The Edge Festival 2009 announces lineup - David Byrne, The Streets, The Stranglers, Calvin Harris and more

Article | 10 Jun 2009

T on the Fringe may be a distant memory, but the second year of The Edge Festival promises a veritable smörgåsbord of local and international acts that will blow your socks off.

This year’s festival sees a few of Edinburgh's new venues getting in on the action, including the Playhouse, the Picture House, Sneaky Pete’s and Studio 24, as well as established Edge venues, from Cabaret Voltaire to the 1,800 capacity Corn Exchange.

Proto-punk pioneers The Stranglers kick things off on Friday 7 August at the Picture House, followed on 8 August by former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne at the Playhouse – his first Edinburgh date for five years. The geezerdom continues with Mike Skinner's The Streets at the Picture house on 15 August.

Fans can also look forward to a bevy of home-grown acts who are set to take to the stage throughout the month. Skinny favourites Broken Records and Frightened Rabbit will be appearing at the Queen's Hall on August 17 and 18 respectively and Dumfries boy/chart-topping future-disko peddler Calvin Harris is due to take the festival by storm at the Picture house on 10 August. Malcolm Middleton, Young Fathers and Unicorn Kid are also set to make an appearance, alongside the Your Sound showcase, which features some of the best independent talent from King Tut’s unsigned initiative.

On top of this, there's experimental electronica from Icelandic Múm, energetic post-hardcore from Enter Shikari and indie-folk stylings from rising stars Mumford & Sons. Brit-popsters The Bluetones and Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls fame also make appearances, while Andrew Bird, Emiliana Torrini, Foy Vance and the popular SOMA night complete the launch line-up.

More additions to the program are set to follow in the coming months - keep your eye on http://www.theskinny.co.uk/listings for the latest.

Tickets for all shows at the Edge Festival are on sale now from www.gigsinscotland.com or on 08444 990 999

http://www.theedgefestival.com