On this page you will find miscellaneous venues grouped together.
The Abercorn
The Abercorn situated at 46 Portobello Road, Piershill, was a
long standing and popular club and venue.
Aquarius/Citrus Club
Aquarius was in Grindlay street, it then became known as Topo’s,
complete with “phones” in each booth for you to contact people at
other tables!! The “phones” were of course nearly all broken and
didn’t work. Now known as The Citrus Club. One of the first
Associates gigs took place here.
Site of Aquarius/Citrus Club 20th April 2009. ©S.S. 2009.
- 1979 4th September Another Pretty Face, & Trax
- 1979 18th September Flowers & The Zips
- 1979 25th September Trax, & Switch
The Attic
The Attic was a small venue that existed for a few years above where La Sorbonne was situated in the Cowgate.
- 1996 8th December Arab Strap, & Cooper
- 1999 5th May The Dickies, & Caffeine
Blues Basement
The Blues Basement was situated down some steps in Broughton Street.
- 1987 27th November The Pterodaktyls, & 16 Dillons
Buster Browns
Buster Browns was a quintessentially eighties nightclub in Market
street, rumour has it this club played host to the aftershow partys
of both Blondie, and Duran Duran. Now Electric Circus.
- 1983 4th October The Fall
The Cas Rock
The Cas Rock at West Port started off life as The Lord Darnley. Sadly now demolished.
Thank you to Dave of www.gingoblins.com for allowing me to reproduce the posters above.
- 1991 27th April 999 & The Gin Goblins
The Cockburn Lounge
The Cockburn Lounge at 73 Cockburn street, was a poplular
live venue for local bands. Now The Scotsman Lounge.
The Corn Exchange
The Corn Exchange at Chesser, has seen many
bands through the nineties to the
present day, and continues to be a much
needed Edinburgh venue of this size.
- 1999 20th December Travis
- 2000 21st July The Saw Doctors
- 2000 24th August Pulp
- 2000 13th December The Foo Fighters
- 2001 19th November Wheatus
- 2002 23rd March The Strokes
- 2002 20th August Elvis Costello
- 2003 21st May Radiohead
- 2003 18th August Ash
- 2005 26th August Weezer
- 2005 27th October Robert Plant
- 2006 23rd August The Raconteurs
- 2006 20th November Bullet For My Valentine
- 2007 25th February The Fratellis
- 2007 22nd August Interpol
- 2009 25th August Faith No More
Craigmillar Festival/Jack Kane Centre
- 1978 12th August Switch, Giltedge, Helikopter, & Fine Thanks
Craigmillar Park
This Rock Againts Racism event took place on 5th August 1978. Unfortunately The Clash didn’t turn up. It was said that Rock Against Racism had billed The Clash to boost attendance.
Dominion Cinema
Landmark Morningside
cinema was used for a handful of gigs in the late seventies.
- 1977 27th February Brody
- 1977 18th March Joe Pass
Edinburgh Castle
The Castle’s esplanade has been used seasonly as a
special venue with great success. Long may this continue.
- 1989 31st December Duran Duran (Broadcast by BBC New years Live from the great hall).
- 1991 28th August Van Morrison, & Georgie Fame
- 1991 30th & 31st August Runrig
- 1992 2nd September Nigel Kennedy
- 1992 4th September Mike Oldfield (world premier of Tubular Bells II)
- 1992 5th September Wet Wet Wet
- 2001 19th July Status Quo & The Beach Boys
- 2004 18th July Cliff Richard
2007 13th July Blondie, support band Echo & The Bunnymen
The Eldorado Ballroom
The Eldorado Ballroom in Leith was situated in Mill Lane.
This popular ballroom was frequented by visiting sailors, and
the touring big bands. Now demolished.
- 1972 18th February Hawkwind
- 1972 12th May Dr John The Night Tripper
- 1972 2nd June Arthur Brown
- 1972 9th June The Sweet
Eric Browns
Eric Browns was a popular pub opened by golfer Eric Brown in 1974.
It was situated in Dalry road within the buliding that was most recently Maplin etc.
- 1980 9th May Fun City ( Fun City featured Kenny MacDonald from Matt Vinyl & The Decorators, Ronnie MacKinnon from The Valves, and Gary McCormack from TV Art who later evolved into Josef K. After Fun City Gary joined The Exploited, He is now an actor who has appeared in such films as The Acid House, and Gangs Of New York).
