Gig Goers Guide to Edinburgh International Festival 2024
There’s a whole host of gigs coming to the Edinburgh International Festival this summer. From intimate performances at the Queen’s Hall, to energetic headliners at the Edinburgh Playhouse, there’s something for every music lover to enjoy. We're here to help you find the perfect gig for you, whatever type of gig goer you are.
The Planner
Are you the planner in your friend group? Perhaps you’re partial to a spreadsheet. If you like to stay organised with your events schedule ahead of August, you might enjoy Jordan Rakei. Known for his smooth blend of soul, jazz and R&B, this gig is sure to bring some much-deserved calm to the busy Festival period. Get a taste of Jordan Rakei’s style as he plays some of his top hits in this Tiny Desk Concert.
The Poet
Do you find yourself pondering the lyrics of a song, long after it has ended? Maybe you love to consider all the different, deeper meanings a title may carry. If this is you, you may like Lisa O’Neill. Poetic and contemplative songs are what she does best. The title track on her latest album, All of This Is Chance, is inspired by The Great Hunger, an epic poem by Patrick Kavanagh. From metaphors of nature to ponderings on human spirit, each carefully crafted lyric of O’Neill’s is bound to itch your poetic scratch.
The Surprise Seeker
For those who live for the thrill and expect the unexpected, GRIT Orchestra could be your thing. Fancy checking out Scotland’s contemporary music landscape as you’ve never heard it before? This is no ordinary orchestra, as the 80 strong group combine Celtic, Scandinavian and Islamic traditions with techno and breakbeat. They’re truly pushing the limits of the genre as we know it. Listen to their rendition of Martyn Bennet’s Aye? at the International Festival back in 2018.
The Lifelong Loyal
If you’ve been on the contemporary music scene for a while, and you take your playlist curation seriously, then you’ve probably already heard of orchestral pop-group The Magnetic Fields. Their hit album 69 Love Songs remains as sought-after today as it was at its release, back in 1999. But did you know that their tunes appear in several, hugely popular series? You can catchI Think I Need A New Heart in series two, episode ten of American comedy-drama, The Bear. They also feature regularly in the first series of British teen comedy, Skins. You can hear Underwear in episode five, and The One You Really Love in episode seven. Prepare to feel some serious noughties nostalgia! For a glimpse of their previous Festival performance, watch below.
The Hidden Gems Detective
Are you always one step ahead of the latest trends? If you tend to be right amongst it when it comes to discovering new artists, there’s a good chance you’ll love Tirzah. Bringing a rich combination of grime, garage and R&B to the table, Tirzah is the artist you want to know from the start. She always creates a calm, intimate atmosphere at her gigs, perfect for those of you who love to soak up the sound amongst fellow contemporary music connoisseurs. To be even more in the know, check out Tirzah’s latest album, trip9love...??? ahead of her performance.