Guide to the Best Live Music in Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland’s vibrant capital, is renowned for its rich musical heritage, offering an eclectic array of live music venues that cater to all tastes. From traditional Scottish folk to cutting-edge indie and everything in between, this city pulses with the rhythm of live performances every night. Our guide is your key to unlocking the best live music in Edinburgh, where the streets and venues are alive with the sound of music. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, an aficionado of jazz, rock, or classical, you’ll find the heartbeat of Edinburgh’s music scene in our carefully curated selections.
Discovering Edinburgh’s Finest: A Tour of the Best Live Music Bars
Music fans can now use the recently released live music Edinburgh guide to discover the best places to catch bands live. From Usher Hall to cosy bars, Edinburgh has plenty of live music venues that make up its vibrant live music scene.
For an array of concerts, try Usher Hall. This venue hosts artists across genres, from classical to rock.
This table provides a snapshot of Edinburgh’s diverse and thriving live music scene, highlighting some of the best venues across the city where locals and visitors can experience the best live music in Edinburgh.
| Venue Name | Location | Music Genre | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Jazz Bar | Chambers Street | Jazz, Blues | It is renowned for its intimate atmosphere and exceptional live jazz and blues performances. |
| Stramash | Cowgate | Various | The large venue is known for its vibrant live music scene, hosting a range of genres from folk to rock. |
| Whistlebinkies | South Bridge | Rock, Folk | A lively spot with a traditional Scottish vibe, featuring nightly live rock and folk music. |
| Sneaky Pete’s | Cowgate | Electronic, Indie | A small, iconic venue championing upcoming electronic and indie artists. |
| Bannerman’s Bar | Cowgate | Rock, Alternative | A go-to for underground rock and alternative music enthusiasts. |
| Henry’s Cellar Bar | Morrison Street | Jazz, Experimental | Offers an eclectic mix of live jazz and experimental music in a cosy setting. |
| The Caves | Niddry Street South | Various, Events | Unique historic venue hosting a variety of music events and shows in a cave-like setting. |
| Leith Depot | Leith Walk | Indie, Acoustic | Community-focused bar with strong lineups of indie and acoustic acts, fostering local talent. |
| Summerhall | Newington | Diverse Arts Venue | Not just a bar but an arts venue, offering a range of music and cultural events. |
| Freddy’s Edin | Central Edinburgh | Experience a diverse range of live music performances. | Known for its eclectic live performances and vibrant atmosphere, it is a popular music party spot. |
Best Live Music Bars in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is renowned as a city of culture, famous for its amazing displays of literature, science, performing arts, and film. But Edinburgh also serves as an incredible music capital, boasting both large venues and smaller bars offering distinct sounds as well as speakeasies to find live music performances despite perennial complaints that nothing ever happens there! There are plenty of spots in Edinburgh offering live music experiences; all you need to know is where to look!
Freddy’s Edin
One of our top picks for best live music in Edinburgh is Freddy’s Edin, a relatively new addition to Edinburgh’s live music scene. This venue has quickly made a name for itself. Known for its lively atmosphere and diverse range of live music performances, it’s become a popular destination for those looking to experience the best live music in Edinburgh. From up-and-coming local bands to well-known artists, Freddy’s Edin offers a vibrant and eclectic mix of music, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
This venue boasts an enjoyable ambience, with friendly and accommodating staff to make your night enjoyable. There is enough room to stretch out comfortably. As a dynamic and high energy party parlour with live music and a selection of drinks in the cocktail bar, this space provides many excellent entertainment opportunities.
The Jazz Bar
The Jazz Bar is an intimate venue where jazz musicians can perform for audiences in Los Angeles. Established by jazz drummer and promoter Bill Kyle in 2005 on Chambers Street in Downtown LA, its goal was to showcase local jazz talent. Since its opening, it has become one of the city’s go-to spots for live jazz performances, with its intimate setting creating the ideal environment for late-night dancing!
Edinburgh offers an amazing live music scene for listeners of all kinds and genres. Bars, pubs, and clubs feature everything from folk to rock and indie genres, plus there are multiple festivals, such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to enjoy live tunes all year long! It’s easy to find an ideal gig here in Edinburgh’s bustling music scene!
Edinburgh is known for its lively music scene and offers an abundance of bars and pubs that feature live performances each night of the week. Some venues may be small, while others offer larger venues that showcase different genres, from Celtic folk music to stripped-back acoustic jazz performances.
The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak pub in Edinburgh, Scotland, is an essential stop for music fans. Renowned for hosting live performances daily and offering an eclectic variety of styles and genres of music, the venue offers something to satisfy every musical taste. Perfect for meeting friends for drinks after work!
The Royal Oak is an ideal venue for watching Scottish bands perform. This large venue is very popular with locals and offers an excellent selection of drinks to make an enjoyable visit even better. Furthermore, staff are extremely welcoming and the venue runs efficiently.
One festival to consider visiting this summer is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held annually and featuring musical performances from all around the globe. It’s an ideal way to spend your summer enjoying beautiful music!
The Royal Oak also hosts a ceilidh, a traditional Scottish dance event. A band will play traditional Scottish tunes while audience members dance; couples dance with other couples arranged into pairs based on gender; the music can be loud at first but once you get used to it, it becomes tremendously enjoyable!
The Caves
Edinburgh’s pub and club scene is famed for the quality of live music that it features. Ranging from folk to heavy guitar music to techno performances, there’s sure to be something suitable for your musical taste in Edinburgh’s pubs and clubs! Former churches and purpose-built concert halls host concerts, offering a range of intimate to large-scale gigs throughout the year, as well as festivals held year-round.
Cowgate in Old Town offers venues catering to a wide variety of musical tastes. At Whistlebinkies, you can experience its vibrant acoustic live music pub scene, or barhop in this area, as it boasts numerous late-night venues.
Bannermans is an underground lair that hosts nightly gigs in its grungy vaults, while Banshee Labyrinth is considered Scotland’s Most Haunted Pub and hosts open mic nights and battles of the bands, with various clubs catering for every dance music lover as well.
Leith has emerged as an incubator of alternative musical talent, with James Yorkston and King Creosote making waves on the international music scene. Leith’s vibrant arts scene encourages musicians of all genres to settle there and call Leith their home.
For an intimate celebration, visit one of Edinburgh’s restaurants or hotels hosting Hogmanay events. These events typically include dinner, drinks, dancing, and live entertainment; some even offer tickets to street parties if desired—perfect for avoiding getting lost among large crowds at main events! Some establishments even host their own ceilidhs; just make sure to book early, as some venues may have limited capacity!