We’ve gone massive for May – not one, not two, butFOUR epic day parties.
House, electronica, techno, fusion… even a bit of Dolly Parton… whatever you’re into, we’ve got you covered!
The Pitt & Box Energy Present:
Auntie Flo LIVE
Sun 3 May, 4pm-10pm
From £15.00
Suitability: 18+
Get ready for an electrifying night as we bring you the genre-defying sound of Auntie Flo’s full live band! Known for fusing global rhythms with experimental electronica, Auntie Flo will be bringing his captivating live set to our inclusive and welcoming space.
Northern Rodeo Country Festival
Sat 16 May, 4pm – 10pm
From £15.00
Suitability: all welcome until 8pm, then 16+
Northern Rodeo is riding back into The Pitt for another boot-stompin’, line-dancin’, bronco-buckin’ night of country fun! So round-up your crew and come join the fun at Northern Rodeo – where the North meets Nashville.
Musika presents Skyline feat. Hernan Cattaneo 5hr set
Sun 24 May, 2pm-midnight
From £45.00
Suitability: 18+
A huge Bank Holiday All-Dayer as Musika presents Skyline’s last ever Scottish show celebrating 4 years of the crème de la crème of progressive artists. Joining Hernan, Kamilo Sanclemente makes his long-awaited Edinburgh debut. Support comes from both families — Alan Dobson, Jamie McKenzie and Twilo — carrying the Musika x Skyline sound from day into night.
DAYS
Sat 30 May, 1pm-10:30pm
From £55.00
Suitability: 18+
DAYS returns to the Granton waterfront taking over the warehouse and yard for our best party to date.
With Daniel Avery, DJ Seinfeld, and Helena Hauff, while Sweely brings his signature live energy. Rounding things out are Papa Nugs and MarcelDune, two selectors currently at the top of their game.
Join us for an inspiring evening of music, dance, and culture at Performing for Peace — a special charity concert bringing people together in support of for two very worthwhile causes.
This is more than a concert.
Every ticket you purchase is a direct contribution to real people, real families, and real lives.
Event Details
Inverleith St Serf’s Church, Ferry Road, Edinburgh
15 May 2026
Doors open: 7:00 PM | Concert starts: 7:30 PM
Tickets: £15
What to Expect
• Live music performances
• Dance showcases
• Cultural programme
• A warm and welcoming atmosphere
• A chance to be part of something that matters
Where Your Support Goes
All proceeds from the event will support:
• Children of Heroes (Ukraine) — helping children who have lost one or both parents due to the war. Your support provides care, stability, and future opportunities.
• Edinburgh Direct Aid — delivering humanitarian aid directly to communities affected by crisis, ensuring help reaches those who need it most.
Scotland’s first-ever full tribute festival weekend is set to take over Conifox this June. Britney Spears hits live in Edinburgh. Oasis anthems. Queen classics. ABBA, Elton John, Cher and the Spice Girls, all in one place, across one huge weekend.
Introducing ICONIC Festival – a brand new, adults-only music event bringing together the world’s most legendary artists (through world-class tribute acts) for a high-energy, nostalgia-packed festival experience like nothing Scotland has seen before.
Taking place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June at Conifox, next to Edinburgh Airport, ICONIC Festival promises two full days of non-stop live music, singalong moments and feel-good festival vibes, with doors opening at 1.30pm and performances running into the evening.
Saturday’s line-up features tributes performing Britney Spears, ABBA, Oasis, Queen, Elton John, Cher and the Spice Girls, while Sunday brings Take That, Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Madonna, Kings of Leon and Tina Turner-inspired performances to the stage. Each night will close with a live DJ set, keeping the party going until late.
This marks Scotland’s first full-scale tribute festival of its kind, designed as a strictly 18+ event for those looking to relive the biggest hits of their lives in a fun, festival setting.
Conifox previously introduced its first adults-only event with Terror at Conifox Scream Park, a sold-out horror experience which will return later this year for a seven-night reign of Terror. ICONIC Festival builds on that success, offering a completely different kind of adult experience centred around live music, nostalgia and an unforgettable summer festival atmosphere.
