The Massed Military Bands of the British Army will present a pop medley of Scottish pop classics on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
Crowds at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are set to enjoy a medley of Scottish pop classics this summer performed by the Massed Military Bands of the British Army.
As part of the brand’s 75th anniversary celebrations, this year’s Show The Heroes Who Made Us will feature fan favourites such as “Yes Sir! I Can Boogie” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”.
And with just 50 days to go before the Tattoo’s opening weekend, fans can get their hands on exclusive tickets to this year’s performance at its final dress rehearsal on Thursday 31 July 2025 with prices reduced by 50%.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday 12 June 2025 and are available online at edintattoo.co.uk or over the phone by calling 0131 225 1188.
As Lead Service, the British Army will be part of an awe-inspiring showcase of music, dance, and precision performance that encapsulates 75 years of the Tattoo story.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Creative Director, Alan Lane, said: “Scottish culture has led the way for centuries. From Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations to the work of Ian Rankin and everything in between Scottish cultural thought sets the standard. Nowhere is that more true than the world of pop music.
“So for our 75th anniversary show it’s exciting to include some of the best of Scottish pop music.
“Huge songs from The Fratellis through Simple Minds to Lewis Capaldi, all played by the best of Army musicians. This is one of the many moments in the Show where we combine our proud history with contemporary culture to create something fresh for our audience. I’d urge everyone to take advantage of these half-price tickets and make sure they’re there in person to see the Show.”
The full list of Scottish pop classics to ring out around the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade this year is:
Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis
Don’t You Forget About – Simple Minds
For The Love Of A Princess – Braveheart
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Proclaimers
Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Thorn In My Side – Eurythmics
Why Does it Always Rain on Me – Travis
Yes Sir! I Can Boogie – Baccara
Over 800 international performers will take the stage, representing the heroism and cultural richness of their countries through song and dance.
Music will play a central role in the performance, featuring the famous songs of Scottish national treasures like Skipinnish, whose track “Eagle’s Wing”, performed by The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo cast, will close the Show.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to witness The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at a discounted rate.
Tickets for the Preview Night will be available from Thursday 12 June at 10am BST at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or via phone at 0131 225 1188.
Today, Tuesday 03 June, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to launch the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme. The programme celebrates the diverse selection of work at the Fringe, with performers from across the world and work from 58 countries.
This year’s programme features work from 3,352 shows across 265 venues, with themes tackling some of the most topical issues in the world today.
From rebellious women to the paranormal; the apocalypse to nostalgia; queer joy to life with illness; rave and club culture to science and technology.
Edinburgh Fringe Programme Launch 2025
Launching the 2025 Fringe programme, Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen.
“Thank you to all the Fringe-makers – the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their un-matched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August.
‘This year’s Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you’re excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children’s shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August.
“Jump right in, book your favourites, shows that intrigue you and take a chance on something new.’
At Traverse Theatre,Gary McNair’s ‘award-winning show’ A Gambler’s Guide to Dying returns ‘back home for a special run to mark its 10th anniversary’.
‘Four generations of Northern Irish women, reunited’ in Consumed (Traverse Theatre), ‘a tale of twisted family dynamics and national boundaries’.
‘Inspired by his involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, and experience of the counter-revolution that followed, Khalid Abdalla brings together the personal and the political’ in Nowhere (Traverse Theatre).
At Scottish Storytelling Centre, join the Loud Poetsfor ‘fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching fusion of poetry and live music’ or ‘Scottish and Welsh traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips as they weave folk music, language and story across these isles and between worlds’ in Aderyn/Bird.
Also at Scottish Storytelling Centre, Cassandra ‘blends Greek myth, Scottish folklore and personal narrative to explore prophecy, protest and survival across time and space’.
At Summerhall, Amazons is a ‘gripping new solo show about the Amazon rainforest and the generations of women who have fought to protect it’.
‘From Parisian hysteria to the glowing Radium Girls’, Fragile Creatures at theSpaceUK ‘reveals gripping stories of women’s rebellion, resilience and their relentless fight for bodily autonomy and equality’.
In Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, ‘Peter Barratt gives a stirring and passionate account of his great-grandmother’s hard-fought campaign for the vote’ while VOTE the Musical at Paradise Green takes a ‘gripping look at the Suffragette movement exploring imprisonment, activism and the fight for electoral freedom’.
Three resilient Scottish sex workers, dream of escaping the lives they’ve been trapped in, but the patriarchy stands in their way in Happy Ending Street at Leith Arches.
In Well Behaved Women at Gilded Balloon, in 1888 ‘three chaotic twentysomething women decide to host a séance’ and make ‘a bit of a mess of things.’
‘Get ready for a powerful performance’ at Women in Socks and Sandals at ZOO, ‘filled with quirky stunts, mental courage and celebration of the right to be oneself’.