- 1980 13th & 14th September The Thompson Twins, support band Local Heroes SW9 No Nukes Benefit Shows (This band featured Kevin Armstrong, who would later play with Thomas Dolby, and Tin Machine, among many others).
The Exchange
The Exchange at 55 Grove Street played host to the likes of KT Tunstall, Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro, The Arctic Monkeys, and Nazareth. Sadly now demolished.
- 2004 20th November Josh Rouse
- 2005 19th October The Arctic Monkeys
- 2006 16th December Propagandhi
Frisco’s Club
Frisco’s Club was the scene of some notable gigs in the
late sixties and early seventies. Accessed through Chalmers Close, just off the High Street. I understand the actual building is now demolished.
Site of Frisco’s 20th April 2009. ©S.S. 2009.
- 1969 14th November David Bowie and Sam Apple Pie (Moved to Friscos from the Caley Cinema)
- 1969 28th November Van Der Graff Generator
The Gamp Club
The Gamp Club was a popular place in sixties Edinburgh, situated above Victoria Street on the walkway known as Victoria Terrace. Thank you very much to Frank Ferri for these ultra rare photos of Johnny Kidd and The Pirates at the venue.
The Gateway Theatre Leith Walk
The Gateway Theatre near the top of Leith Walk was originally a television studio owned by STV, it played host to this Lindsay Kemp production featuring a certain Mr Bowie. This production was later broadcast on Scottish television, and is now available as an extra on the David Bowie DVD Love You Till Tuesday.
- 1970 1st February The Looking Glass Murders (David Bowie plays the part of a cloud in Lindsay Kemps production, STV broadcast date 8th July 1970)
George Square Theatre
The George Square Theatre was used a handfull of times for gigs at the end of the seventies. As part of the university, it is usually used as a lecture theatre with a capacity of just 466.
- 1977 8th December Ian Dury & The Blockheads, & The Valves
- 1979 2nd August Simple Minds & London Zoo
- 1979 8th December Scars, Another Pretty Face, Josef K, & The Visitors
- 1980 16th May The Human League, Scars, & Boots For Dancing
© Pete Tainsh 1980.
© Pete Tainsh 1980.
- 1980 20th June The Cure, & Josef K
- 1985 17th August Peter Skellern
The Gonk Club
The Gonk Club in Riego Street, off East Fountainbridge
was a very popular sixties club.
Harveys
Harveys was near the bottom of Lothian Road. Entrance now a betting shop.
1979 8th July DJ Jay Crawford, The Cadets, T.P.I. & Sam Scara
1979 16th September Berlin Blondes & The Freeze
- 1979 14th October Venigmas, & Trax (gig was attended by Garry Bushell who was writing a piece for Sounds).
- 1980 3rd August The Associates
The Hoochie Coochie Club
The Hoochie Coochie club was a very popular club in the mid
eighties, and played host to the occasional band too.
Situated above Coasters/Clouds at West Tollcross, this space
usually doubled up as the “dressing room” for the bands
that played the larger space downstairs.
Simon Clegg writes “Allan Campbell was an English teacher at I think Boroughmuir School and shared his flat in Cheyne Street with the late Johnny Waller. He founded Rational Records and was manager of Josef K. He also promoted gigs in a variety of venues across Edinburgh – mostly at ‘Coaster’s in Tollcross and Valentino’s in East Fountainbridge.”
- 1984 4th March The Weenies
- 1984 26th August The Go Betweens
- 1984 21st October The Gun Club
- 1985 20th February James King & The Lone Wolves
- 1985 25th April The Go Betweens
- 1985 19th May Jesse Rae
- 1985 20th October The Jazzateers & Bourgie Bourgie
- 1985 25th October The Weather Prophets, & Meat Whiplash
- 1985 27th October Creation Records Special Primal Scream, Meat Whiplash, & The Weather Prophets
- 1985 3rd November Jeffrey Lee Pierce (Ex Gun Club)
- 1985 8th November Hipsway
- 1985 10th November Eyeless In Gaza
- 1986 9th February Chakk
- 1986 25th July Love & Money
- 1986 1st August The Wedding Present
- 1986 8th August The Bad Hats
- 1986 11th August The Daintees
- 1986 15th August James
- 1987 24th April The Go Betweens
The Hub
The Hub is situated at Castlehill, Edinburgh and opened in 1999.
