Shovel Dance Collective are a group of nine musicians united by a passion for the beauty, force, and political charge of the traditional musics of Britain, Ireland and beyond. They are committed to Folk music not as an archaeological artifact to be unearthed, but as a living communal activity - inviting and generous to those it speaks to. They arrange the source material into a kind of musique boue (mud music), simultaneously traditional and experimental they engage a deep, cross-temporal synthesis of free improvisation, tape manipulation and field recordings. Their music appears as a patchwork as pieces are stitched together, rearranged and recontextualised. The yarn is threaded with both their sense of aesthetic innovation, and with a deep sense of the ways in which traditional music holds the voices of the oppressed, the everyday and those who, by their labour, create the wealth of the world. They have performed sold out shows across the UK, with headline concerts at venues such as Cecil Sharp House, Kings Place and Cafe OTO. The collective have appeared at many major festivals: Glastonbury, Roskilde, SXSW, Green Man, End of the Road, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Supernormal and Supersonic festivals among others. Publications such as The Wire, Loud and Quiet, NME, Financial Times and The Times have heralded their live performances across the years. Their first record ‘The Water is the Shovel of the Shore’ has been championed by The Wire, Folk Radio, Tradfolk and was named one of the albums of the year by The Quietus. Their second album ‘The Shovel Dance’ will be released in October 2024 by American Dreams Records.

Shovel Dance Collective

Edinburgh

The Voodoo Rooms - The Ballroom

Caoilfhionn Rose

The Voodoo Rooms - The Speakeasy

Martin McAloon is known as the *bassist of British Art-Pop heros Prefab&nbsp;Sprout*. Martin will be performing a large selection of hit songs from&nbsp;Prefab Sprout's extensive archive celebrating over 40 years of the band and&nbsp;his brother Paddy's writing.

Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout)

Soulacoaster is Edinburgh&#39;s number one 12-piece soul and funk band, bringing you classic hits made famous by legends like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, The Blues Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Sam &amp; Dave and Wilson Pickett.For more information about the venue, please visit http://www.thevoodoorooms.com/Tickets are available online and on the door.This event is mainly standing with limited seating availableDoors 8 pmSoulacoaster 9 pm approx.

Soulacoaster

THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION. I cannot emphasise how good this band is live, their albums are great with ‘Cut And Run’ firmly fixed on my playlist, the album full of original tracks are a joy to listen to but live, this band take on a whole new life. With 9 band members, the sound will always be big, horns, backing singers, guitars, keys, drums and of course Mr Bevington on the bass, they not only fill the stage but also the entire place with a wall of sound.Opening with ‘It’s Too Late’ Scott Ralph taking the lead vocals and rhythm guitar, ably assisted by Sarah Millar and Kate Robertson, the up-tempo guitar heavy song shows the band mean business. ‘Boogie Man’, ‘She Ran Away To The City’ followed before probably one of my favourites ‘61&amp;49’.The guitars sounding amazing and the vocals just feel very real, sludgy riffs which build and get all lovely with slide work and the backing vocals just lifting it to another level.It always reminds me of a ‘Bonamassa’ type structure and so ably played by lead guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, it’s a must for any blues fan to listen to. Cracking through the setlist interspersed with some chatter and much amusement from band and audience, it feels more like an intimate gig than a sell out Saturday night.Jim takes over the lead vocal duties for ‘Five Long Years’ originally recorded by Eddie Boyd in 1966. It’s been covered so many times by so many greats but hearing this live version by the band is just astounding. The keyboards from Dave Edwards are superb but it is the skill of Kirkpatrick that ensures this version is head and shoulders above others.I have said for a very long time that he is one of the best guitarists around, an exceptional blues player who can get such intricacy and preciseness, depth and lightness, it’s bloody epic! With his other band, FM, Jim shows his rock side with the soaring riffs and dual guitar harmonies which he is equally good at, but he really does shine in this setting, with the blues running through his soul which is so evident.Anyway…back to the music with the tempo kicking back up to the party feel of ‘Don’t Need No Doctor’ and ‘Got To Know’ the band are clearly enjoying the night too and numerous folks are getting down with the groove, it’s so infectious.THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION are one of those bands that you could pull up a chair and watch all evening, Neil McCallum on drums has the swing and the tempo to run the rhythm section with Chris Bevington himself on bass, without fault, Lewis Topping and Ben Oakes on horns (and cowbell!) add in the interest and together with the lovely ladies and aforementioned Scott and Jim this was another fabulous night.Support comes from Robbie Reay.Robbie Reay is an internationally renowned guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Equipped with a cigar box guitar and license plate stomp-box. He blends traditional material and original, contemporary, blues songs, influenced by life, the current struggles, folklore and the Deep South.