With ‘history, sermons and singalong’, Church of the Clitori at Paradise Green aims to ‘satirise and crash-tackle anatomy, religious ads and female sexuality politics’.
At Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge, Fallen Angel by Liam Rudden tells the story of Angel, who’s been ‘tortured’ by angels for ‘500 years’, while ‘startling revelations about Edy Hurst’s relations have set him on vision quest to contact his ancestors’ in Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself at Assembly.
Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? is a ‘one-man (and one puppet) musical journey through a zombie outbreak, combining live performance, puppetry and animation’ at ZOO.
‘Get to know Frankenstein’s Monster like you’ve never been able to before’ at Fatherless Monster (Paradise Green), ‘face to face with only a mic and some stage lights between you and him.’
0.1% Accurate: Magdalena the Fortune Teller Show ‘will predict the future, summon the spirits, answer your life questions and send you home smiling’ at Alchemist Cocktail Bar and Restaurant.
Listen to the tales of Haunted Edinburgh at Arthur Conan Doyle Centre ‘and discover a host of terrifying stories of hauntings from the city’s dark past’ or visit The Mother Superior to ‘unveil women’s role in shaping the history of alcohol, including sharing how some were framed as witches’ in Whisky & Witches.
A Haunted House at Assembly is a ‘hysterical, terrifying and surreal tale, about one hair-raising night in a haunted house’ ‘for those who like their laughs big and their scares spine-chilling!’
‘The world-renowned paranormal expert Baron Vordenburg and his helpers, Gothic and Grotesque, give away trade secrets and expertise on hunting the unknown’ in Baron Vordenburg’s Guide to the Paranormal at theSpaceUK.
‘A man commits the ultimate act of cowardice’ and ‘a woman’s spirit gains terrifying embodiment’ in ‘dark, twisted folk horror tale’ Tom Hiccup’s Well at Greenside.
At theSpaceUK, ‘apocalyptic anti-romcom’ Horny for the End of the World follows ‘Gen Z, try-hard, pick-me Ebeth gets dumped by the man of her dreams the day before everyone realizes the world is going to end’.
Apocalipsync is a ‘high-energy solo show blending physical theatre, mime, dance and lip-sync mastery’ ‘exploring themes of isolation, hyper-connectivity and human expression’ at Assembly.
Original musical The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse at Greenside asks if the ‘OGs of reality TV’ can ‘survive the hordes, and each other, and self-produce their way to the end?’ while 4’s a Crowd (Or What Not to Do When Stuck in a Bunker During the Apocalypse) at theSpaceUK ‘follows the idiots left behind after the world ends’.
Apocalypse Cabaret: Songs for the End of the World (Underbelly) is a ‘powerhouse Fringe debut packed with original songs, pop bangers, audience interaction, and existential musings’ following ‘a lonely karaoke jockey is the sole survivor at the end of the world and decides to go out singing.’
Scenes of Unfathomable Horror brings ‘absurd, twisted and entertaining take on modernity, celebrity and existential dread’ to Just the Tonic.
At Underbelly, A Small Town Northern Tale is a ‘Y2K coming-of-age story, charting life in a small Northern town as a mixed-race boy’ and WANTED tells the story of ‘two girls from opposite worlds’ ‘fated to meet on the 00s queer scene’.
At Club NVRLND (Assembly), ‘where the party goes on till morning’, ‘Wendy and Peter reunite for an unforgettable night of adventure, nostalgia and staying forever young, featuring the biggest 2000s anthems’
‘All set to the soundtrack of the 2000s’ Jake Donaldson Is The Fifth Weezer at Laughing Horse is set to be ‘packed with nostalgia, punchy jokes and stories about finding your place in the world’.
‘The perfect nostalgic show for pop fanatics and chart aficionados’, Margot and Martha’s Chart Show Mixtape at theSpaceUK will ‘take you on a journey from mixtapes to Spotify wrapped, celebrating pop music through what was in the charts on the 18th of August – the very week they’re performing at the Fringe’.
‘Party like it’s 1999’ at MASSAOKE: 90s Live (Underbelly) with ‘an epic 90s sing-along’.
‘Through everyday conversation, hilarious comedy, and music-hall style songs’ at The Steamie (Gilded Balloon) ‘we learn from four working-class women about their lives, husbands, technology and the approaching New Year in this time capsule of Glasgow in the 1950s’.
A ‘love letter to the queers, the weirdoes, the trailblazers, the fringes and the night-walkers’, Anatomy of a Night at Summerhall isan ‘exploration of personal identity through a reflection of memories from queer and club spaces’.
‘Queer, chic and outrageous’ – head to the Big Gay Afterparty at Just the Tonic for the ‘biggest, gayest party at the Fringe (fun straights allowed)’.
