In amongst the overload of theatre, comedy, cabaret, burlesque and pretty much every other artform known to mankind (barring cinema), Edinburgh in August is also home to a pretty good musical selection for the discerning gig-goer.
Known previously under a number of different monikers, most recently T On The Fringe, The Edge Festival this year boasts a fairly stellar line-up across most of Edinburgh’s best gig venues during the mayhem of August in the city.
Brit rapper Example plays the ever-improving HMV Picture House, as do erstwhile Mercury Prize winners Gomez, reformed Britpoppers Cast and indie “band of the moment” The Vaccines.
While The National and Jimmy Eat World will both attempt to conquer the cavernous space of the Corn Exchange, the sweat-soaked intimacy (no bad thing) of Sneaky Pete’s has shows by the likes of Japanese pop-punk troupe Shonen Knife and hypnagogic artist Oneohtrix Point Never.
Edinburgh’s two most popular mid-sized venues, Cabaret Voltaire and The Liquid Room, both have an impressive number of artists playing as part of this year’s Edge. Pre-grunge icons Sebadoh feature alongside Luke Haines’s blissful bile, Morcheeba’s soulful trip-hop and ex Throwing Muse Kristin Hersh bearing her soul.
There’s also a welcome chance to hear Warpaint’s eerily hypnotic post-punk at the Queens Hall and if this all sounds like just too much beautiful culture then you can even see Jackass’s Steve-O perform a stand-up routine which may or may not involve him stapling his testicles to his leg.
It all adds up to a great sounding month for music fans and easily The Edge’s best line-up yet.
The Edge Festival 2011 runs from 4-31 August 2011. Visit www.theedgefestival.com for further information.