Featuring: THE ELEMENTS,  with CHRIS BRADLEY, EWAN MACPHERSON, NICK KEIR, DANIEL MCGEEVER

From: 9:00 - 12:00. Free entry!

Who are the best-loved regulars at Acoustic Edinburgh over the years? If we were to compile a list, you can be sure that three singers would be on that list somewhere: Alan Davison, Shona Brodie and Dougie Kay. So, we’re in for a treat this month as Edinburgh’s newest supergroups comes to Acoustic Edinburgh with *all three of them* together! THE ELEMENTS is Alan’s brainchild and with it he aims to bring together the best of Edinburgh’s musicians. You can get a sense of what the band is all about by checking out their video online here. See how many of Edinburgh’s great and good you can spot! Eventually, the hope is to have 15-20 collaborating in writing and putting on huge live events.

So… best catch them now before they’re way too big for Medina’s bijou stage!

Joining The Elements this month, we have a return visit from CHRIS BRADLEY - sure to be a superstar by this time next year - along with EWAN MACPHERSON’s beautiful down-tempo folk, accomplished songwriting from the hugely experienced NICK KEIR, and a mellow acoustic 60’s vibe from Alfonzo’s frontman DANIEL MCGEEVER.

See you all there!

Si

Featuring: Rags and Feathers, Gecko 3’s Marty Philip, Rob Sproul-Cran, Colour Green, Paul Gilbody

From: 9:00 - 12:00. Free entry!

A few months ago I was lucky enough to be in one of Edinburgh’s ”other” basement music venues to catch an extraordinary, luminous set of modern down-tempo folk music with just a dash of Americana. Well, within a couple of bars I was captivated and knew that we had to get them to visit Edinburgh again for a headline set at Acoustic Edinburgh. Luckily enough, they’ve just released their debut album ”The Other Side Of Morning” and this proved the perfect time to get the incredible RAGS AND FEATHERS to make the trek east.

Now, I know I’ve used words like “unmissable” more than a few times over the years in these emails. But… but… really… you’d be daft not to take this chance to hear them! If you don’t believe me, how about a second opinion (or three)?

“Wow, now here is an exciting band…this is downbeat, low key Velvet Underground-style country and western singer/songwriting that just gets better and better with repeated listens…..Incredible stuff.”
Rick Fulton, The Daily Record

“It is a belief of mine that if Rags & Feathers were to forward “Talk Show Host” to the desk of Phil Spector, superstardom would beckon… wonderfully free-thinking in sound and lyrics, putting the mind at ease. Just sit back and let the music unhinge the doors of your mind.” Bluesbunny

“best new band I’ve heard this year” Simple Folk Radio

Failing that, listen to their songs on: www.myspace.com/ragsandfeathersmusic

As ever at Acoustic Edinburgh, the headline act is not the only musical treat of the night. With four other superb acts playing throughout the night, there’s no better way to spend a chilly Tuesday evening than to lean back on the cushions, sample Medina’s selection of fine beverages, and open your ears…

See you all there!
Si

Featuring: Underbelly, Hannah O’Reilly, Helen Currie, Micah Vincent, Hamish Campbell

From: 9:00 - 12:00. Free entry!

Now the fireworks are over, and Edinburgh suddenly feels empty as the hoards of tourists head back home, it’s easy to forget that we don’t actually need a festival in order to hear great music in our city. Although we love our Acoustic Edinburgh festival shows (and this year was a huge success all round), it’s nice to know we can keep it up all through the year too!

So… if you need a reminder of what great musical talent we’ve got right here on our doorstep, then come down to Medina this tuesday for a fabulous night of original, unplugged live music - absolutely free!

This week, our headline act are the on-the-verge-of-superstardom UNDERBELLY. A band used to wowing audiences with their soaring acoustic/rock cross-over at venues like T in the Park, it’s a great privilege to have them come to the cosy Medina stage to promote their critically acclaimed, epic new EP.

Combine this with a great line-up of soloists throughout the evening, and you’ve got another unmissable Acoustic Edinburgh this month…

See you all there!

