The Edge Festival

The Edge Festival is an assortment of gigs in varying venues that coincides with the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, running from 5th-31st of August. The ‘festival’ is complimented greatly by the buzzing atmosphere in Edinburgh that comes with the hordes of visitors and of course the late night licenses that mean you can stay in a pub until 3am and clubs until 5am! Taking in more venues than ever before, there is a multitude of talent on show to suite all tastes and here are just a few highlights over the month of August.

Indie stalwarts Modest Mouse play the HMV Picturehouse 29th of August; perhaps with not quite the same draw as they had before Johnny Marr’s ‘defection’ to The Cribs but nonetheless guaranteed to be an enjoyable watch, perhaps featuring old classics with the re-release of their album ‘The Moon and Antarctica’ on the horizon.

Indie-pop-electro Parisians Phoenix entertain the masses at HMV Picturehouse August 28th for what is sure to be a crammed gig. On the cusp of greatness following the hugely successful ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’ the band are sure to get your legs moving and the ladies swooning with their stylish Gallic flair.

Glaswegian band Mitchell Museum play the Electric Circus 11th August. The band is slowly garnering much support for their Spector-like big sound and harmony-laden ditties. Compared with the likes of the Flaming Lips they are very much a band on the up

Scottish hip-hop trio Young Fathers add some pizzazz to the line-up playing Sneaky Petes August 20th. A marvellous cross between De La Soul and NERD, the trio’s fantastic stage presence can’t help but get your feet moving in a style that will pale into comparison compared to the groups synchronised dance routines.

Three Blind Wolves play Electric Circus 27th August. Often compared with Modest Mouse, the Scots songsters are very much a band on the rise with fantastic melodies and vocals.

Glasgow based We Were Promised Jetpacks play the Liquid Rooms August 21st. A familiar site to those of Glasgow and Edinburgh and have built up a dedicated following. Reminiscent of Biffy Clyro’s early (and best) work, they are signed to the same label as Frightened Rabbit.

In a slight sidestep in genre to the overall feel of the festivals line-up; Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed brings his brand of funk/soul to the Liquid Rooms on August 23rd. Packing a phenomenal voice that evokes Wilson Pickett; remarkable in itself for a young White Bostonian; his songs are funk-laden beats with velocity akin to James Brown.

‘Gig to lose your inhibitions’: the tight surroundings of Sneaky Petes might just play right into the hands of Young Fathers, creating a frenetic, carnival-like atmosphere that is bound to be well worth a visit.

‘Gig to get a sweat on’: We Were Promised Jetpacks will definitely be one to toss yourself around the crowd to

Must-sees:

Phoenix are unlikely to play a venue like this in Edinburgh again, seemingly set on world domination. Infectiously catchy songs like ‘1901’ and ‘Lisztomania’ are well worth the ticket fee by themselves.

Three Blind Wolves already have a selection of songs that are well worth spreading the word of. They’re a band you will turn your companions onto and forever take credit for as their stock rises and rises.

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed is one to leave your indie pretensions at the door for and instead revel in his magnificent capturing of old style funk and soul.

Each artists music can be found at their myspace’s below.

Modest Mouse
http://www.myspace.com/modestmouse

Phoenix
http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix

Mitchell Museum
http://www.myspace.com/mitchellmuseum

Young Fathers
http://www.myspace.com/youngfathers

Three Blind Wolves
http://www.myspace.com/threeblindwolves

We Were Promised Jetpacks
http://www.myspace.com/wewerepromisedjetpacks

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed
http://www.myspace.com/elipaperboyreed

Youtube links for article;

Modest Mouse – Dashboard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNUdG644Yyw&feature=av2n

Phoenix – 1901
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMOkORxF4JA

Mitchell Museum – Warning Bells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyRTFqlShts