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….




©Claire Loughran
Clare Sands playing at Tradfest
1.

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


2.

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.

18 May 2024

 


3.

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

 


4.

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.


5.

Edinburgh Castle Concerts

Set against the backdrop of the mighty Edinburgh Castle, concert venues don’t get more majestic than this. Normally filled with daytime visitors, the castle’s esplanade is transformed into a nighttime venue for a series of concerts.

From ska and indie to pop and Celtic rock, 2024’s programme offers an electric mix of artists, including Madness, JLS, Manic Street Preachers and Suede, The National, Skipinnish and Paul Weller.

05 to 13 July 2024


6.

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


7.

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


8.

Party at the Palace

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

2024’s line-up includes UB40, Lulu, Heaven 17, Go West, Ronan Keating, Bananarama and The Farm.

10 to 11 August 2024


9.

Edinburgh Summer Sessions

A fixture on Edinburgh’s music festival calendar since 2018, Edinburgh Summer Sessions will be setting up stage at the Royal Highland Centre.

Ocean Colour Scene will be headlining, alongside The View, Embrace on 17 August, while 24 August will play host to Catfish and the Bottlemen.

17 to 24 August 2024


10.

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.


La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. Looking at lower bar from dancefloor,© La Belle Angele
11.

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.

2025 dates tbc.


Harpists at Edinburgh International Harp Festival
12.

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, 2025 will mark the festival’s 44th anniversary.

2025 dates tbc. 


©Hannah Metcalfe
Terminal V Festival
13.

Terminal V Festival

With a huge line-up of House and Techno DJs, Terminal V Festival is Scotland’s biggest electronic music festival.

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

2025 dates tbc. 

14.

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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