James Gammell, owner of Conifox, says the festival is all about creating a shared experience through music people already know and love.“These are the songs that everyone knows – the ones you grew up with, the ones you still turn up in the car, the ones that bring people together instantly. ICONIC Festival is all about celebrating that, in a way that feels big, fun and unforgettable.”
Festivalgoers can expect a lively outdoor setting with delicious street food vendors, festival drinks and Taylor’s of Edinburgh funfair available throughout the day, alongside a packed main stage schedule of back-to-back performances.
With both day tickets and weekend tickets available, organisers are expecting strong demand as word spreads about the unique concept.
From guilty pleasures to all-time classics, ICONIC Festival is set to deliver one of the most talked-about music events of the summer – bringing together generations of hits, one stage, and one unforgettable weekend.
Even more pupils have had the opportunity to perform as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s citywide ensembles and events programme.
Over 5,500 young people in Edinburgh receive weekly music lessons in their schools through the Instrumental Music Service. Over the last month (28 February – 31 March 2026) even more children and young people in Edinburgh have had the opportunity to experience the benefits of live music making, performing as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s citywide ensembles and events programme.
At the end of February, 60 young pianists took part in the second annual piano festival, hosted in the City of Edinburgh Music School. Young pianists performed a range of pieces on the Steinway Grand Piano in the recital room.
On the 1 March, the Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Senior Guitar Ensemble were selected, from a range of national entries, to perform at the Scottish Young Musician Ensemble Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Young jazz musicians have had the opportunity to showcase their talent this term, including on the 10 March at the city’s iconic Jazz Bar. The Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra performed an hour-long set, featuring the internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Sue McKenzie.
BBC Proms presenter, saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam, delivered an inspiring masterclass for young saxophonists on Thursday 12 March, prior to her Scottish premiere with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
On the 15 March, three bands from Leith Academy, James Gillespies High School and Boroughmuir High School performed a sold-out gig at the Jazz Bar as part of Edinburgh Rocks! Festival. The Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble took to the stage as the headliner for the festival.
On 23 March, over 600 young musicians, with pupils from the majority of Edinburgh’s schools, took to the stage at the Usher Hall, performing across seven different ensembles.
The first half featured Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra, Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Guitar Ensemble and Edinburgh School’s Rock Ensemble.
The first half closed with the inaugural performance of the City of Edinburgh Schools Training Wind Ensemble, with over 120 wind musicians from 17 secondary schools taking part.
The second half opened with over 120 string players performing as part of the Edinburgh Primary String Ensemble – the first public performance for many of these learners. The concert closed with the Edinburgh Schools’ Wind Ensemble performing music from three iconic movie scores and the Edinburgh Schools’ Symphony Orchestra performing Shostakovich’s Festive Overture.
This school session is the first time all Edinburgh’s secondary schools have been represented as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s Usher Hall concert series. In recent years, the Instrumental Music Service has invested in additional resources including instruments, with a focus on equity, to further remove barriers to learning and participation.
Education, Children and Families Convenor, Councillor James Dalgleish said:“We want as many children and young people as possible to have the opportunity to not only learn an instrument, but to make progress, have the chance to play as part of a group or ensemble, and to perform to an audience.
“All of this is hugely beneficial for young people in both the short and long term, helping to build perseverance, self-esteem, communication and creativity. These skills and experiences, together with the sense of achievement, pave the way for better attainment and life chances.
“We are committed to making sure that pupils who may not have had the opportunity to do so before are now taking part in our ensembles and getting to experience the buzz of performing to an audience.
“I want to thank our dedicated instrumental instructors and those who give up their time to coach and lead our ensembles – I am confident that these experiences will stay with our young people well beyond their time at school.
To round off the term, on 31 March, the city hosted their Scottish Young Musician Regional Final, in Portobello High School. The competition featured representatives from 12 secondary schools, all competing for the coveted title of The City of Edinburgh Council Young Musician of the Year.
In the end, it was pianist Joshua Gibson, from Queensferry High School, who found favour with the judges.
With singer Liza Aquado, from St Augustine’s R.C. High School, awarded runner up and guitarist Ivar Mackie, from Portobello High School, awarded the most promising young musician. Joshua will now represent the City of Edinburgh Council, performing at the national Scottish Young Musician Final, at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in May.