2000 5th August Larry Adler
Ironmills Park, Dalkeith
This park was the scene for a day of gigs in August 1979,
organised by the owner of The Cross Keys Inn, Dalkeith
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.
The Jaffa Cake
The Jaffa Cake in King Stables Road was used during the Flux festival in the mid nineties. Subsequently became Stereo night club. Now demolished.
1997 12th August The Divine Comedy & Michael Nyman
The Livingston Forum
The Forum, Livingston, was used briefely around the
late eighties and into the nineties. The Forum was demolished in the mid nineties, and the site is now part of the McArthur Glen Shopping Outlet.
- 1989 10th June The Stranglers
- 1989 3rd July Tin Machine
- 1989 20th November The Cult
- 1989 22nd November Aerosmith
- 1993 19th December Body Count feat Ice-T, special guests The Exploited
- 1996 5th October The Manic Street Preachers
Lyceum
The Lyceum in Grindlay Street was built in 1883, originally run by legendary theatre managers Howard and Wyndham. The Lyceum is of course better known for theatrical productions, but the events below are more than worth a mention on this site.
- 1964 31st August-5th September Marlene Dietrich, with Burt Bacharach and his orchestra
- 1971 1st-5th July Lyceum Pop Festival
The Manhattan Disco, Leith
The Manhattan Disco on The Shore, Leith, was rarely used for gigs apart from a handful in the mid eighties.
- 1985 25th September Sigue Sigue Sputnik
1985 16th October The Blood Uncles
Meadowbank
Meadowbank Stadium has been used occasionally for concerts, and briefely in the mid nineties, some concerts were moved to the inside sports hall here from The Usher Hall.
- 1988 Aswad, Aztec Camera, Deacon Blue, The Mighty Lemon Drops, Voice Of The Beehive for CND
- 1989 12th August Simple Minds, support The Silencers & Texas (moved from Murrayfield)
- 1993 29th July Prince & The New Power Generation
- 2005 28th August The Pixies, support bands Idlewild, Teenage Fanclub, & My Latest Novel
- 2006 24th August Muse
- 2007 26th August Razorlight, support band The Editors
The Meadows
The Meadows have been used seasonally for The Meadows
Festival.
drummer, Callum Mackays own camera. Thank you to Alan for sending this scan.
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.
The Moon
The Moon was situated just down from the Astoria, Abbeymount, and had previously been the Regent cinema. You were allowed to bring your own refreshments, as the venue did not have an alcohol license. Also used for band rehearsals.
- 1980 17th October Exodus, The Bears & Avo8
- 1980 1st November The Mudsharks, DF Sense & Vertical Dreams
- 1980 8th November The Outpatients, & 35mm Dreams
- 1981 13th August (rescheduled from 25th July) Makossa, First Priority, Light Years, Elysian Fields, & The Horrible Sexy Vampires
The Netherbow
The Netherbow situated at 43-45 High Street, hosted some concerts in the late seventies and into the early eighties. Now the home of The Scottish Storytelling Centre.
- 1979 5th January Switch, & The Guilty
- 1979 19th December DF Sense (ex Switch)
Nicky Tams
Nicky Tams was a very popular pub with musicians in the seventies, and was open right through till the late eighties. Situated at 4 Victoria street it is now Espionage.
1977 19th October The Valves
- 1977 31st December 1977 The Valves (Richard Jobson won the talent contest listed on the poster below singing “The Rezillos-Can’t Stand My Baby”, and got a pie in the face for his efforts).
The Place
The Place, entered from either Victoria Street, or
The Cowgate, has been a popular club since the sixties, when
it would host beat clubs. Also known as The Onion
Cellar, the Mission and Shady Lady’s in it’s time. Now the bottom floor of Espionage.
The lower entrance into The Place, 20th April 2009. ©S.S. 2009.
- 1977 24th December The Skids
- 1986 13th October Plague of Fools & Twisted Nerve
- 1986 15th December The Television Personalities
- 1986 22nd December The Pastels
- 1987 30th March Biff Bang Pow, Rattlesnake Happening, The Offhooks
Portobello Promenade
The Promenade has been used now and again for various events, and the odd Radio One Roadshow!
