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 2023 and beyond….
Music Festival Favourites
- Party at the Palace
- Connect Music Festival
- The Scots Fiddle Festival
- Edinburgh International Harp Festival
- Terminal V Festival
- The Big 90’s & 00’s RNB Festival
- Stag & Dagger Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Tradfest
- Midstock Festival
- FLY Open Air Festival
- Hidden Door Festival
- Lets Rock Scotland
- Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
- The Edinburgh International Festival
- Listen Up
1.
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 is set to welcome many big names, including Shed Seven, OMD, Scouting for Girls and Callum Beattie.
12 – 13 August 2023
Image credit Ryan Buchanan
2.
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, this festival is small but mighty.
25 – 27 August 2023
With a site situated by the airport, it has excellent transport links from the city centre with many hotels close by. The festival also boasts boutique camping as well as relaxation sessions, debates and visual arts.
Simply too many to list here, catch the likes of Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, Young Fathers and Beth Orton at this 3-day extravaganza.
3.
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.
17 – 19 November 2023
4.
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, this year’s festival takes place over 4 days and 5 nights at the city’s George Watson’s College.
7 – 11 April 2024
Image Credit: Hannah Metcalfe
5.
Terminal V Festival
Terminal V Festival returns to Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre for Easter weekend 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.
08 – 09 April 2024
6.
The Big 90’s & 00’s RNB Festival
The 90’s and 00’s returned to O2 Academy Edinburgh this year with The Big 90’s & 00’s RNB Festival.
2024 dates TBC.
7.
Stag & Dagger Edinburgh
Held at various locations across the city, with one ticket providing access to multiple venues, Stag & Dagger Edinburgh’s 2023 line-up included Black Lips, Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage, Scalping and Swim School.
Keep an eye on their social channels for further announcements.
2024 dates TBC.
8.
Edinburgh Tradfest
Showcasing the very best of traditional & folk music from Scotland and around the world, Edinburgh Tradfest’s 11-day festival also features an outstanding line up of talks and commissions.
Performances will be spread across the city’s Traverse Theatre, Assembly Rooms and Potterrow.
2024 dates TBC.
9.
Midstock Festival
Offering a mix of family fun and headline acts, Midstock Festival at Dalkeith Country Park is a 2-day spectacular of music from the UK’s best tribute acts.
2024 dates TBC.
10.
FLY Open Air Festival
2023 sees FLY Open Air Festival soaring into the stately grounds of Hopetoun House in neighbouring South Queensferry.
Featuring 2 days of electronic dance entertainment, acts confirmed so far include Eliza Rose, Interplanetary Criminal, Sarah Story, Amplify and Andromeda Sounds.
2024 dates TBC.
11.
Hidden Door Festival
A project that repurposes empty Edinburgh buildings and brings them back to life by filling them with live music, performance and art, Hidden Door Festival is a truly unique experience for music and arts fans.
2024 dates TBC.
2023 sees the Festival take over a former office near Holyrood Park, just a mile from the city centre, that consists of a series of striking hexagonal spaces.
This year’s theme is Environments, with artists exploring the natural world and our impact on it. Presenting the work of both established and emerging artists, musicians, poets and actors, this 5-day festival offers something for everyone.
12.
Lets Rock Scotland
Experience a blast from the past with Let’s Rock Scotland – The Retro Festival. Touring throughout the UK, this 80’s-inspired festival takes place at Dalkeith Country Park.
2024 TBC
13.
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.
2024 TBC
14.
The Edinburgh International Festival
Gearing up for its 76th 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 2023’s programme will be equally eclectic.
04 – 27 August 2023
15.
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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Live Music Bars in Edinburgh
You don’t need to look far to find a fantastic array of live music in Edinburgh. On any given night of the week a variety of music is performed in the city’s pubs and bars.
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Live music venues in Edinburgh
From 18th century purpose-built concert halls to former churches and sporting stadiums, Edinburgh is home to an array of top notch live music venues.
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Nightclubs in Edinburgh
From 80s classics to techno, whatever keen of club music you’re into, Edinburgh is packed with an array of clubs where you’ll be able to dance away into the wee small hours!
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The Edinburgh Music Map
Explore our guide to a selection of Edinburgh’s much loved music venues, bars, places of interest and record shops.