The Chris Bevington Organisation

Eleanor McEvoy was born on Dublin’s northside. After college, she pursued a career as a session musician in Dublin, collaborating with a multitude of artists and groups including U2, Sinead O’Connor, Midge Ure, and Mary Black.She got her first big break in 1992 as the composer, producer, and co-performer (with Mary Black) of &quot;A Woman&#39;s Heart”, the title track for the best-selling Irish album in Irish history. The song continuously makes appearances on screen, most recently in 2019 in the award-winning TV show “Derry Girls”.

Eleanor McEvoy

BLACKSTAR FALLING formed in Edinburgh in 2023 after a chance meeting between two veteran musicians – Jack Turner and Andy Merry – who still wanted to make bold, original music. After writing and rehearsing for eighteen months, the line-up has stabilised as Jack Turner (drums), James Usherwood (bass/vocals) and Colin Salter (guitar/vocals).BLACKSTAR FALLING play all-original post-punk alt-pop indy-rock with their trademark tight, gritty rhythms and taut, witty lyrics. They sing songs of humanity rather than songs of protest, bringing three lengthy lifetimes of musical experience to the business of rock. With a collective age of 204, BLACKSTAR FALLING may be a new band, but they are not novices.BLACKSTAR FALLING recorded their first EP “Beyond” at Edinburgh’s Mark Morrow Audio Studios in April 2024. The four tracks are widely available for streaming and download online. They will be released on CD and vinyl on November 26th 2024 when the band play a special launch party gig in the Speakeasy at the prestigious Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh. The band return to the studio in January 2025 to record a full-length album for release in the Spring. The band write all their own material. THE BOYS IN THE BANDJack Turner (drums) started his career at 14, and joined Wolverhampton band Hugh &amp; Cry at 16. They enjoyed success playing with luminaries such as Robert Plant, John Bonham and Noddy Holder and supporting Freddie and The Dreamers, Paul &amp; Barry Ryan, and Gerry and the Pacemakers on the Plaza Ballroom Circuit. Jack co-founded post-punk record label Lockjaw Records in 1997 and helped to guide his three sons to success in Europe on the alt-post-punk scene with their band Tribute To Nothing. He is a founder member of Blackstar Falling.James Usherwood (bass/vocals) was born in western Scotland but emigrated with his parents to the USA when he was 10. He played bass in high school bands and a series of West Coast garage bands. A qualified recording engineer, James built his own recording studio in Seattle, where he worked with three local bands and produced his own solo material. He returned to Britain in 2019 and to his native Scotland in 2022. At 62 he is the youngest member of Blackstar Falling.Colin Salter (guitar/vocals) is from Glasgow. He first played on stage with proto-punk band the Stick Insects, with whom he came third in the 1976 Melody Maker Contest Scottish heats. Colin pursued a career in theatre for fifteen years, composing songs for musicals and ambient electronic soundtracks for dramas, and playing bass for Yorkshire folk-jazz-pop group Jump the Pig. In the 1990s and 2000s he led resident house bands for open mic nights in Cumbria, and joined Blackstar Falling in June 2023.Andy Merry was Blackstar Falling’s original bass player. A lifelong Leither, he is a regular on Edinburgh’s spoken word and poetry slam circuit.https://www.blackstarfallingband.com/about-1

Blackstar Falling

A voice of breathtaking quality and power and a live show that erupts like a volcano have catapulted Sari Schorr into the spotlight as the new undisputed star of Blues Rock.In 2016, Sari first burst onto the Blues-Rock scene with her critically acclaimed debut album, A Force of Nature, produced by iconic British Blues pioneer Mike Vernon (David Bowie, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green).Sari broke new ground with her sophomore album, Never Say Never. Sari insisted that the album be recorded live to capture the raw energy of her music. She has ventured deeper into her personal life. In the process, Sari has revealed herself with a vulnerability and honesty that she admits was as painful as it was healing. Her songs are highly crafted with vibrant lyrics that highlight just how good Sari is at invoking passion, grit, and empathy.Sari’s success comes after years trudging the rugged road of life of the hard-working Blues woman. From her humble beginnings, working the music scene in the legendary fierce South Bronx of New York and on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, to a performance at Carnegie Hall, the operatically trained tornado stood her ground as a phenomenal Blues-Rock singer who would not be denied.Sari’s home is her suitcase and her path has always taken her on the road less traveled. Her life is a story of never giving up, being true to yourself and pursuing your passions against all odds. It’s a story that is incredibly inspirational and a reminder why we should Never Say Never!

Bar | Restaurant | Entertainment
Award-winning bar and restaurant in Edinburgh city centre

Upcoming Events

Food & Drink

Private Hire

Bar | Restaurant | EntertainmentAward-winning bar and restaurant in Edinburgh city centre

Upcoming Events

Food & Drink

Private Hire

Bar | Restaurant | Entertainment
Award-winning bar and restaurant in Edinburgh city centre