Oscar, S4 pupil at Boroughmuir High School said:“The Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble is brilliant fun, I really enjoy it, it’s an opportunity like no other!
“Our teachers and all the young musicians are totally committed to our weekly rehearsals and to all our gigs throughout the year – of which our recent performances at Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar and the Usher Hall were just two.
“I’ve made some really good friends and I cannot wait to go on tour in June!
Joshua Gibson chosen to represent Edinburgh at the Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year
OnMonday 30 March, allschools in Edinburgh were invited to take part in their local final at Portobello High School.
This year’s competition saw an incredible standard of musicianship from young performers across the city. The adjudicators faced the difficult task of selecting winners from an exceptionally talented group of musicians.
Scottish Young Musicians, Scotland’s leading festival of music competitions, has returned for 2026 to give young people across the country the chance to compete for the titles of Solo Performer of the Year, Ensemble of the Year and Brass Ensemble of the Year.
Participation in this career-enhancing competition has been offered to every Local Authority in the country as well as independent schools, in the hope that more young people than ever before will take up the opportunity to perform and take part.
Pianist Joshua Gibson in S5 at Queensferry High School was named the overall winner for their outstanding performance Liszt’s Liebestraume No3.
Their skill and interpretation impressed both audience and judges alike, securing them the top award in the Edinburgh final.
Joshua will now represent Edinburgh at the Scottish Young Musicians National Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 24 May.
Runner up was singer Liza Aquado, an S6 pupil from St Augustine’s R.C. High School, who performed Times are Hard for Dreamers from Amelie. And the judges named Ivar Mackie, a guitarist from Portobello High School in S6 who played Unholy Confessions (Avenged Sevenfold) as Most Promising Young Musician.
Solo Performer of the Year is open to all young musicians who go to school in Scotland, whatever age or standard. Each local authority selects a regional finalist, with all of them hosting local and regional heats across different schools to decide who will represent their area at the National Final, which will take place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 24 May 2026.
In its 4 years, Scottish Young Musicians has become the largest and most important national music competition in schools, with around 99% of the school population taking part.
These competitions give young people a life-changing and unforgettable experience, as well as the confidence to continue to compete at the highest level.
It is open to all, across all socio-economic backgrounds, providing an opportunity which would not have existed otherwise.
105 new shows across comedy, theatre, musicals, cabaret, variety and children’s shows go on sale today from Gilded Balloon, marking its biggest on sale to date, with more programme announcements still to come.
These newly announced shows form part of a wide-ranging 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, bringing together leading names, rising stars and international artists. From big nights out to thoughtful theatre and side-splittingly clever comedy, August at Gilded Balloon offers something for all ages and tastes.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon,said: “We’re delighted to be putting a further 105 brilliant shows on sale as part of this year’s Fringe programme, with even more still to be announced.
“This line-up brings together some of the most exciting talent working today alongside the next generation of performers, and truly reflects the breadth and energy of the Fringe.”
The programme brings together established names including Gregor Fisher, Phil Nichol (returning with two shows), The Guilty Feminist and Rich Hall, alongside a strong wave of new voices making their Fringe debuts. Rising talent includes includes Madeleine Brettingham, Adi Parmar, Fab Goualin, Hannah Byczkowski and Shane Daniel Byrne, while Gilded Balloon continues its commitment to Scottish artists with debut shows from Eva Peroni and Alan Jay, and returning favourites Kim Blythe and Kathleen Hughes. The programme also features new Scottish music and theatre, including Crocodile Rock and a range of bold new productions across the theatre programme.
Gilded Balloon’s legendary shows return for 2026. Late’n’Live is back as the original late-night show, featuring stellar line-ups of your favourite acts from across the festival, hosted by some of the best MCs in the country every night.
Described as “The best late-night show on the Fringe” (Scotsman) and “A Fringe institution for a reason” (TheRecs.co.uk), previous acts have included Johnny Vegas, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, Mawaan Rizwan, John Bishop, Larry Dean, Maisie Adam, Reuben Kaye, Jordan Grey and Viggo Venn. Late’n’Liveremains an essential addition to any Fringe bucket list.