Si

Featuring: Found, Chris Bradley, Jake Cogan, James Hara, Douglas Kay Band

From: 9:00 - 12:00. £7 from Fringe Box Office. (A limited number of tickets available at the door on the night).

Yikes! We expected this Festival to be a good one, but I don’t think either Paul or I could have predicted quite how well it was going to work out. We’ve been having great press from the likes of Three Weeks and The List, last night we sold out before the doors even opened despite the crazy rain, and the standard of all our acts have been sensational. But most of all there have been some truly unforgettable moments (Amplifico’s oeuvre being translated magically to ukelele, melodica, trumpet, cello and cajon being one I’ll treasure!)

To add to this all, for the final night of the festival next Tuesday, we’ve got a triumphant return to the Acoustic Edinburgh stage from one of the most memorable headline acts we have ever had at any of our festival gigs. FOUND are truly unique, and that rarest of things these days - genuine and tireless musical innovators. Recently signed to Fence Records and at turns pop and experimental, wonky and tight, acoustic and electronic, they have taken their uncategorisable live show to everywhere from sessions in Abbey Road to the Royal Botanic Garden’s Palm House, via festivals like T in the Park and Connect, since we last saw them at Medina. Apparently we can expect something a bit special for Acoustic Edinburgh from them this time….

Of course, FOUND are just the cherry on a multi-layered musical cake this week. Joining them is a ludicrously good line up of other artists. If you got any one of CHRIS BRADLEY, JAKE COGAN, JAMES HARA, or THE DOUGLAS KAY BAND for only £7 at the festival you’d walk away happy. Come to Medina, and you get the lot!

Do not miss this one.

Si

At last night’s Acoustic Edinburgh, a member of our lovely audience came up to me and asked me about the kind of music I play in between bands. I promised I’d try and remember what music I was playing and post a blog entry. So, here are the tracks as best I can figure out, although many of these I mixed together quite liberally.

(I try and feature acts who have played Acoustic Edinburgh in the past, so I’ve put a star next to all of those in this list.)

• Round about Midnight - Gotan Project meets Chet Baker
• Roads Become Rivers - Rothko (Four Tet remix)
• To Build a Home - The Cinematic Orchestra
• Hello Hammerheads - Caribou
• Sea Shanty - Emily Scott*
• Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine
• She Moves in Secret Ways - Polly Paulusma*
• Lazarus - Sophie Solomon (featuring KT Tunstall* on vocals)
• Church as Witness - King Creosote*
• We Can be Strong - Willy Mason (with KT Tunstall* on backing)
• Melody Day - Caribou (Four Tet remix)
• Atoms for Peace - Thom Yorke (another Four Tet remix!)
• Burnt by the Sun - Sophie Solomon (with Richard Hawley)
• Prescilla - Bat for Lashes
• Ashes - KT Tunstall*
• The Missing Link - Cortney Tidwell
• You’re Really Quite the Catch - Found*
• For the Windows in Paradise - Sujan Stevens

So, there you go. I guess what I learn from this is that I have an unhealthy fascination for Four Tet remixes. Hmmm…

Anyway, thanks to the lovely lass for asking - I hope you managed to find this blog post!

Si

Featuring: Jill Jackson, Davie Lawson, Amplifico, Azadeh, Son of Thom

From: 9:00 - 12:00. £7 from Fringe Box Office. (Some tickets available at the door on the night).

What a start to the festival last week was! Each act wowed Paul and me and a packed Medina alike. I didn’t want it to end, and I could have listened to Edwina all night (even just for the stories).

But… we’re just getting started! This week, we’ve got some of the very best performers who have ever graced the Medina stage. From old regulars like the trail-blazing AMPLIFICO and the humblingly talented SON OF THOM to occasional visitors like DAVIE LAWSON with his extraordinary folk/blues and AZADEH with a spine-tingling voice the BBC described as “pure cashmere - soft, warm, expensive”.