‘A queer love story but no one dies at the end? Welcome to the world of’ Blooming at Greenside.
Join a ‘plus-sized, 72-year-old lesbian’ sharing ‘intimate stories celebrating inclusivity’ at Tales From Your Queer Elder (Greenside).
At Carpet Muncher at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, ‘the contemporary folklore of the Mothman is brought to life, using vibrant surrealist costuming to explore themes of queer alienation, metamorphosis, cross-border solidarity and homoerotic hot-hub encounters’.
Follow a young trans girl as she navigates the hilarity of rural Argentina during the 1900s at Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink at Underbelly.
‘Expect chaos, drag, stand-up, glitter, queer joy and an ever-changing line-up of LGBTQIA+ acts’ at Comedy Queers (Laughing Horse) or check out Midnight at the Palace (Gilded Balloon) for a ‘night of radical joy and glitter-encrusted anarchy’.
3 Kidneys No Colon at Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge is ‘the medical diaries (or rather… diarrheas) of Dave who suffers from chronic kidney disease, ulcerative colitis and has had multiple organ transplants’.
Learn about ‘narcolepsy from a true-life perspective’ at theSpaceUK, Fragments of Fatigue is a ‘coming-of-age story to transform your world and prove just how much fight is required to beat the fatigue’.
‘Artfully weaving between generational trauma and chronic illness’, Robyn Reynolds: What Doesn’t Kill You at Assembly will have you ‘roaring with laughter’.
In The Nature of Forgetting at Pleasance, ‘Tom is living with early onset dementia’ and ‘we meet him as he prepares for his 55th birthday party and past memories come flooding back’. At theSpaceUK, Ah-Ma is ‘a hauntingly beautiful new play, weaving together natural and social disasters, bodily deterioration and family sorrow’.
At Assembly, Ohio tells the story of ‘when Shaun turned his back on the church’ and ‘found a new home in music’ before he is ‘confronted now with acute degenerative hearing loss’.
Yvonne Hughes: Absolutely Riddled is ‘a fresh and bold dive into the reality of living with cystic fibrosis (CF) – a journey that’s as phlegmy as it is funny’ at Gilded Balloon.
At Summerhall,TheButterfly Who Flew Into The Rave is ‘the atmosphere and culture of a three-day rave condensed into an hour’ while PUMP ‘drops you in the middle of a nightclub dance floor in a desperate search for validation, intimacy and identity’.
Her Raving Mind is ‘a Greco-British rave tragicomedy unravelling the complex mind of an abuse survivor’ at Just the Tonic.
‘Loud, lawless, and laced with naughty bits’, Watch Me Die! is ‘rave theatre: performance, film, stand-up and pounding basslines, dragging Shakespeare into a civil war where star-crossed love and vengeance make their scene’ at theSpaceUK.
At Rave, Colin and Rosie ‘are battling through their own worlds of crisis using the music of the rave club to help, encourage and solve their problems’ at Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge.
Created by an AI researcher, AI: Save Our Souls at Greenside features ‘an immersive future world of AI, polystylistic music and a dynamic plot’ while at Paradise Green, Rise of the Solar Punks asks ‘what can we learn from ancient cultures regarding climate adaptation, and how can we fuse this with technology and AI?’
As part of the Made in Scotland showcase, MUO Live at the French Institute in Scotland is ‘a unique fusion of music, science and unseen cosmic forces.’
Head to Just the Tonic, Excel Comedy and Mathem-antics for a ‘themed stand-up show for spreadsheet experts and rookies alike’ or check out Sci-larious – Science Stand-up at Laughing Horse for ‘bi-lol-ogy or pharm-ha-cy’.
Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show at Gilded Balloon is ‘science like you have never seen it before’ exploring ‘the magical properties of matter’.
At PBH’s Free Fringe, Freya McGhee: Experimental blends ‘science, comedy and dating into one unforgettable experiment’ investigating ‘the chemistry of attraction to the mechanics of mixed signals’.
Check out Hot Rubber (Gilded Balloon) to see ‘eight comedians pit their homemade remote-control cars against one another in the world’s smallest demolition derby’ or ‘form a team, select a knockoff Roomba, customise it, then pit it against a dozen rivals’ at Robot Vacuum Fight Club (Outhouse Bar).
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge ‘on busy George Street’ is new with a number of shows this August, including well-known musicals Little Shop of Horrors, High School Musical and Footloose, as well as a range of theatre, cabaret and children’s shows.
Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine, ‘a mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture’, takes place in new venue Portobello Town Hall.
Citadel Youth Centre is ‘hosting two fundraisers for the Citadel’s valuable work with young people and families in Leith’ Storm in the Citadel and Punchline on Leith.