Best Of So You Think You’re Funny? returns with an unmissable line-up of fresh talent, including finalists Reb Day, Joel Walker and Rachel Porter, offering audiences the chance to see the best emerging comedians before they become household names.
So You Think You’re Funny? Heats continue the search for comedy’s next big star, as contestants compete for a place in the final of the UK’s biggest newcomer competition. Previous winners include Peter Kay, Aisling Bea, Sara Pascoe and Lee Mack.
Comedy highlights includeGregor Fisher: An (Early) Evening With Gregor Fisher, where the Scottish stage and screen legend shares stories from his life and career; Madeleine Brettingham: Legend, the debut show from the So You Think You’re Funny? 2025 winner exploring myth, identity and growing up in a world of booze-soaked bad behaviour; and Rich Hall: Chin Music, a typically sharp, improvisational hour from the acclaimed comedian.
The Guilty Feminist, hosted by Deborah Frances-White, brings its Road to Gilead Project to the Fringe, alongside rising Scots comedy star Kim Blythe: Puzzle, following a sold-out 2025 run, and Smack The Pony’s Fiona Allen: White Lies, a sharply observed new show about social anxiety and human interaction.
New additions to the programme include Comedy Night at the Museum, a Gilded Balloon production bringing together top international comedians for a wholly improvised late-night show inspired by real artefacts from the National Museum of Scotland; Shane Daniel Byrne: Baby It’s Time, showcasing one of Ireland’s fastest-rising comedic voices; and Christian Dart: GUMSHOE!, a multi award-nominated, sell-out hit blending noir parody with high-energy character comedy.
Theatre highlights include SLAY, a darkly funny and unflinching exploration of trauma, therapy and modern coping mechanisms, andSilent Disco, an inventive, headphone-led experience blending psychology and music.
Further standout work includes HESS, Michael Burrell’s powerful and timely revival exploring the psychology of extremism and its lasting impact, and Broke & Fabulous in the 21st Century,a riotous, raunchy dramedy celebrating friendship, ambition and modern love.
Other theatre shows on sale today include Ostrich, a sharp look at modern dating and identity; Top Gunchained, a high-energy parody from the team behind Yippee Ki Yay; Boy in a Box, a confronting and urgent piece examining race and identity in America; and Waiting For Wonka, a darkly comic reimagining of childhood nostalgia.
Themed shows bring a mix of interactive and late-night entertainment, includingThe Thinking Drinkers’ Great British Pub Ride, an epic, drink-fuelled journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats; Dreamgun Film Reads, where comedians perform unrehearsed parody versions of classic films; and Not Another Quiz Night, a high-energy, chaotic late-night favourite.
Cabaret and variety sees Fake, a critically acclaimed blend of magic, storytelling and illusion from Chris Cook that explores truth, deception and identity; EIGHT: The One (Wo)Man Drag King Musical Parody, a high-energy, genre-bending musical comedy reimagining Henry VIII through drag, parody and pop and Fungasm: Save or Smash offers up bold, interactive performance.
Also featured is Charlene Kaye: Diversity Shredder, introducing audiences to the unhinged, razor-sharp world of Charlene Kaye — guitar god, internet legend and “breakout comedy star” (Rolling Stone), alongside Siobhan Wilson: Flowercore, an immersive performance celebrating Scotland’s wildflowers through music and visual art.
Children’s and family shows include Max Fulham’s Monkey Business, a lively, family-friendly mix of puppetry, sketches and slapstick comedy andMama G: The Magic Bookmark comes to Teviot. “Everyone’s favourite pantomime dame!” (Metro) and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G discovers the magic of books and the power of being yourself in this hilarious award-winning panto adventure for the whole family!
Bring Yer Bairn Comedy is the adult comedy show where you can bring yer bairn! A selection of our favourite comics from the Scottish scene and beyond, performing to parents, carers and bairns under 15 months old! The perfect morning show!
All shows will take place across Gilded Balloon’s four venues this August, including the welcome return to Teviot, alongside Patter House and Gilded Balloon at the Museum, as well as the newly added Gilded Saloon, GB’s year-round pub and live venue.
It’s set to be a very pink summer!
Further programme announcements will follow in the coming months. For full listings visit www.gildedballoon.co.uk or follow @gildedballoon.