The Preservation Hall
The Preservation Hall in Victoria Street was a very popular and
busy pub, hosting various blues and folk gigs. Now Finnegans
Wake Irish Pub.
- 1990 31st December Blues ‘N’ Trouble
- 1991 3rd November Dr Feelgood
- 1991 31st December Blues ‘N’ Trouble
- 1992 23rd September Dr Feelgood
The Ross Bandstand
The Ross Bandstand in Princess Street Gardens has been used on numerous occasions for live music.
- 1987 24th June Ege Bamyasi
- 1987 26th & 27th June Sudden Sway
Rumours
Rumours was situated near the bottom of Lothain Road, right next to the former entrance to Harvey’s. Formerly Pipers, now Karma Chameleon.
The Southern Bar
The Southern Bar in South Clerk Street has it’s place in
gig history as the location of the unique show listed below.
- 1991 1st December The Joyriders and “Teen Spirit”
This charity show organised by The Joyriders in aid of the Edinburgh sick kids hospital was advertised on flyers handed out after the Nirvana gig at Calton Studios on the 29th November. The flyers stated “and very, very special (American) Guests”. On the night, after the Joyriders set ended, it was announced that Teen Spirit would not be appearing due to illness, and the venue nearly emptied. After an hour Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl did appear, and played 5 songs acoustically, under the name “Teen Spirit” to about 20 people.
The story goes that Dave and Kurt slept on the floor of a friends flat in nearby Lord Russell Place, and Dave went to the Cooler below the Venue that night too.
St Brides Centre
St Brides centre in situated at 10 Orwell Terrace.
- 1987 11th June Wes McGhee
Trades Council
The Trades Council at 14 Picardy Place was used for
concerts in the late seventies. Now Ego/Luna night club.
- 1978 29th November Freeze & Johnny Colon
- 1979 30th August Switch
Transport Halls
The Transport Halls at the bus depot in Annandale
street hosted several punk gigs in the late seventies.
- 1978 11th May The Skids
- 1978 9th June The Valves, The Monos, & The Skids
- 1978 24th November Scars, special guests Switch
- 1979 13th April The Scars, & The Freeze, The Prats, The Ettes, The Disintegrators, & The Thursdays
The Waterloo Bar
The Waterloo bar hosted gigs in the mid eighties. It would later become the Ark, but the space has now become a restaurant.
The Wee Red Bar
The Wee Red Bar is situated in the grounds of the Edinburgh College Of Art. The bar has been on the go for decades, and is still going strong. Please see the poster slide show below, including shows at the Wee Red by the likes of Glasvegas, and The Proclaimers.
- 1985 14th January The Proclaimers, & Ali and Dave from D.C. Desouza
- 2002 15th October Bill Drummond, obviously not a gig, but an interesting event nonetheless
- 2007 1st November Glasvegas, The Penny Blacks, & Come On Gang
The West Club
The West End Club up a flight of stairs in Princes Street was an old sixties club originally called The International, that by the late seventies had fallen on hard times. The club then started to be used for the odd punk gig. Later this venue would become Fire Island and play host to various disco acts, including the late great John Waters star Divine, thundering about the tiny stage in the bay window, sweating, to possibly the loudest synthesized backing track I have ever heard! So the next time you are having your skinny latte in the cafe of Waterstones, remember you are in good company.
- 1977 9th & 10th September The Valves
- 1978 17th December The Cheetahs
The Wester Hailes Festival
The Wester Hailes Festival took place on 24th May 1986 near Stevenson College.
The Wig & Pen
The Wig & Pen Pub at 19 Cockburn Street was popular with
Edinburgh’s punk rock fraternity. It also played host to gigs
by the likes of Josef K. The Sex Pistols, and Nico have been said to have visited. Now Ecco Vino wine bar.
(known as the The Suffer-Jets at this time) at The Wig & Pen In May 1978. Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.
Wilkie House
Wilkie House in Edinburgh’s Cowgate, a former church, has sporadically played host to live gigs over the years. Known mainly as a club venue.
- 1985 10th August The Men They Couldn’t Hang
The Yellow Carvel
The Yellow Carvel in Hunter Square was a well known folk
club, in the sixties and into the seventies. Some punk and
new wave acts started to appear towards the end of the decade.
Now The Tron.
YMCA
The YMCA at 14 South St Andrews Street was used sporadically for gigs and events. Now a restaurant.
- 1979 14th December Metropak
