The Abercorn

The Abercorn situated at 46 Portobello Road, Piershill, was a
long standing and popular club and venue.
 
Thank you to Craig Herbertson for this rare poster dating to 1980.


 Aquarius/Citrus Club

Aquarius was in Grindlay street, it then became known as Topo's,
 complete with "phones" in each booth for you to contact people at 
other tables!!  The "phones" were of course nearly all broken and
didn't work.  Now known as The Citrus Club.  One of the first
Associates gigs took place here.

  Thank you to Alan for the photo
 
Another view of Aquarius on the left.  Thank you to Alan for the photo. 
 
From the 1984 Edinburgh telephone directory.
1979  4th September Another Pretty Face, & Trax
1979  18th September Flowers & The Zips
1979  25th September Trax, & Switch
  

 
The Attic
 
The Attic was a small venue that existed for a few years above where La Sorbonne was situated in the Cowgate.
 
1999  5th May The Dickies, & Caffeine
 

Blues Basement
 
The Blues Basement was situated down some steps in Broughton Street.
 
1987  27th November The Pterodaktyls, & 16 Dillons
 
 
 

 
Buster Browns

Buster Browns was a quintessentially eighties nightclub in Market
street, rumour has it this club played host to the aftershow partys
of both  Blondie, and Duran Duran. Now Electric Circus.

1983  4th October The Fall

 
 
 
The Cas Rock
 
The Cas Rock at West Port started off life as The Lord Darnley.  Sadly now demolished.


Thank you to Dave of www.gingoblins.com
 for allowing me to reproduce the posters above.


The Vibrators at the Cas Rock  February 1996.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.

1991  27th April 999 & The Gin Goblins

 


 
 
The Cockburn Lounge

The Cockburn Lounge at 73 Cockburn street, was a poplular
live venue for local bands.  Now The Scotsman Lounge.


 Corn Exchange

 The Corn Exchange at Chesser, has seen many
bands through the nineties to the
present day, and continues to be a much
needed Edinburgh venue of this size.

2000  21st July The Saw Doctors

2001  19th November Wheatus
2002  23rd March The Strokes
2003  21st May Radiohead

2003  18th August Ash
2005  26th August Weezer
 

Brian Bell of Weezer at The Corn Exchange.  Thank you to Dan Schmitz for the picture.
2005  27th October Robert Plant
2006  23rd August The Raconteurs


Jack White's set list from the Corn Exchange gig.  Thank you to Dan Schmitz for this item.

2006  20th November Bullet For My Valentine

 2007  25th February The Fratellis

2007  22nd August Interpol

 


Craigmillar Festival

1978  12th August Switch, Giltedge, Helikopter, & Fine Thanks

 

 Dominion Cinema

As far as I know this is the only time this Morningside
cinema has ever been used for a gig.

1977  27th February Brody


  Edinburgh Castle

The Castle's esplanade has been used seasonly as a
special venue with great success.  Long may this continue.

1989  31st December Duran Duran (Broadcast by BBC New years Live 
from the great hall).  
2001  19th July Status Quo & The Beach Boys

2004  18th July Cliff Richard 
2007  13th July Blondie, support band Echo & The Bunnymen

 


 The Eldorado Ballroom

The Eldorado Ballroom in Leith was situated in Mill Lane. 
This popular ballroom was frequented by visiting sailors, and
the touring big bands. Now demolished.


Rare picture of The Eldorado frontage, dating to 1970.  Thank you to Alan for the scan.

The site of The Eldorado entrance 2009.
 
1970  12th October Deep Purple
1972  18th February Hawkwind
1972  2nd June Arthur Brown
1972  9th June The Sweet


 Eric Browns

Eric Browns was a pub opened by golfer Eric Brown in 1974. 
It was situated in Dalry road within the buliding that
is now Maplin.

  Can you put a name to this band playing at Eric Browns? 
Thank you to Alan for this rare photo.