Our headline act, however, is the only one of the Festival that we’ve not had the fortune to have appear in Medina before. Previously the lead singer of Speedway, JILL JACKSON is likely to blow the cobwebs out of every nook and cranny of our venue when she squeezes her band and its Nashville-inspired acoustic country onto the tiny Medina stage.

I predict another memorable night!

Hope to see you all there,

Si

Featuring: Edwina Hayes, Gary Stewart, Rob Howell & James Gibson, Emily Baker, Gilbody & co.

From: 9:00 - 12:00. £7 from Fringe Box Office. (Some tickets available at the door on the night).

It’s the opening night of our very own festival-within-a-festival. Three Weeks said of our Fringe shows, “without doubt the best musical event I’ve seen so far on the Fringe - the music was unbelievably good” and we’re confident that this year’s line-up will be right up there with the very best who have ever played for us over the years.

We’re kicking things off this year with an exciting mix of hugely talented performers. From the opening set featuring our very own PAUL GILBODY’s supergroup of Edinburgh’s finest, through EMILY BAKER’s songwriting brilliance, ROB HOWELL & JAMES GIBSON’s Nizlopi-inspired energy, and GARY STEWART’s accomplished folk-rock, we have a night where anyone could have been a headliner.

However, someone has to round the evening off, and ever since we had EDWINA HAYES visit Edinburgh and play a short set last year, we knew we’d be having her back to play a full set as soon as possible. Nanci Griffith described Edwina as “so gifted and full of song, with a voice as sweet as the angels”, and we can only agree. She’s an immensely experienced and captivating performer - it’s impossible not to fall in love with her music on first listen, and we can’t think of a better way to start our month of music!

See you there!

Simon

Once again, we’re running every Tuesday during the Festival this year to bring you an extraordinary line-up of acts for a ludicrously low ticket price of only £7.

You will not see anything else at the Festival this year that is even close to being this kind of value for money! Each night runs from 9pm-12pm, and tickets can be bought in advance from the Fringe box office. If the box office sells out, then it’s still worth coming down to Medina because we’ll be keeping a proportion of tickets back to sell at the door.

Here are our acts for each night:

5th August :: Edwina Hayes, Paul Gilbody, Gary Stewart, Emily Baker, tbc

12th August :: Jill Jackson, Son of Thom, Davie Lawson, Azadeh, Amplifico

19th August :: Found, Douglas Kay Band, James Hara, Jake Cogan, Chris Bradley

See you all there!

Si

As a preview to our stunning line up of Edinburgh Fringe artists we are very excited to present a special event on Saturday night featuring the incredible vocal and songwriting talents of New York based artist Nell Bryden and her band. This will be a double-bill event featuring a full acoustic set also from Edinburgh’s favourite groove trio Gecko 3, fresh from their European tour.
As if this wasn’t enough, there will be a short solo set from award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Peter Katz.

Nell has been touring with Counting Crows this month so don’t miss this very rare chance to see her in our intimate venue! Nell is an immense talent who is teetering on the edge of the big-time. Yet again - you saw her at Acoustic Edinburgh first!

Note this is on saturday rather than our usual tuesday and EARLY start time!

Doors at 7.30pm
Cost on door will be an incredible £5

Set Times
7.40pm Peter Katz
8.00pm Gecko 3
9.00pm Nell Bryden

Featuring: The Gary Stewart Band, Susanna MacDonald, Lisa Paton, Carrie MacDonald, Charlie Jefferson

From: 9.00-12.00, Free Entry

We like to think that if there’s a great musician, talented lyricist,or fabulous singer within easy distance of Edinburgh, then we’ll have had them play for us in Medina at some time or other, but occasionally we realise how wrong we are. This month, for example, we have a stunning line up of artists, all making their Medina debut in their current form. Every one of our acts this month takes modern indie folk in a different direction, combining it with blues, jazz, or pop and demonstrating just how much more there is to hear…

Finishing off a great night this week, the GARY STEWART BAND are traveling up from Leeds to launch their new EP “Tables, Trees andTripods” at Acoustic Edinburgh. This should be a real treat, as Gary is bringing his full band up for the celebrations!

 Hope to see you all there,

Si