Angelica Mode 4****

Angelica Mode are an Edinburgh-based three-piece built around identical Dublin-born twins — singer-songwriter/guitarist Brian Hughes and bassist-synth wielder Martin Hughes — plus Stevie Sticks on drums. Formed in 2020, they’ve clearly spent the last few years chiselling their sound into … Read More

The Katet vs 1995 – 4****

The Katet are back, and the funk is thicker than ever. This time they’ve pointed their horn section squarely at 1995 — a year of Britpop swagger, MTV saturation, and late-night slow jams — and retooled it with syncopated grooves, … Read More

Absolutely (not) Free – An Evening of Zappa – 2**

Any kind of Zappa tribute should feel like a carnival of chaos – sharp wit, wild textures, and that unmistakable sonic mischief. What we got, down in the hot basement under the bridge, was closer to a blurred echo. Yes, … Read More

The Blondie Story – 5*****

A phenomenal show capturing the rise and influence of punk pioneers Blondie.

The band kicked off at a high tempo before Reine Beau took the stage, setting the tone for an energetic and engaging performance. The story of Blondie was … Read More

MASSAOKE: Sing The Musicals 4****

I love a musical and I really love a karaoke so this was a must see for me, unlike the more adult, late night Massaoke sessions, this show took place in the early afternoon and was designed for all ages … Read More

Joni Mitchell: Take Me As I Am 5*****

There are tribute shows, there are impersonations — and then there is what Rainee Blake achieves in Joni Mitchell: Take Me As I Am. This is not mimicry; it is possession. When she returns to Edinburgh with her barefoot muse of … Read More

Ella 5*****

Some performances creep up on you. Others hit you the moment the first note leaves the singer’s mouth. Twenty-year-old Sarah Omar falls firmly into the latter. The set-up is understated: star cloth backdrop, grand piano, a single mic. Sarah walks … Read More

The Tenement Jazz Band – Red Hot Roots of Jazz 5*****

Edinburgh’s Tenement Jazz Band – Fringe stalwarts and a five-piece slice of pure joy – are that big, hot, comforting pot that reminds you why music is meant to be shared in the first place. No gimmicks, no ironic detachment, … Read More

The 80’s Movie Mix Tape – Night Owl Shows 5*****

As a big 80’s fan I was eagerly looking forward to seeing this one and I wasn’t disappointed. The auditorium consisting of an age range from 19 to 80 (See what I did there) had an air of expectancy as … Read More

Lean On Me: A Bill Withers Tribute! 5****

Perfection. A love letter to groove, grit and soul — and a near-spiritual reminder of how good live music can feel when played by masters who get it. What began as a Bill Withers tribute became something more: a quasi-recreation … Read More