July’s headline is Fife’s finest musical duo The Coaltown Daisies.  Gorgeous songwriting, stunning vocal harmonies and expert guitar work mean this will be another night you’d be an idiot to miss!

The Coaltown Daises fuse together the musical stylings of established singer-songwriters, Lynzy Moutter and Vivienne Bern. Both have an abundance of experience in a variety of areas of music from organising one of Fife’s most successful music nights to recording in Hollywood with highest calibre of session musicians. It is no surprise that their shared passion for music in all shapes and sizes steered them towards meeting in the middle and collaborating just last year. Detailing their music with dual harmonies, intelligent lyrics and raw emotion, they want nothing more than to perform in front of a great audience.

The Coaltown Daisies are Lynzy Moutter and Vivienne Bern.

As ever, we have 3 stunning support acts: former Rags and Feathers frontman Tom Snowball, Baby Taylor and Johnny Pugh.

See you there!

Where: Medina (below Negociants, Lothain Street)

When: Tuesday July 5th 2011 – Doors 7:30pm

How much: TOTALLY FREE!  (plus cheap booze)

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Leith has a thriving music scene of it’s own and we’ve found the perfect space to run our new events in the friendly atmosphere of Bond No. 9 on Commercial Street.

As a Tuesday night is a school night and doesn’t suit some folks, our new events will be early evening on lazy Sundays to glean the most from your weekend.  Live music will run from 6pm until 9pm so plenty of time to get home for your beauty sleep and also make the most of your afternoon.  DJ Si will provide lounging grooves as always.

Don’t worry – our regular monthly events in Medina continue as normal – we just thought we’d bring you a little extra.

So the Acoustic Edinburgh Sunday Sessions are born – with our first event this Sunday (May 15th).

The format will remain the same – 3 support acts and a headliner – and for our first event we’re proud to present a headline from stunning Inverness based band: James Mackenzie and the Aquascene

Words from their website: “2010 proved an outstanding debut year for James Mackenzie and the Aquascene, with the young Highland band delivering across a series of festivals including goNORTH, RockNess, Belladrum and a triumphant main stage appearance at Loopallu. July 2010 saw the release of the their debut EP, Frase and Phable, and the band embarking on a series of dates and small tours which ensured the initial press quickly sold out and generated a significant fan base. This blizzard of activity also saw the band gaining support from a host of regional media, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1 in Scotland, but more importantly, establishing a strong, coherent identity, and front man Mackenzie developing into a charismatic and engaging presence in the live environment.”

And here’s what the press had to say:

“James Mackenzie and the Aquascene’s creative development in the last twelve months has been substantial and frontman Mackenzie has matured at considerable speed as a songwriter.”Northings Arts Journal

“The local act delivered a fine set of languid, string laden folk-rock, which at times was very impressive indeed. Their set boasted some genuinely lovely meditative wanderings; among them was ‘The Boat Song’, which demonstrated a range of musical and lyrical strengths which promises much for the future.” HI-Arts

“Melodic, yearning singer-songwriter set apart from run of the mill thanks to appealingly unpolished strings and harmonies. There’s something tender and rather promising going on here.” ICA

Support slots from some Acoustic Edinburgh regulars: Keith Paton (of Hoochie Fig), Douglas Kay and our own Paul Gilbody.

FREE ENTRY!

GREAT FOOD!

LIVE MUSIC 6pm-9pm (but get down early!)

SEE YOU THERE!

Related show

• Artist: James Mackenzie and the Aquascene
• Date: Sunday, May 15th 2011
• Time: 5:30pm
• City: James Mackenzie and the Aquascene in Edinburgh
• Venue: Bond No. 9
• Address: 84 Commercial Street, Leith
• Venue phone: 0131 555 5578
• Country: United Kingdom
• Admission: FREE!
• Notes: Our first Acoustic Edinburgh Sunday Sessions! Headline from Inverness based James Mackenzie and the Aquascene with support from Keith Paton, Douglas Kay and Paul Gilbody
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

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This month’s Acoustic Edinburgh headline act is a breath of fresh musical air. Tom McConnell’s infectious songwriting brings obvious folk influences, but he blends it with a surprising soulful voice and a judicious touch of loop-pedal shenanigans. Topping it off with masterful guitar and banjo playing, you’re left with a performer who creates a perfect mix of mellow and catchy songs. I think it’s safe to say you’ll all enjoy his set!

Joining Tom this week will be a lovely line-up of support acts from Amie Amis, Douglas Kay and Graeme Mearns.

As ever, the doors will open soon after 7.30, the venue is Medina, and the entrance price is FREE!

Also, now Medina is under new management, all drinks are on special offer for the night. Most will only cost you £1.50!

See you all there!
Si

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Long-term fans of Acoustic Edinburgh will recognise the powerful vocalist behind this month’s headline act. Hannah O’Reilly headlined for us a couple of years ago and is now back with a new band Augustalia, fresh from the launch of their debut EP, “It’s Never too Late to Ask for your Knickers Back”. Just like their song-titles, Augustalia take no prisoners with their mischievous brand of noir alt-country. They will make you feel you’ve stumbled into a cabaret bar that’s only known to a select few initiates. Don’t worry – they’ll make you feel welcome!

