are most appreciated.

Redsnapper: We will only be in Edinburgh for a couple of nights. From there we go North to a time-share on Loch Tay (Kenmore). We will take driving trips from there. We enjoyed watching the BBC TV series, "Monarch of the Glen," and thought we might take in some sights in the areas where it was filmed. Also plan to go to the Isle of Skye.

DougR

Subject: RE: Folk Music in Edinburgh?
From: GUEST,Mad Jock
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 11:49 AM

While at Kenmore (lovely place) pop into the Taybank on a FRiday Night or the Pitcairn Green Pub on a Tuesday or even Wednesday (near Perth).
The Royal Hotel in Blairgowrie has a free concert on the First Thursday of each month. Sept 6th. will have Nick Allmark Poss, Angie Wright definetly, Coopers Hoop maybe and others .If you fancy a spot get there 8.30ish.

Oh yes dont forget the Songwriters Festival at the Taybank on Saturday Sept 1st . 12hours of live music FREE!.