Gilded Balloon is one of Scotland’s leading and best-loved entertainment producers, presenting a cross-genre programme annually at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and touring productions across the UK throughout the year.
Curated and directed by Cora Bissett and Hannah Lavery
With visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao
A one-night-only response to the times we are living through, presented by a host of leading Scottish artistic talent from the fields of theatre, music, poetry, comedy and dance.
On 1 May at Edinburgh Central Hall at 7pm.
Featuring Comedy:Sanjeev Kohli (Still Game) / Tia Rey; Music: Dala by Heir of the Cursed performed by Djana Gabrielle / Cora Bissett, Kathryn Joseph and Joan Clevillé & Kassichana Okene-Jameson of Scottish Dance Theatre/ Kitti / Loud and Proud Choir / Soapbox / Declan Welsh; Poetry: Shasta Hanif Ali / William Letford / Michael Mullen; Theatre & Dance; An artistic response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech (2026) – led by Janice Parker / Apphia Campbell / Reuben Joseph / Hannah Lavery / Uma Nada-Rajah / Sara Shaarawi / Dawn Sievewright performing It’s No a Weans Choice
Live band: Isaac Savage (keyboards/vocals) / Adam Scott (bass) / Djana Gabrielle (guitar/vocals) / Signy Jacobsdottir (drums and percussion) / MJ McCarthy (musical direction)
Two of Scotland’s leading artists and theatre-makers, Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett, join forces to create an urgent multi‐form evening of theatre, music, poetry, comedy, film, dance and collaborative performance at Central Hall, Edinburgh, on 1 May.
Created as a rapid-response theatre project, in direct response to the turbulent social and political climate, they have curated and gathered together a constellation of Scottish artists for a one-night-only flare of short, urgent performances and interventions.
Through new work, unique collaborations and community voices, Mayday meets the “dark times” we are living through with wit, defiance, tenderness and imagination. This collective response honours the theatrical space as a place where audiences can think together, dream together and begin to imagine the futures we are still reaching for.
Co-curators/co-directors Hannah Lavery and Cora Bissett said: “Given the times we are living in—where division is being fuelled by dangerous and deliberately misinformed rhetoric— we feel deeply and personally connected to this Rapid Response Project.
“We are living through an age of fear: extreme racism and anti-migrant sentiment are being normalised, human rights attacked at every level, climate injustice accelerating, and ordinary people struggling to meet even basic needs.
“We’re thrilled to curate an event that will bring together bold, fierce, insightful and creatively galvanising voices from across Scotland – an urgent celebration of our shared humanity that challenges the rising tide of hate, calls upon solidarity, inspires change and imagines a more compassionate future.”
Highlights include:
Original short sharp plays from playwrights Apphia Campbell(The Official Version), Hannah Lavery (Patriotic Renewal), Uma Nada-Rajah (The Proposal) and Sara Shaarawi (Pandora’s Box)
Sanjeev Kohli delivers a short sketch on the cultural impact of his character Navid from Still Game
Live music from Declan Welsh, Soapbox and Djana Gabrielle, who honours Beldina Odenyo’s (Heir of the Cursed) Dala with a powerful, intimate performance that moves between vulnerability and defiance.
Cross-artform collaborations including Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award winner Kathryn Joseph’s powerful new collaboration with dancer Kassichana Okene-Jameson, visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao, choreography by Joan Clevillé, and direction by Cora Bissett. Joseph’s haunting, fragile songs intertwine with movement in a visceral fusion of music and dance. Created in collaboration with Scottish Dance Theatre.
Collaborations between professional artists and community groups:
An Artistic Response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech, Edinburgh, March 2026 led by award-winning choreographer and dance maker Janice Parker.
Loud and Proud Choir
Dawn Sievewright (Wild Rose) performs No a Weans Choice, the defiant rallying cry from the Glasgow Girls stage show, composed by Cora Bissett
Reuben Joseph (Orphans – NTS, Hamilton the Musical) performs a new version of Robert Burns’ A Man’s a Man.
Listings information
Friday 1 May 2026, Central Halls, Edinburgh, 7pm (doors from 6.30pm)
Ten young people (aged 14-18) have taken part in a six-month course with Tinderbox Collective and North Edinburgh Community Festival to learn how to organise a festival.