Joining them this week will be a stellar line-up of musicianship from Hailey Beavis, Hercules Mandarin, and Keith Paton of Hoochie Fig fame.

As ever, the doors will open soon after 7.30, the venue is Medina, and the entrance price is FREE!

See you all there!
Si

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This month we’re excited to welcome the return of Leeds-based songsmith Gary Stewart.

Gary is well-known to regular Acoustic Edinburgers, having made the trip up to perform for us for the last few years including to promote his stunning EP “Tables, Trees and Tripods“.  We’re very happy he’s stopping by at Acoustic Edinburgh for the Edinburgh leg of his UK tour to promote his long awaited debut album “Boy Cries Wolf“.

“This record is a fresh take on classic folk, a fine example of musicianship and a collection of great pop songs but if nothing else, it just makes you happy.” (The Leeds Scenester)

We also have sets from a couple of our favourite acts: Paul Gladwell and John Sloan, as well as a debut from exciting newcomer Tom McConnell – expect some loop pedal antics!

(DJ) Si has swanned off to California so you’re at the mercy of Paul G for your incidental music!

Doors: 7:30pm

Price: FREE!

Tell your friends and see you there!

Paul

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What better way to end the year than with one of our favourite and most regular performers (Douglas Kay) who after a 6 year wait, finally released his 2nd album “Into your head” earlier this month at The Voodoo Rooms. The album launch was completely sold out so if you couldn’t get a ticket, here’s your chance to find out what all the fuss was about.

He’ll be headlining with The Douglas Kay Band and no doubt inspiring you with some Christmas gift ideas!
Also on the bill is John Sloan‘s brand new outfit United Wire, a debut from incredible Fife-based trio Bob Hillary and the Massive Mellow, the return of the inimitable Graeme Mearns and some loop pedal voodoo from our own Paul Gilbody.

This is our final event of 2009 and it’s promising to be a cracker! (pun intended…)

See you there!
Paul & Si.

Of Douglas Kay:

“delightful… beautiful acoustic melodies” Karen Dorrat, T-Break Reviews

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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

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We know it’s an enormous privilege to organise a well-established musical showcase like Acoustic Edinburgh, but occasionally something happens that reminds Paul and I just how lucky we are. For example, a couple of months ago we were astonished to get an email from the wonderful POLLY PAULUSMA saying she was going to be touring the UK and would love to be able to visit Edinburgh and play at Medina. “Yes!”, we said.

Polly has just released her second album on One Little Indian (Bjork’s record label) to great critical acclaim. Her debut album, “Scissors in my Pocket”, was a purely acoustic affair bringing her comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Carol King with critics falling in love with her warm husky vocal style. Her follow-up, “Fingers and Thumbs”, sees her working with Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Gomez, Badly Drawn Boy) to develop a new rawness to her sound taking inspiration from the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kings of Leon. Needless to say, Polly is an exceptional performer much in demand (fans of hers include none other than Bob Dylan) and you’d be mad to miss the chance to see her in the cosy Acoustic Edinburgh venue.

As ever, you can listen to Polly’s music – and tracks by all the other great acts we have playing this week – by following the links above.

Hope to see you all there… this is going to be a good one!

Si

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Stepping in at the last minute to replace the unfortunately poorly Stealer this month is PAUL GLADWELL and his band, bringing great songwriting, cello, piano and guitar to Medina. Paul cites his influences as including Rufus Wainwright, Richard Thompson and Nick Harper and I think this gives you an idea of the quality to expect.

In addition to Paul, we’ve got four other extraordinary acoustic acts: the undisputed maestro of the looping pedal, WOUNDED KNEE, quirky psychedelic pop from THE SUNDANCER, spine-tingling soulful vocals from Acoustic Edinburgh alumnus, JOHN SLOAN, and bluesy folk from ANDERS INGRAM to start the evening off. Should be a pretty eclectic night… even for us!

See you all there,

Si

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Firstly, sorry this update is coming to you even later than usual – we’ve been doing some last-minute rushing around trying to get you the very best line-up for this month to celebrate the start of the sunny weather. Of course, most of you already know that Acoustic Edinburgh is *always* worth coming to!

Anyway, I’m really looking forward to this month’s line-up – we’ve got a crazy mix of duelling banjos, heartfelt blues and acoustic grooves in addition to our fantastic headline act. LITTLE DOSES’ catchy rock’n'roll has been getting them great reviews from the critics with a bewildering array of comparisons to everyone from PJ Harvey through Stevi Nicks to Grandaddy and Elastica. The band, which includes ex members of Snow Patrol and Degrassi, are an energetic live outfit and this will be an amazing opportunity to hear them raw and unplugged.

See you all tomorrow (or this evening depending on when you read this!)

Si

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