Hogmanay, live music

Music Festivals in Edinburgh

Ranging from 1 day to 10 days, techno to folk, intimate to large-scale and everything in between, whatever kind of music fan you are, there’s a festival in Edinburgh for you.

Here’s our top suggestions for 2024 and beyond….



© La Belle Angele
La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. Looking at lower bar from dancefloor,© La Belle Angele
1.

Red Crust Festival

This 3-day rock and metal event showcases the best of heavy underground music in Scotland and beyond.

Featuring 50+ bands catch it at five of the city’s bars: La Belle Angele, Bannermans Bar, Legends, the Banshee Labyrinth and the Mash House.

29 to 31 March 2024


Scottish Harp Festival
2.

Edinburgh International Harp Festival

The UK’s premier harping event, Edinburgh International Harp Festival is a celebration and gathering of musical talents from across the global harp community.

The flagship event of The Clarsach Society, 2024 marks the festival’s 43rd anniversary and takes place over 5 days at the city’s George Watson’s College.

5 to 9 April 2024


Image Credit: Hannah Metcalfe
Terminal V Festival
3.

Terminal V Festival

Terminal V Festival returns to Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre with a huge line up of House and Techno DJ’s.

Running over 2 days, festival goers will be entertained by some of the world’s biggest electronic music acts in a mix of both indoor and outdoor sites.

13 to 14 April 2024


Falasgair, Tradfest
4.

Edinburgh Tradfest

Showcasing the very best of traditional and folk music from Scotland and around the world, Edinburgh Tradfest’s 11-day festival also features an outstanding line up film, storytelling, talks and workshops.

Performances are spread across several of the city’s venues.

03 to 13 May 2024


5.

FLY Open Air

2024 sees FLY Open Air once again soaring into Edinburgh.

Featuring 2 days of electronic dance entertainment keep an eye on their website and social channels for act announcements.

17 to 19 May 2024

 


6.

East Neuk Festival

Perfect for a day out from Edinburgh, and within easy travelling distance, the East Neuk Festival takes place across the River Forth in the Kingdom of Fife.

Founded in 2004, it regularly attracts thousands of visitors, keen to soak up a programme of live music. Events take place in the coastal towns of Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, St Monans and St Andrews in a range of atmospheric venues, from stately homes and gardens to churches, caves and even an ex-nuclear bunker!

26 to 30 June 2024

 


7.

Hidden Door

A project that repurposes empty Edinburgh buildings and brings them back to life by filling them with live music, performance and art, Hidden Door is a truly unique experience for music and arts fans.

Past venues have included an abandoned vault, a hidden courtyard, an old theatre, a former cinema, a gasworks tower, a school and an office complex.

2024 will be their 10th anniversary – follow them online for venue and programme announcements.


8.

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

Now over 40 years old, the joyful and flamboyant Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is one of the largest jazz festivals in Europe.

Attracting major international names as well as those from the growing Scottish contemporary jazz scene, visitors are able to enjoy a wide range of styles, from 1920s traditional jazz to electronic blues.

The Festival also includes the epic Mardi Gras and the gloriously colourful Edinburgh Festival Carnival. Watch the cavalcade of dancers, acrobatics, drummers and musicians weave their way from the Mound to the west end of Princes Street, before finishing with a spectacular concert of colour and sounds.

12 to 21 July 2024


9.

The Edinburgh International Festival

Gearing up for its 77th year, The Edinburgh International Festival attracts a worldwide audience of around 500,00 people to the city and is a cultural celebration of all performing arts.

Its music programme is renowned for attracting huge names from all genres. Past guests have included the likes of Kae Tempest, Mogwai, Ezra Furman and Herbie Hancock and you can be guaranteed that the 2024 programme will be equally eclectic.

02 to 25 August 2024


Image credit Ryan Buchanan
Connect Music Festival Crowd
10.

Connect Music Festival

Originally running for two years in 2007 and 2008, Connect Music Festival was successfully relaunched in Edinburgh in 2022.

Boasting international acts alongside the finest talent Edinburgh has to offer, past line-ups have included Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, Young Fathers and Beth Orton.

2024 dates tbc


11.

Party at the Palace

Around 20 minutes by train, Party at the Palace at Linlithgow is within easy commutable distance from Edinburgh.

With more than 50 acts over 2 days, 2023 welcomed many big names, including Shed Seven, OMD, Scouting for Girls and Callum Beattie.

Tickets for 2024 are on sale now.

10 to 11 August 2024


12.

The Scots Fiddle Festival

Since its establishment in 1996, The Scots Fiddle Festival has brought together worldwide performers to promote, sustain and celebrate traditional Scots fiddle music.

The festival takes place at the Pleasance in the city’s Old Town.

15 to 17 November 2024.


13.

Listen Up

While visiting Edinburgh for a festival, have a listen to the city’s thriving online community radio station, EHFM.

Since its set up in 2018, the station broadcasts 24/7 and local presenters offer an eclectic range of shows, from underground electronic music to punk rock, spoken word and even live debates and discussions.


Guide to Live Music in Edinburgh

From small intimate bars to vast music halls, Edinburgh is home to a fantastic range of venues for music lovers.


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