The Bowlers Rest in Leith is home to Beggared, ‘the story of a privileged white South African whose life collapses into homelessness’.
Easter Road Stadium joins the Fringe as a venue, hosting two shows: Dropped, in which ‘former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain tells his moving story of dashed football dreams and explores the darkness and pressures young men go through trying to make it as professional footballers’ and Frankie Mack Showman – The Next Stage: The Leith San Siro ‘a high-energy, show-stopping night of swing, rock’n’roll and modern classics’.
All the way from Italy is Mirage Spiegeltent at Gyle Shopping Centre, hosting Spirit of the Favela, a ‘dynamic fusion of circus and theatre showcasing Rio de Janeiro’s vibrant culture and communities’.
Gilded Balloon have introduced a new space at Appleton Tower for twenty shows, including Frances Floats and Not My Grandmother’s Daughter.
Now in St. Andrew’s Square, The Famous Spiegeltent returns, offering theatre, cabaret, music and musicals, including La Clique – ‘the global phenomenon that redefined a genre, with its mélange of cabaret and circus’.
Josie Long: Now Is the Time of Monsters is ‘a new show about extinct, gigantic, charismatic megafauna from three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee’ at Pleasance.
Gilded Balloon marks their fortieth anniversary with ‘a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats’ including Jenny Eclair and Michelle McManus.
Also at Gilded Balloon, Rosie O’Donnell: Here & Now ‘reflects on her life in the present, including why she moved to Ireland from the USA, and how that shift has shaped her future’ and Michelle Brasier: It’s a Shame We Won’t Be Friends Next Year is a ‘show for the theatre kids, the freaks, the queers; for anyone who’s spiralled about something they did years ago’.
Fringe favourite Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? is back at Underbelly, with ‘an unparalleled, unscripted show that delves deep into who we are, hijacking faces to spark a bold, hysterical reality warp’.
‘Direct from a sell-out West End season’, Bill Bailey is at Edinburgh Playhouse with Thoughtifier while Miriam Margolyes brings ‘more characters, more Dickens and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics’ to Pleasancewith Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits.
‘The talented comedian, writer and host of A24 late-night variety sketch show’ Ziwe brings Ziwe’s America to Pleasance.
At The Stand Comedy Club, ‘expect to hear the glorious mess of being a professional polymath – from medical school to quiz championships, comedy clubs to Parkinson’s advocacy’ at In Conversation with… Paul Sinha or ‘jokes, rants, politics, swearing and possible nudity’ at Mark Thomas: WD40.
At Monkey Barrel, there’s ‘new material from the Rose d’Or, Southbank Sky Arts and Edinburgh Comedy Award winner’ Bridget Christie. Also at Monkey Barrel, ‘the Taskmaster treasure, Live at the Apollo star and voice of Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle presents a new hour about our bodies corporeal and politic, and what remains through ascension and destruction’ with Desiree Burch: The Golden Wrath.
‘A love letter to people pleasers everywhere’, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares at Underbelly is ‘a hilarious, heartfelt and sometimes brutally honest tribute to recovering ingenues, mothers and anybody working on themselves’.
‘Comedy veteran’ Karen Dunbar ‘returns to the Fringe for a limited run of her stand-up tour’ at Just the Tonic.
At Assembly, David O’Doherty: Highway to the David Zone has ‘has got the lot’ with ‘talking, songs, talking during songs, talking while walking around’.
There are 325 free shows and 529 Pay What You Can/Want shows in this year’s programme.
10,001 Ideas by Robyn Perkins at Laughing Horse offers a ‘uniquely different hour of critically acclaimed stand-up and storytelling’.
Huge Davies: Free Work in Progress is at PBH’s Free Fringe with ‘his wearable keyboard for a free hour-long work in progress’. Also at PBH’s Free Fringe, Escape the Rat Race is a ‘a must-see for anyone who has ever worked in an office’.
At Laughing Horse, Three Bad Sisters is a ‘cacophony of the best and darkest materials from these three female rising stars of Irish comedy: Aideen McQueen, Shinanne Higgins and Louise O’Toole’.
‘Imagine an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman in the same bar as a therapist’ and you’ll imagine 5 Mugs, No Tea at Leith Depot. At the Mother Superior, you can ‘expect a fever-dream of love, loss, and existential dread’ at Crying at the Meat Raffle.
Disco Picnic at The Three Sisters is a ‘Fringe fiesta serves up a delicious mix of toe-tapping disco tunes’.
The Fringe Society are grateful to the many partners, supporters, funders and sponsors this year. In particular, they would like to thank the official Education Partner of the Fringe Anthropic, the official Beer of the Fringe Innis and Gunn, Cirrus Logic and Baillie Gifford.
