The Edinburgh Gig Archive

The Edinburgh Playhouse opened on "The Glorious Twelfth" of August 1929 as a cinema seating 3040, designed by architect John Fairweather. The building is one of the finest surviving examples of the "super-cinema" built in an era when creating a feeling of opulence and granduer, as well as maximising seating capacity was top of the list. Closed to cinema in 1973, and narrowly escaping demolition, it has hosted many bands and performers, as well as now being mainly used for touring musicals.

1966 2nd September Chris Barber's Band with Kenneth Washington

1976 24th March Diana Ross
1976 27th August Brody, Ignatz, & Preying Mantis

1976 31st August Kevin Ayers and his band Soft Machine, & Ivor Cutler

1976 1st & 2nd September Queen

1976 4th September Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

Thank you to Ian Dunipace for the ticket and badge above.

1976 14th September Van Der Graaf Generator, & Brand X

1976 16th September Crosby & Nash

1976 17th September Elton John

1976 14th November Santana

1976 17th November The Carpenters

1976 2nd December Steve Hillage

1977 11th January Rod Stewart

1977 14th & 15th January Genesis

Thank you to David Evans for this ticket.

1977 25th February Bryan Ferry
1977 18th April The Small Faces, & P.P. Arnold

1977 7th May The Clash, and guests The Jam, The Buzzcocks, The Slits, The Prefects, and Subway Sect

A circle ticket.

A stalls ticket.

1977 25th May Nils Lofgren, support band Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Stalls ticket for this gig. Thank you to Winnie Lisowski for this ticket.

1980 20th July The Stranglers

1980 17th August Elvis Costello & The Attractions

1980 24th August The Ramones

1980 28th August Donovan

Thank you to Marc Marnie for this ticket.

1980 20th September The Specials

1980 27th September Gary Numan

1980 10th October Joe Jackson Band

1980 15th October The Pretenders

1980 25th October UB40

1980 29th October The Jam

1980 10th November Weather Report

1980 13th November Shirley Bassey

1980 26th November Ian Dury & The Blockheads

1980 29th November Yes (Trevor Horn Vocals)

1980 8th December Dire Straits

1981 31st January UFO

1981 19th & 20th February The Who (Pete Townshend spotted having a light refreshment in The Conan Doyle pub across the road prior to the gig).

Thank you to David for his memories of The Who at the Playhouse

"For the Playhouse gigs, it was a case of queuing down the steps at the side of the theatre for tickets. The queue stretched down to the bottom of the steps and way up the road to the John Lewis walkway (behind where the multi storey car park is now). We managed to get stalls tickets for both gigs, as we started queuing quite early in the morning of the sale. It was well worth it though because both gigs were fantastic, with some different songs played each night. I recall quite a few mods at these gigs, as the ska/mod scene was blooming that year".

1981 24th February The Stranglers

1981 27th February Siouxsie & The Banshees, support band The Comsat Angels
1981 5th March Jeff Beck, special guests The Climax Blues Band

1981 11th March The Supremes

1981 25th March Tom Waits

Thank you to Henry Scott-Irvine for this poster.

1981 26th April The Undertones

1981 16th & 17th May Bruce Springsteen (the original show was rescheduled from 30th March, see ticket below, and a second night was added)

1981 17th June Kraftwerk (rescheduled from 9th May)

1981 21st June Robert Palmer

1981 6th July Iggy Pop

1981 26th July Ella Fitzgerald, with The Brian Fahey Radio Orchestra & The Jimmy Rowles Trio

Thank you to Paul McKean for the three scan above.

1981 13th August Siouxsie & The Banshees, support Linton Kwesi Johnson

1981 26th August Whitesnake, special guest Billy Squire

1981 30th August Ian Dury & The Blockheads
1981 30th September The Grateful Dead

1981 5th October Steve Hackett

1981 13th October Renaissance

1981 17th October Johnny Cash
1981 18th October Greg Lake

1981 19th October Saxon

1981 5th November Cliff Richard

1981 12th November Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

1981 21st November The Human League

1981 22nd November The Stranglers

1981 30th November Gene Pitney

1981 15th December Japan, support band Blancmange

Japan at the Playhouse 15th December 1981, The Visions Of China Tour. Thank you to Jackie Robertson for these photos. ©Jackie Robertson 1981.