The course, Festival Futures, culminates this weekend (Saturday 28th March) in West Pilton for the launch event for North Edinburgh Community Festival.
The launch event will feature live music from local performers, a games hub, food stalls, community stalls and sports activities.
Local young people are behind the organisation of the launch event for North Edinburgh Community Festival, taking place in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre tomorrow (Saturday 28th March) from 12-2pm.
Festival Futures, a six-month project between Tinderbox Collective and North Edinburgh Community Festival, has allowed ten young people from North Edinburgh to get hands-on experience, workshops and work experience on how to run a live event. This festival launch is the culmination of their work and has given the young people the chance to step behind the scenes and learn how a real community festival comes to life.
The launch event will host live music from local young performers who have been honing their skills and shaping their sound in youth clubs and community spaces delivered by Tinderbox Collective and Granton Youth, including Lotas, Georgia Amery, Abraham Olivier, and Leon Highway.
There will be community stalls from local organisations including Granton Baptist Church, Spartans, Childrens’ Holiday Venture, Project Esperanza and more, as well as sports activities and food stalls. Tinderbox Games Club will also be hosting an escape room they have designed, letting people try out computer games they have designed over the last year.
This weekend’s event marks the launch of the programme for the 2026 North Edinburgh Community Festival, which will take place on 16th May.
Returning for its fifth edition, the much-loved festival continues its mission as a family friendly fun day out for all the residents in North Edinburgh, and a vital community anchor which brings people together, strengthens local pride, and connects thousands with essential services and opportunities.
During the festival itself, Tinderbox Collective will be producing and running the Main Stage, which brings together choirs, youth bands and community performers from across North Edinburgh.
The North Edinburgh Community Choir – a vibrant group of around 100 singers from Pirniehall, St David’s Craigroyston and Forthview Primary Schools and Craigroyston High School – will return to perform, and Tinderbox’s Tuesday Music Club band – made of up thirty young people from across North Edinburgh – will also take to the stage with original tunes and reimagined covers they’ve been developing together.
Tinderbox Collective will also join forces with Granton Youth to produce the North by North West stage which will feature emerging young musicians and new talent still to be announced.
Adele Conn, Festival Director of North Edinburgh Community Festival, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the young people in our Festival Futures programme; their creativity, commitment, and professionalism over the last six months have been nothing short of inspiring.
“Seeing them lead today’s launch with such confidence and pride is a real joy, and they should each feel immensely proud of what they’ve achieved.”
The North Edinburgh Community Festival launch takes place tomorrow – Saturday 28th March, from 12 – 2pm at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre and is free to attend.
The full festival will follow on Saturday 16th May 2026 at West Pilton Park and the West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Tinderbox Orchestra are set to release their new spoken word EP Outwith Words on Wednesday 25th March 2026. The live EP, which was launched during a co-production with Edinburgh Hogmanay’s First Footin’ Festival, features distinctive collaborations from some of Scotland’s most exciting spoken word artists.
Outwith Words consists of four tracks created with collaborators including poet Hannah McCooke, writer, theatre-maker and performance poet RJ Hunter, and spoken word poet, actor and rapper Ace V!s!on. The connecting theme throughout the collection is of community, connection, and activism.
The EPis the culmination of the Orchestra’s work over the last few years, touring libraries across the UK and Ireland and championing the ‘We Make Music’ Instrument Libraries initiative – an initiative to get musical instruments into public libraries across Scotland.
A partnership between Tinderbox Collective, Music Partnership Education Group, and Edinburgh Libraries, the project now operates in ten local authorities and 30 community libraries across the country – resulting in thousands of people having borrowed instruments.
The project collects donated instruments, restores them, and makes them available to anyone – free of charge – so you can borrow them just like a book.
Bringing together rappers and singers with soaring strings, heavy brass, woodwind and thundering bass and drums, Tinderbox transforms preconceptions of what an orchestra can be.
Over the last few years they have performed at major festivals, events and venues including; Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall (Celtic Connections), Latitude Festival (BBC Introducing Stage), Fuse Festival (London), Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe by the Sea.
They have also produced multiple sell-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and have toured across the UK and Ireland.