They would like to thank the UK Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their Keep it Fringe Fund support, the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council for strategic funding support, the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund support for the Made in Scotland programme; and Screen Scotland for supporting Screen Fringe.
The Fringe Society would also like to thank accommodation partners who provide much needed affordable accommodation to artists – Queen Margaret University and the University of Edinburgh, Theatre Digs Booker. Health in Mind are also returning in 2025 to support the delivery of mental health and wellbeing services within Fringe Central, which is once again kindly delivered in partnership with Grassmarket Community Project.
Hidden Door announces more music acts in festival’s showcase of Scottish talent
Hidden Door Festival 2025 takes place from 11th – 15th June 2025, transforming The Paper Factory, a huge disused industrial space in west Edinburgh, into a vibrant celebration of music, art, dance, spoken word and more.
Last month, Hidden Door launched an Open Call inviting Scottish-based musicians, bands and electronic artists to join the 2025 music programme. With 200 applications received, organisers have sifted through hours of music to select 10 exceptional acts to feature at the festival.
The acts join an ever-growing programme of music, visual art and performances featuring hundreds of creatives. The packed line-up will fill the festival’s largest ever venue for five days of immersive entertainment.
Hazel Johnson, Festival Director of Hidden Door, said: “Hidden Door exists to showcase incredible emerging talent, and our open calls are a key way for us to discover and present that talent to large audiences.
“We had 200 applications to our music open call and the sheer volume and quality of submissions demonstrates the wonderful breadth of creativity that exists across Scotland.
“The selection process was tough and we would have loved to include everyone, but we’re thrilled to reveal some exceptional acts who truly embody the raw energy and diverse talent that we’re known for showcasing.”
The selected acts are:
Eloi – Wednesday 11 June
Eloi are an Edinburgh based 7-piece future-jazz group. Alongside numerous sold-out headline Edinburgh gigs, they have supported bands such as Surprise Chef at Glasgow’s Broadcast, alongside local Scottish groups including Grace and the Flatboys, Dinosaur 93 and Nani.
In 2022, they secured a slot at Edinburgh’s Hidden Door Festival through the Edinburgh-based community radio station EHFM, and also hold a monthly show on the station called Eloi Selects.
Inspired by the likes of Nubiyan Twist, Ezra Collective and Hiatus Kaiyote, their debut EP ‘Maya’ was released in 2022, and the follow up ‘Bloom Again’ was released in 2023.
HENS BENS – Friday 13 June
HENS BENS make pop music in BLOCK CAPITALS. Their live shows aren’t like those by other bands. They incorporate fresh fruit, balloons, archery and power tools.
HENS BENS do not speak between songs, with the band instead relying on computer-generated crowd banter over which they have no control. There are LEDs attached to things. There are costume changes.
Their 2025 album WORLD’S STRONGEST BAND features songs about steroids, revenge, Clint Eastwood’s 1988 film ‘The Dead Pool’, having an argument with the guy from Sleaford Mods, politicians the singer went to school with, Jerry Seinfeld becoming a bit right-wing these days, the band’s great great granddaughters, nuclear war and more.
Humour – Sunday 15 June
Humour live together in Glasgow. They formed across the 2021 lockdowns, writing and recording their material at home, with the music intended as a backdrop to Andreas’ lyrics.
Sometimes they’re about letting people down, sometimes they’re about pets dying, sometimes they’re about trying to say something when you don’t have anything worth saying.
Signing to SoYoung Records off the back of a few rough demos, it was clear Humour had a unique sound. Their first release ‘Yeah, Mud!’ gained critical acclaim from NME, Clash Magazine, DIY, Dork and more.
With two EPs released to date, they have now announced their debut album Learning Greek which is set for release in August 2025.
Nick Dow – Sunday 15 June
Scottish electronic music producer Nick Dow blurs the lines between club, ambient and experimental music, combining cinematic melodies with organic instrumentation and visceral textures, enveloping the listener in a world of surging musical landscapes.
Night Caller – Saturday 14 June
Night Caller is made up of members from established Scottish acts including Callum Easter, Neon Waltz, The Stagger Rats, The Merrylees and more – instantly asserting their experienced presence within the Scottish music scene. Band members have recorded with the likes of Paul Weller, The Coral and The Zombies.
They brand their music as “gutter pop – fun, fast, kinky and chaotic!”. Expect deep vocals and ballad-inspired melodies with a sing-along chorus.
Puppy Teeth – Saturday 14 June
Puppy Teeth is an independent Edinburgh based band composed of singer and rhythm guitarist Anna Trost, singer and lead guitarist Theo Black, bassist Ed Meltzer and drummer Niamh Jordan. The band has been described as heady, dreamy, 90s melodic, shoegaze/grunge with psychedelic, hypnotising female vocals.