1981 19th December Duran Duran
1982 13th January UFO

1982 22nd January Stiff Little Fingers

1982 30th January Sammy Hagar

1982 1st February The Teardrop Explodes

1982 11th February Krokus & Magnum

1982 15th March Iron Maiden

1982 4th April Graham Parker
1982 5th & 6th April The Jam, special guests The Questions

1982 10th April Blackfoot

1982 14th April The Scorpions (Rescheduled from 11th February)

1982 20th April The Boomtown Rats
1982 26th April The Cure

1982 2nd May Meatloaf

1982 5th May Foreigner

1982 14th May Jethro Tull

1982 22nd May Todd Rundgren

1982 28th May The Rolling Stones, support from local band TV21, who decided to call it a day backstage after this concert. The Stones were introduced on stage by Billy Connolly

1982 29th May Camel

1982 7th June Joe Jackson
1982 9th July Toyah

1982 12th June Van Morrison

Thank you to Winnie Lisowski for this ticket.

1982 23rd & 25th July The Clash

1982 15th August Bucks Fizz
1982 4th & 5th September Blondie
1982 9th September Mike Oldfield

1982 16th September UB40

1982 17th September Elvis Costello
1982 19th September Saxon

1982 29th September John Martyn

1982 1st October Roxy Music

1982 7th October Shakin' Stevens

1982 10th & 11th October AC/DC, support band Y&T

1982 12th October Hall & Oates

1982 16th October Kate & Anna McGarrigle in concert with Ali Bain & Tich Richardson

Thank you to Winnie Lisowski for this ticket.

1982 18th October Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

1982 20th October Depeche Mode
1982 21st October Hawkwind

1982 26th October Japan

1982 29th October Stiff Little Fingers
1982 31st October Julio Iglesias (note misspelt ticket)

1982 1st November Duran Duran

1982 4th November Elton John

1982 6th November ABC

1982 7th November Gillan & Spyder

1982 16th November Siouxsie & The Banshees (Robert Smith on guitar)

1982 17th November Ultravox

1982 18th November Yazoo

1982 22nd November Cultur, & Mystical 13

1982 23rd November Budgie, support Bernie Torme

1982 25th November Billy Connolly

1982 1st December Michael Schenker Group

1982 2nd December The Kinks

1982 4th December Cliff Richard

1982 7th December Dire Straits

Thank you to David Evans for this ticket.

1982 9th December Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

1982 19th December Simple Minds

1983 16th January Echo & The Bunnymen (rescheduled from 27/9/82).

Thank you to Jim Barr for the ticket and set list above.

1983 11th February The Stranglers

1983 28th February U2

1983 2nd March 10cc

1983 17th March Thin Lizzy

1983 19th March Fun Boy Three (rescheduled from 26th February 1983)

1983 20th March Mari Wilson
1983 30th March UFO

1983 31st March The Undertones
1983 7th April Marillion

1983 8th & 9th April Eric Clapton

1983 18th & 19th April Joni Mitchell

1983 22nd April Spandau Ballet

1983 23rd April Steve Hackett

1983 27th April Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark, Support band The Cocteau Twins

1983 13th May Iron Maiden

1983 20th May Kajagoogoo
1983 21st May Robert Palmer

1983 11th September Van Morrison

Thank you to Winnie Lisowski for this ticket.

1983 14th September Peter Gabriel

1983 18th September Big Country

1983 19th September Depeche Mode
1983 22nd & 23rd September Rainbow, supported by Lita Ford

1983 14th October Cliff Richard

1983 28th October Kiss

1983 30th October Michael Schenker Group

1983 20th November Ozzy Osbourne, support Heavy Pettin'

1983 23rd November Robert Plant
1983 28th November Y & T, support band Rock Godess

1983 6th December Tears For Fears

1983 8th & 9th December The Police

1983 20th December Whitesnake

1983 31th December Marillion

1984 18th January The Pretenders

1984 12th February Saxon

1984 19th February Marillion

1984 20th February Tina Turner

1984 23rd February Hawkwind
1984 24th February Simple Minds

1984 3rd March The Clash

1984 8th March Manowar
1984 11th & 12th March The Thompson Twins
1984 31st March Nik Kershaw
1984 2nd April Pallas

1984 16th March Barclay James Harvest

Thank you to David Evans for this ticket.

1984 26th April The Cure

1984 17th June Siouxsie & The Banshees

1984 22nd September Dio

1984 6th October Kiss

1984 8th October Big Country

1984 12th October Echo & The Bunnymen

Thank you to Jim Barr for the ticket and set list above.

Echo & The Bunnymen at the Playhouse 1984. Thank you to Jim Barr for the photo. ©Jim Barr 1984.

1984 14th October The Style Council
1984 18th October Depeche Mode

Scarf purchased at this gig....Yes, you could still buy these at gigs in 84'

1984 26th October Elvis Costello & The Attractions

1984 2nd November Motorhead, support band Persian Risk (Not Gas as shown on ticket)

1984 5th November U2

1984 6th December Runrig

Thank you to Marc Marnie for this pass.

