Edinburgh Festival Guide

Listings: Before 9pm, Music

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La Belle et la Bête

Minimalist composer Philip Glass’s magical reimagining of Jean Cocteau’s 1946 La Belle et la Bête combines the classic black and white film with live performance in a Šsophisticated work that is at once a touching fairy tale and a meditation on creativity. Removing the film’s original dialogue track and score by Georges…

The Edinburgh Playhouse

Sat 10 Aug

£12–£35 / 0131 473 2000

Sun 11 Aug

£12–£35 / 0131 473 2000

Locus

Really hot new band of the “next big talents” led by two Scots, saxophonist Leah Gough Cooper, and trumpeter, Kim Macari. Influenced by Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny and Brian Blade, their compositions are deeply rooted in the jazz tradition and range from bop to contemporary acoustic fusion. With Riley Stone-Lonergan (tenor…

The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh

Tue 23 Jul

£10 / 0131 220 4298

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 19:00 – 20:30

Oliver Meech: When Magic and Science Collide

A comedy magic show for the QI generation. Amazing tricks inspired by astounding science. It's the Natural Selection! 'Could rival Derren Brown' (Theatre-Wales.co.uk). 'Funny, endearing, impressive showmanship' (ThreeWeeks). Sell out: Green Man Festival.

Just the Tonic, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Fri 2 Aug

£5 / 0131 556 5375

Preview

Sat 3 Aug

£9 (£8) / 0131 556 5375

…and 21 more dates

Alex Yellowlees Hot Club Jazz Quartet

Violinist Alex Yellowlees serves up swing in the classic Reinhardt-Grappelli style, accompanied by his masterful band.

Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides, Edinburgh

Thu 15 Aug

£10 (£8) / 0131 346 8237

Andreas Haefliger

Two titans of the piano repertoire are performed by the formidable Swiss pianist Andreas Haefliger, whose combination of luxuriant richness and steely control in his impeccable playing have earnt him worldwide acclaim. Although his earlier works had been conceived for the wooden fortepiano, Beethoven needed the modern…

The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

Sat 17 Aug

£8–£29 / 0131 473 2000

Part of The Queen's Hall Series.

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Bandakadabra

Continuing the carnival atmosphere – the twelve Italian brass, reeds and drums play party music from wild Balkan dances to traditional Mediterranean marches and Latino jazz. Uplifting.

Tron Kirk, Edinburgh

Sun 21 Jul

£5

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 17:00 – 19:00

Bang on a Can All-Stars

Ghosts of the past and present collide through video and sound technology in this evening-long project from the internationally renowned Brooklyn-based Bang on a Can All-Stars, an electric chamber ensemble that brings together some of the world’s most adventurous musical thinkers. The Field Recordings project looks back…

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 23 Aug

£12–£34 / 0131 473 2000

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: Mahler Symphony No 2

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra performs one of the grandest and most moving pieces in the entire orchestral repertoire: Mahler’s Second Symphony. Tracing a journey from funereal despair to the blazing light of rebirth, the Symphony combines moments of hair-raising terror with passages of poignant intimacy. The…

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Mon 12 Aug

£12–£42 / 0131 473 2000

Biil Salmond’s Louisiana Ragtime Band

Step back to the early 1920s, to the birth place of jazz: to the music of the bars and dance halls of New Orleans: Louis, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver. Swinging sounds delivered with real conviction, spirit and passion from this hugely popular Edinburgh group, led by banjoist, Bill Salmond, and tonight in an all star…

The Spiegeltent, Edinburgh

Sat 27 Jul

£10

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 18:00 – 19:30

Brian Kellock Copenhagen Trio

The piano maestro has been back and forth to Copenhagen regularly in recent years, building a reputation for himself in one of Europe’s great jazz cities. Now he’s formed a band which features two great local residents – Daniel Franck (bass) and Niclas Camapgnol (drums). New musicians, but they play the powerful, swinging…

Bristo Hall, Edinburgh

Thu 18 Jul

£12

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 20:00 – 22:00

Fri 19 Jul

£15

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 19:00 – 21:00
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Cat's Club

CD launch by charismatic singer with firepower quartet - Graeme Stephen (g), Paul Harrison (keys), Mario Caribe (b) and Stu Ritchie (d).