Huge influences for Puppy Teeth‘s music are artists such as Men I Trust, Jeff Buckley, Mazzy Star, Big Thief, Sorry and Deftones.
racecar – Thursday 12 June
racecar is an alt-pop trio composed of Izzy Flower (vocals, keys, synthesizer), Robin Brill (guitar, drums), and Calum Mason (bass).
They are based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and formed in 2018. They released their debut album, Orange Car, in 2022.
Their latest album, Pink Car, a bold fusion of nostalgia, coming-of-age themes, and genre-blurring sounds, was released earlier this year. With festival-ready anthems like ‘Zephyr’ and ‘Fall Leave’, the album expands on their signature style with a fresh, dynamic energy.
samwooddoowmas – Saturday 14 June
samwooddoowmas is a musician and visual artist based in Edinburgh. He records out of a DIY studio held together with electrical tape.
He makes sounds using a variety of techniques including tape loops, digital processing and analogue instrumentation. He is known for performing in unusual spaces (such as a urinal) and using instruments in strange ways live, such as a bass guitar played with a bicycle.
San Jose – Sunday 15 June
Their name pinched from a Dionne Warwick song, San Jose wield their forthright, raucous and versatile reputation with a snarled grin. With ever-evolving theatrics and everything you’d expect from a circus with the exception of the caged animals, San Jose, are the only 5 piece band with an average of more than 5 members.
Although falling under the ever expanding umbrella term of “post-punk” San Jose have a dedication to avoid musical confinement, the five piece often incorporate instrumentation uncommon to heavier styles of music, such as brass and accordion, and interweave it with their punk attitude.
With a background in musical theatre, San Jose blur the lines between performance art and concert. With people in bear costumes, auctions, fine dining, plumbing and pantomime levels of audience interaction all to be expected from their shows, the five piece sonically and visually paint a picture of the inherent absurdism that lies within Scottish culture.
Their live performances have been described as “the ideal descent into hell”.
The Era – Saturday 14 June
The Era are a duo from Glasgow consisting of Electric Harp player Lochlann and Singer/Guitarist Cal. Taking as much influence from pop icons such as Sky Ferreira and Charli XCX as they do from indie references like Arctic Monkeys, The Kills & Nine Inch Nails.
The Era are pushing the boundaries of modern pop/rock music by using their USP; unlike any other band on the scene The Era use an electric harp played through a selection of amplifiers and effects pedals to create a face pounding wall of sound.
Recent shows include support slots for 80’s legends Heaven 17 as well as notable slots with GGLUM for Plastic Factory LDN, The Ninth Wave, Vlure as well as a sold out debut headline show in Broadcast, Glasgow – all within their first 8 months as a band.
Following the success of the 2024 talent search, BBC ALBA has teamed up with The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival once again with a new quest to find the best up-and-coming musical talent from the Highlands and Islands.
Open to solo artists and bands (where at least 50% of its members have a Highland home address) across all genres, one newcomer will be given the opportunity to perform on the main stage at this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival.
Known for its unique and diverse showcase of music and the arts, the festival has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, now attracting thousands of visitors. As it prepares for its 21st year, with acts including Texas, Supergrass, Paul Heaton, Tom Walker and Natasha Bedingfield confirmed, the team is on the hunt to find the best new homegrown talent to open the main stage at the Hot House Arena on Thursday 31 July.
True to its longstanding support of Scottish artists, BBC ALBA is supporting the search, providing a platform to propel newcomers onto the celebrated Scottish music scene, as well as an additional opportunity for the winner to record an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio at the festival.
Calum McConnell, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, said: “While there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of being in the field at a festival, shoulder to shoulder with fellow music and arts fans, BBC ALBA remain committed to bringing the magic of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to audiences who can’t be there in person, as we have done for the past 13 years.
“Our festival highlights are always a popular fixture in BBC ALBA’s summer schedule, and this year will be no exception. The addition of the talent search will shine an even brighter light on the incredible creativity emerging from the Highlands and Islands.”
Musicians can apply by submitting a bio and link to their music to tartanheart@bbc.co.uk, with entries judged by a panel of experts, including representatives from the BBC and Belladrum, alongside an independent musician appearing at the festival, before the shortlist goes to a public vote.
Applications opened yesterday (Tuesday 27 May) and will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 8 June.
It is expected that the public vote will open on Friday 13 June on the Belladrum website, closing on Friday 20 June, ahead of Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival 2025 from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August.
Belladrum festival producer, Dougie Brown, said: “We’re so excited to be teaming up with BBC ALBA once again to uncover and celebrate the next wave of incredible Scottish talent.
“This opportunity is so much more than a performance slot — it’s a potential launchpad for an artist’s future. Over the years, we’ve seen past talent go on to build amazing careers, and that journey often starts right here, on the Belladrum stage.
