The Skinny's Guide to Edinburgh's Gig Venues
From 100 capacity sweatboxes and grassroots spaces to concert halls and stadiums – big and small, Edinburgh's got it all
A boisterous and vibrant yet grubby street, The Cowgate forms the low level backbone of Edinburgh's Old Town. At the heart of this is the world renowned, award-winning Sneaky Pete’s; a 100-capacity sweatbox where you can find future household names sat alongside already world-famous DJs. Across the street is the multi-level Bongo Club, with others tucked away on side streets like the more accessible La Belle Angele (Hastie's Close), or its sister venue The Mash House spread across three floors (Guthrie Street). Around the corner on Chambers Street, regular gigs and a late night music programme can be found at The Jazz Bar.
Back in the Cowgate, at the bottom of Blair Street, Cabaret Voltaire hosts regular gigs and clubs in its subterranean space under South Bridge. You’ll find similar underground vibes at The Caves (Niddry St S), while on the opposite street is The Banshee Labyrinth, an easy to get lost in, haunted dive bar with a regular gig programme, film screenings, club nights and free Fringe shows worth taking a punt on in August.
Head halfway up the highly instagrammable Victoria Street to The Liquid Room for regular gigs and clubs across two spaces, while a short walk away you'll find Paradise Palms and the People’s Leisure Club, a pair of technicolour venues hosting gigs, clubs and more; swing by their sister venue West Port Oracle too, just off the Grassmarket. At the nearby ECA you'll find the Wee Red Bar, or head to Princes Street – just behind the Apple shop is The Voodoo Rooms, a cocktail bar and restaurant with gigs throughout the year and Fringe shows galore in August. Down in Leith you’ll find more grassroots and indie offerings at both Leith Depot and the Leith FAB Cricket Club, while occasional happenings take place in the basement of The Safari Lounge.
Venture south or west and venues start to get bigger with The Queen’s Hall, a 900-capacity former chapel, or The Usher Hall, a 2200-capacity concert hall on Lothian Road. Head further west and you'll find the Corn Exchange, a 3000-capacity venue run by the O2. And in the summer, check listings for Edinburgh Castle, Murrayfield Stadium and The Royal Highland Centre.
An important note: while a lot of these venues run as normal in August, venues like The Caves and The Bongo Club are taken over by the Fringe, so it's always worth double checking before you visit.