Claire Docherty, Orchestra Manager, said: “Outwith Words” is the culmination of Tinderbox Orchestra’s work over the last few years, touring libraries across the UK and Ireland and championing the ‘We Make Music’ Instrument Libraries initiative, which now operates in nearly 30 libraries across Scotland.
“This EP features distinctive collaborations with Hannah McCooke, RJ Hunter and Ace V!s!on, with Hannah’s piece telling the story of the Instrument Libraries project.
“Made up of live recordings from our Edinburgh Fringe shows at Edinburgh Central Library — where the project began through a joint effort between Tinderbox Collective and Edinburgh Library Service — this EP celebrates how far the initiative has grown since starting in Edinburgh.”
RJ Hunter, collaborator, said: “It’s a true honour to work with Tinderbox Orchestra every single time and to have this piece immortalised is beyond exciting.
“War Cry is an original track made in collaboration with the orchestra during the Outwith Words project, a piece about using your voice for your community and for others that need it most, written from a trans perspective.”
Ace V!s!on, collaborator, said: “Only Lovers, Guilt Survives is what I call a piece of uplifting melancholy. The title of the piece came from two poems written prior, contextually in a moment of grief at the loss of a loved one.
“To me, the ‘Only Lovers’ section stands out for its actually quite simple but necessary repeated statement, an almost gruelling reminder of the importance of love not just in a romantic sense but as a fundamental human component for relationality, for care and understanding and perseverance in the face of adversity.
“This sets up the transition into ‘Guilt Survives’ a piece that reflects on the loss of said love and the vulnerability required to hold such tenderness especially when it hurts, touching on themes of mental health & loneliness.”
Outwith Words will be released on streaming platforms on Wednesday 25th March.
A pupil at an Edinburgh school has designed an eco-friendly guitar that can switch between acoustic and electric sounds, allowing musicians to change tone without needing multiple instruments.
The design uses interchangeable components to alter the guitar’s sound, removing the need to buy multiple instruments and helping reduce material waste.
Chester, aged 19, from Edinburgh, began developing the idea after noticing how expensive it can be for musicians to own several guitars to achieve different sounds.
He designed a single instrument capable of producing multiple tones while also using more sustainable materials, including FSC-certified wood and water-based finishes. The design also allows parts to be repaired or replaced rather than the whole instrument being discarded, helping reduce waste.
Chester said:“The guitar’s most unique feature is a removable modular block which houses all of the electronics and pickups. Different pickups create different tones, which is why musicians often need several guitars to achieve particular sounds.
“With this design, guitarists can swap components and customise the sound of the instrument, even mid-performance.”
Working on the prototype for more than a year, he experimented with a range of materials, from traditional timber to experimental resin, before refining the final design. The result is a fully functioning guitar that can be adapted for different styles of music.
Florence Chapman, Head of Faculty for Technologies and Creative Arts and Design Technology teacher at Merchiston Castle School, said:“This is a brilliant example of how the disciplines within STEM can work together to complement one another in producing a single creative outcome.
“Chester has used knowledge from subjects like maths and physics alongside design and music to create something genuinely innovative. Projects like this show how pupils can take an idea, test it, refine it and turn it into something real.”
Music lover Chester added:“I’ve played guitar for about six years and realised that musicians often need several guitars to achieve different sounds, which can be really expensive.
“I wanted to see if it was possible to create one instrument that could produce the sound of many guitars while also being more sustainable. It took a lot of trial and error, but seeing the final guitar working has been incredibly rewarding.”
The guitar has already been tested by fellow pupils and teachers performing classic rock tracks in the school’s music department.
Chester added:“I play in a band with my friends at Merchiston called Sleet. We play 80s and 90s rock music, including Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers. It would be amazing to see John Frusciante play this guitar one day.”
Chester, a senior prefect at the school with a strong interest in both STEM and design, plans to study Design Engineering at university.
He hopes to continue exploring the intersection between design, engineering and music in the future.
To learn more about Merchiston Castle School, please visit:
Inverleith St Serf’s Church, Ferry Road, Edinburgh
15 May 2026
Doors open: 7:00 PM | Concert starts: 7:30 PM
Tickets: £15