“Our partnership with BBC ALBA has been instrumental in showcasing not just the festival, but the creativity and energy coming out of the Highlands and Islands. Fourteen years on, it’s still a huge moment when a fresh new voice gets the chance to share their music with thousands, both on site and at home. We can’t wait to see who takes that spotlight this year.”
Last year’s BBC ALBA x Belladrum talent search winner, Cameron Ferguson, said: “Almost a year on from winning the 2024 Belladrum talent search, I can still say that opening up that stage was the proudest moment of my musical journey to date.
“The feeling of playing on a stage I had once only dreamed of playing was surreal, especially one so close to home. Thank you Belladrum, you’ve opened a lot doors for the band and I. We will be back soon enough!”
Belladrum brings together top musical acts, comedy, cabaret, spoken word, dance, drag and even wrestling as part of the annual family-friendly festival. A wealth of new names and popular crowd-pleasers have been added to the festival line up in recent weeks, including The Pigeon Detectives, Example, The Hoosiers, Irish singer and songwriter CMAT, and Scottish folk rock and pop favourites Skipinnish and Tide Lines.
For those unable to attend, BBC ALBA will be bringing the best of the festival to viewers at home with its annual live coverage broadcast across the weekend, available on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer.
Tinderbox Collective and Granton Youth new launch youth-powered festival, showcasing the city’s most exciting emerging artists at The Pitt Granton on World Music Day.
The Tinderbox Collective and Granton Youth come together to ignite Granton with the NxNW All-Dayer at The Pitt – a festival-style celebration of Edinburgh’s thriving youth music scene.
Taking place on World Music Day, 21st June 2025, this packed one-day event will showcase nine exceptional young acts, all aged between 15-21, across indie rock, folk, alt-pop and more, all united by their development through Tinderbox and Granton Youth’s transformative Mixtape programme.
Following multiple sold-out NxNW nights at Leith Depot and The Mash House, this All-Dayer version expands the format to meet overwhelming demand, offering both established followers and new audiences the chance to discover Scotland’s most exciting emerging artists in one electrifying location.
The Lineup: A Showcase of Edinburgh’s Rising Stars
The lineup features an electrifying mix of emerging talent, each with their own unique story. Kicking off the day at 3:15 PM is Kieran Crosbie, a singer-songwriter whose journey into music began through Tinderbox’s hospital outreach programme. Later in the day, The Citrines take the stage, led by 16-year-old Abi, whose band are fast becoming a staple of Edinburgh’s grassroots scene.
The evening crescendos with two acts fresh from Hit The Road, Scotland’s national youth music tour: Ace & All The Other Animals and Low Tide, whose recent tour together has cemented their reputation as ones to watch. Edinburgh-born singer songwriter Lewis McLaughlin and psychedelic pop duo Logan’s Close also join the bill in support of the day.
The lineup for the day spans alt-rock to intimate folk, with the following performances:
For some, like Kieran, getting involved with Tinderbox has been hugely impactful, offering opportunities they would not have found elsewhere: “I started playing guitar at 12 years old and got involved with Tinderbox through my guitar teacher.
“From that I joined Tinderbox’s ‘Sparks’ project and played at Dynamic Earth performing a collaborative piece of music we had been working on.
“I’m really looking forward to playing the NxNW All Dayer because its such a nice venue and the atmosphere at NxNW is always amazing!”
For others, like The Citrines, working with Tinderbox has provided the launchpad for their first major gigs and recordings.
Reflecting on her experience with Tinderbox, Lead singer of The Citrines, Abi said: “The first gig we played that I was really properly proud of was the NxNW at the Mash House last year.
“I was buzzing when I got off that stage. It’s helped us branch out, meet other musicians, and build our confidence performing.
Discussing the Pitt All Dayer further, Abi added: “This line-up is amazing – rock music, folk music, rap – and so many talented people I know through Mixtape and Tinderbox. It’s going to be such a good day in such a cool venue.”
The event builds on the growing success of Tinderbox’s NxNW (North by Northwest) series, a community-rooted platform for young artists that champions creativity, collaboration and the power of live performance.
The NxNW All Dayer is a rare chance to experience the future of Scottish music in its rawest, most exciting form.
This Christmas, Love Actually, perhaps one of the most quotable and adored Christmas films of all time, will be presented live in concert, with a full orchestra playing its score live-to-film.
The film will be brought to life on a 16-date UK wide tour, following a sell-out run last Christmas. Kicking off on 28th November in Poole and taking in all major cities across the UK, the tour will run right up until the 17th December.