Tron Kirk, Edinburgh

Wed 24 Jul

£10

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 20:00 – 22:00

Chamber Orchestra of Europe 01

Drawn from the finest players across the continent, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe is widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest orchestras. Its two Festival concerts are directed by the young French-Canadian Yannick Nézet Séguin, who is famed for the inspirational energy of his performances. In his…

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 16 Aug

£12–£42 / 0131 473 2000

Christophe Rousset Harpsichord

World-renowned harpsichord virtuoso Christophe Rousset explores the remarkable richness of Baroque harpsichord music in two special concerts that showcase the magnificent instruments preserved in Edinburgh’s own St Cecilia’s Hall Museum. Selecting outstanding instruments from the splendours of the museum’s collection…

St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh

Fri 23 Aug

£15 / 0131 473 2000

Conversations: Andreas Scholl

Countertenor Andreas Scholl talks to Richard Morrison, chief music critic of The Times.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Wed 28 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Conversations: Ensemble musicFabrik

Members of Ensemble musikFabrik talk to composer John Harris about their unique artistic vision.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Thu 29 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

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Conversations: Philip Glass and Patti Smith

Philip Glass is joined by Patti Smith to discuss their cross-art form collaboration The Poet Speaks with writer and broadcaster Richard Coles.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Tue 13 Aug

£6 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Conversations with Artists.

Ensemble musicFabrik

A concert of blazing energy, infectious rhythms and big sounds as Cologne-based contemporary music group Ensemble musikFabrik celebrates the sometimes outrageous music of US maverick Frank Zappa. Led from the drumkit by superstar percussionist Dirk Rothbrust, the ensemble explores connections between Zappa’s wild…

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Wed 28 Aug

£12–£34 / 0131 473 2000

Fauré Requiem

A concert of warmth and lyricism that draws on the refined playing for which the Scottish Chamber Orchestra is renowned. Principal conductor Robin Ticciati is joined by the remarkable National Youth Choir of Scotland and two exceptional solo vocal talents. Sir Thomas Allen is one of Britain’s best-loved singers…

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Sat 17 Aug

£12–£42 / 0131 473 2000

Haftor Medboe

The guitarist has continuously refreshed and updated his music, offering Scottish audiences a constant stream of interesting projects across the contemporary jazz spectrum. Now, for the first time, he’s put together an international all star band that reflects his Scandinavian roots, and gives a new platform for his often…

Bristo Hall, Edinburgh

Thu 25 Jul

£12

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 19:00 – 20:30

Hannah Stone

The Royal harpist plays Bach, Dizi, Prokofiev and Salzedo.

The Hub, Edinburgh

Wed 14 Aug

£10 / 0131 473 2000

Part of Cafe Concerts.

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Hebrides Ensemble and Thomas Bloch

Unusual instruments and boundary-pushing music old and new from one of Scotland’s most respected chamber groups, Hebrides Ensemble. Mozart was at the cutting edge of technology in the two graceful works he wrote for glass harmonica, whose spinning crystal bowls are made to sound by gentle touch. It is an instrument almost…

The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

Mon 26 Aug

£8–£29 / 0131 473 2000

Part of The Queen's Hall Series.

Iain Hunter

Swinging, rat pack inspired tunes with a top class vocalist and his trio.

Tron Kirk, Edinburgh

Thu 25 Jul

£10

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 20:00 – 22:00

Malene Mortensen

One of the highest profile vocalists in Denmark since singing in the Eurovision Song Contest ten years ago. She came last. That might tell you something – she’s got great taste and musicality, terrific time and a voice that sounds like it’s inside the lyric all the time. She sings classic jazz standards and arrangements…

The Spiegeltent, Edinburgh

Thu 25 Jul

£13.50

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 19:00 – 20:30

Mardi Gras

The historic heart of Edinburgh becomes a mini New Orleans for the afternoon. In the Grassmarket a host of bands, stages, brollie dollies and a mix of visiting and local musicians create non stop entertainment and a party atmosphere. This year’s musical line up includes: Shreveport Rhythm, Horndog Brass Band, The Rae…

Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Sat 20 Jul

Free

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 13:00 – 15:00

Martin Kershaw Quartet

The alto saxophonist’s Quartet has reinvented itself with Kershaw’s trademark lyricism steeled by a musical intelligence that makes for music that satisfies head and heart. And with the skill, energy and musical nous of Paul Harrison (piano), Euan Burton (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums) in the band, there’s constant…

Bristo Hall, Edinburgh

Sat 20 Jul

£10

Part of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

  • 19:00 – 20:30
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