1984 24th, 26th, 30th & 31st December Big Country
1985 4th February The Rocky Horror Show

1985 17th February The Stranglers

1985 27th & 28th February Eric Clapton, & special guest Chris Rea

1985 3rd March Howard Jones
1985 28th March Shakin' Stevens

1985 29th April Rick Wakeman
1985 30th May The Firm
1985 31st May The Hollies

1985 1st June The Damned, support band The Fuzztones

1985 8th June Wishbone Ash
1985 11th June Foreigner
1985 6th July BB King

Thank you to Marc Marnie for this ticket.

1985 23rd August Runrig

Thank you to Marc Marnie for this ticket.

1985 7th September Saxon, Support band The Pretty Maids

1985 15th September Gary Moore

1985 21st September Marillion
1985 22nd September The Cure
1985 24th September The Smiths

1985 4th October Van Morrison

Thank you to Winnie Lisowski for this ticket.

1985 5th October Magnum
1985 11th October Siouxsie & The Banshees, support band The Scientists

1985 17th & 18th October The Thompson Twins
1985 27th October Reo Speedwagon

1985 31st October Billy Connolly

1985 17th November The Everly Brothers

1985 18th November Hawkwind
1985 21st & 23rd November Cliff Richard

1985 13th December Nik Kershaw
1985 14th December Paul Young
1985 30th December Dire Straits

Thank you to David Evans for this ticket.

1986 14th January Sting
1986 22nd & 23rd January AC/DC
1986 8th February Motley Crue, support band Cheap Trick

1986 16th February Ozzy Osbourne
1986 16th March The Robert Cray Band

Thank you to Marc Marnie for this pass.

1986 23rd March Big Country
1986 10th April Accept, support band Dokken

1986 22nd April Twisted Sister

1986 9th May Dio

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1986 11th May Public Image Ltd

1986 14th May The Ramones (Moved forward from the Empire on the 16th May, but this ticket was bought after the reschedule)

1986 29th May Black Sabbath

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1986 19th-23rd August Rowan Atkinson

1986 11th September New Order
1986 17th September Motorhead
1986 29th September Five Star
1986 15th October The Damned, support band Blue In Heaven

1986 23rd October Big Audio Dynamite

1986 24th & 25th October The Stranglers

1986 26th October Huey Lewis & The News

1986 27th & 28th October Iron Maiden

Thank you to Mark Burrell for the two tickets above.

1986 30th October Wasp, support band Warlock

1986 2nd & 3rd November Ultravox
1986 12th November Bon Jovi

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1986 13th November Hawkwind
1986 25th & 26th November Alice Cooper, support band Doctor & The Medics

1986 27th November George Benson
1986 29th November Randy Crawford

1987 9th February The Psychedelic Furs (rescheduled from 16/12/86)

1987 18th February Nik Kershaw
1987 6th March Deep Purple

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1987 10th March Simply Red
1987 19th March The Thompson Twins
1987 18th April Slayer

1987 28th & 29th April Duran Duran
1987 16th June Iggy Pop

1987 2nd September Def Leppard

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1987 20th September Motorhead

1987 4th October Jethro Tull
1987 9th October Five Star

1987 21st October Echo & The Bunnymen

1987 5th November Anthrax

1987 7th November Ben Elton
1987 13th November Tom Waits

1987 3rd December Inxs

1987 5th December The Cult

1987 17th, 18th & 19th December Marillion

1988 7th & 8th January Whitesnake

1988 17th January Depeche Mode
1988 12th February Roy "Chubby" Brown

1988 26th & 27th February Heart

Thank you to Mark Burrell for the two tickets above.

1988 22nd March Ted Nugent, support band Krokus

1988 1st & 2nd April Alice Cooper

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1988 13th April Hawkwind, & Tubilah Dog

1988 14th April Def Leppard

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1988 28th April Clannad
1988 9th May Fleetwood Mac & The Adventures

Thank you to David Evans for this 1988 Fleetwood Mac programme.

1988 17th June Judas Priest
1988 17th & 18th November Dave Lee Roth

1988 19th November Cinderella

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1988 21st November Iron Maiden

1988 23rd November Night Of The Guitars

1988 26th November Billy Connolly
1988 28th November The Mission, support band The Mighty Lemon Drops
1988 6th December Hawkwind

1988 13th December Siouxsie & The Banshees

1989 18th January Eric Clapton
1989 29th January Big Country
1989 20th February Simply Red
1989 9th March Anthrax

Thank you to Mark Burrell for this ticket.

1989 15th March BB King

1989 16th April Duran Duran
1989 27th May Big Country
1989 1st & 2nd June Elton John, special guest Nik Kershaw
1989 21st September Jethro Tull
1989 16th October Transvision Vamp, support band And Why Not