‘A stunning orchestra provides the perfect festive ambience.’Yorkshire Live
‘The whole performance was simply spectacular, enhancing the magic of this classic Christmas movie tenfold’Bournemouth Echo
The score for Love Actually was written by Golden Globe®, BAFTA and Emmy-winning Scottish composer Craig Armstrong OBE, known for his work on films such as Me Before You, Moulin Rouge, Far From The Madding Crowd and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
The score and music for Love Actually is considered some of the most recognisable across the modern romcom genre, featuring covers of Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You and the Troggs’ Love Is all Around.
Written and directed by Richard Curtis, Love Actually follows 10 different, yet interweaving stories of love around the festive period, involving a variety of individuals, many of whom are interlinked as the plot progresses.
The film boasts an all-star cast, featuring Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman and many more.
Tour dates:
28th November Poole Lighthouse 29th November Portsmouth Guildhall 30th November Brighton Centre
1st December Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 3rd December Manchester Bridgewater Hall 4th December Southend Cliffs Pavilion 5th December Bath Forum 6th December London Eventim Apollo *Matinee and evening performances 7th December Sheffield City Hall 8th December Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 10th December Aberdeen P&J Live 12th December Birmingham Symphony Hall 14th December Edinburgh Usher Hall 15th December Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 16th December York Barbican 17th December Bradford Live
‘Whiskey Roll’ star Cammy Barnes and Scottish TikTok Sensation Nati Dredd help complete the toe-tapping line-up for June’s Royal Highland Hoolie
Scottish-based singer-songwriter Cammy Barnes, fresh from the success of his breakout single Whiskey Roll, which continues to sit within the Official Big Top 40 UK singles chart, is joining the wave of new talent performing at this year’s Royal Highland Hoolie, taking place on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st June at the Royal Highland Centre as part of the Royal Highland Show.
Cammy is quickly becoming one of Scotland’s most exciting musical exports. His raw vocals, heartfelt lyrics and commanding stage presence has earned him a fast-growing fanbase across the UK and his slot at the Hoolie on the Saturday is sure to be a standout moment of the weekend.
Cammy Barnes gave fans a taste of what’s to come with a pop-up gig at the Edinburgh taproom of official Royal Highland Show beer partner, Innis & Gunn at the Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, raising a glass, and the roof, with a short acoustic set for customers.
Cammy Barnes said:“This is my first time playing at the Royal Highland Hoolie and I can’t wait to experience its festival atmosphere!
“There’s really nothing quite like playing to a home crowd – the energy and banter is unparalleled. I’m buzzing to be taking to the stage on the Saturday night as part of an absolutely smashing line-up. It’s going to be magic night! Come join us on Saturday 21st June at Royal Highland Centre!”
TikTok sensation Nati Dreddd, who boasts 1.8m followers on the social media platform thanks to her infectious energy and anthemic folk-pop sound will also perform at the Hoolie on the Friday evening.
Additional announcements include, festival favourites The Dangleberries, who will take to the stage on the Friday and whose high-octane blend of bagpipes, rock and Celtic rhythms guarantee a night to remember, and dynamic Nashville-based duo, Zach & Maggie, known for their contemporary take on Celtic and Appalachian music will perform on the Saturday evening.
The pair will be bringing authentic country vibes straight from Nashville to the Hoolie stage, offering a true taste of the American South in the heart of Ingliston.
All acts will be introduced by the charismatic Pat Canavan, who returns as special host for the weekend.
The newly announced acts will join previously announced headliners The Whistlin’ Donkeys on Friday and Nathan Carter on Saturday, alongside Trail West, Mànran, and The Tumbling Paddies – creating a line-up that showcases the very best in folk, country and Celtic music talent from both sides of the Irish Sea.
The Royal Highland Hoolie is produced by Farmers Bash.
Mark Currie, Royal Highland Centre Director of Venue,said: “From chart-topping artists to Nashville and Scottish folk favourites, the mix of musical talent we have on-board this year is outstanding and perfectly encapsulates the diversity and energy the event brings year-on-year.
“The Royal Highland Show is Scotland’s largest outdoor event, and the Hoolie is quickly becoming one of the highlights of the Show weekend. Don’t miss out on tickets for an unforgettable experience of music, community and good times!”
2025 marks the third year of Innis & Gunn acting as the official beer partner of the Royal Highland Show.
Standalone Hoolie tickets are priced at £39 and available to purchase now via the Royal Highland Show website: www.royalhighlandshow.org.uk.
The Royal Highland Hoolie continues to grow each year, bringing top-tier live music to Scotland’s biggest agricultural event.
Get ready for what will be day four of incredible live music, immersive art, and unforgettable experiences at The Paper Factory on 
Saturday 14 June.
Music from:
PLUS:
Visual Art
Dance
Poetry
Pop-up Performances
Murals & Projections
DJs
Street Food & Bars
Unique collabs & special events.
All happening in the legendary Paper Factory – an industrial space transformed into a playground of creativity.
