Music has always been a mainstay of the Fringe, and that part of the programme is a fertile ground for world music, classical recitals and other aural treats that are all too easy to miss amongst the more popular comedy & theatrical options.
In 2000, the
T on the Fringe breakout festival injected things with a welcome and healthy shot of live rock music, bringing the likes of Radiohead, Snow Patrol, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails in previous years to shake things up a bit (and annoy some of the residents who lived near Meadowbank).
Since the promoters and Tennents (T) have gone their separate ways, this was replaced in 2008 by the
Edge Festival. Still with a commitment to bring alternative music to the Fringe, the Edge is back again this year with another strong line-up.
As is the nature of live music gigs, some - such as a rare show from
Faith No More - have already sold out, but tickets still remain for some cracking bands and artists. Highlights include indie faves
Biffy Clyro, ex-Talking Heads frontman
David Byrne, post-punk pioneers
Magazine and, my own personal favourite,
Amanda Palmer.
The Edge Festival (and its previous T incarnation) has made live rock music a permanent fixture on the Edinburgh festival scene, meaning that I now can't think of a single artistic genre that
isn't represented (although the Film festival has since moved dates to June, but one could argue that just got in the way of everything else anyway...!)