1980  9th May Fun City ( Fun City featured Kenny MacDonald from Matt Vinyl & The Decorators, Ronnie MacKinnon from The Valves, and Gary McCormack
from TV Art who later evolved into Josef K.  After Fun City Gary joined The Exploited, He is now an actor who has appeared in such films as The Acid
House, and Gangs Of New York.

1980  13th & 14th September The Thompson Twins, support band Local
Heroes SW9 No Nukes Benefit Shows (This band featured Kevin
Armstrong, who would later play with Thomas Dolby, and Tin
Machine, amongst many others).


Rare early picture of The Exploited at Eric Browns in
June 1980.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett at Eric Browns on the "Way & Bar" tour 1980.  Thank you to Hugh for these rare pictures© Hugh C.W. 1980.
 

The Exchange

The Exchange at 55 Grove Street played host to the
likes of KT Tunstall, Snow Patrol, Biffy Clyro, The Arctic
Monkeys, and
Nazareth. 

2004  20th November Josh Rouse


2005  19th October The Arctic Monkeys 


 Frisco's Club

Frisco's Club was the scene of a handful of gigs in the
late sixties and early seventies. Thank you to Dave Paton for
letting me know this venue was in the High Street, accessed through Chalmers Close. 
I understand it is on the site that is now Jury's Hotel.


From the 1970 Edinburgh telephone directory.

1969  14th November David Bowie (David would play an early evening performance at Friscos, before playing a midnight show at the Caley Cinema)
1969  28th November Van Der Graff Generator 


 The Gamp Club

 The Gamp Club was a popular place in sixties
Edinburgh, situated above Victoria Street on the walkway
known as Victoria Terrace. 
Thank you very much to Frank Ferri for these ultra rare photos
of Johnny Kidd and The Pirates at the venue.
 
 
 




 The Gateway Theatre Leith Walk

The Gateway Theatre near the top of Leith Walk
was originally a television studio owned by STV, it 
played host to this Lindsay Kemp production featuring
a certain Mr Bowie.  This production was later broadcast
on Scottish television, and is now available as an extra
on the David Bowie DVD Love You Till Tuesday.

1970  1st February The Looking Glass Murders (David Bowie plays the
part of a cloud in Lindsay Kemps production, STV
broadcast date 8th July 1970)

 


 George Square Theatre

The George Square Theatre was used a handfull
of times for gigs at the end of the seventies.  As
part of the university,  it is usually used as a lecture
theatre with a capacity of just 466.

1979  2nd August Simple Minds & London Zoo    
1979 
8th December Scars, Another Pretty Face, Josef K, & The Visitors 
1980 
16th May The Human League, Scars, & Boots For Dancing

 

The Human League, George Square Theatre 1980. Thank you to Pete Tainsh for the two pictures. 
© Pete Tainsh 1980.
 

Rab King of The Scars, George Square Theatre 1980.  Thank you to Pete Tainsh for this picture. 
© Pete Tainsh 1980.

1980  20th June The Cure, & Josef K
 
 

Inside The George Square Theatre.  Thank you toy Alan for the scan. 


 The Gonk Club

The Gonk Club in Riego Street, off East Fountainbridge
was a very popular sixties club.


Thank you to Frank Ferri singer in The jokers for this rare handbill dating to 1965


Harveys

Harveys was near the bottom of Lothian Road.  Subsequently Pipers, then Rumours.

1979  8th July DJ Jay Crawford, The Cadets, T.P.I. & Sam Scara
1979  14th October Venigmas, & Trax (gig was attended by Garry Bushell
who was writing a piece for Sounds).
1980  3rd August The Associates
Thank you to Gordon for this review of The Associates at Harveys by the late Johnny Waller.  From the 9th August 1980 Sounds.

 The Hoochie Coochie Club

The Hoochie Coochie club was a very popular club in the mid
eighties, and played host to the occasional band too. 
Situated above Coasters/Clouds at West Tollcross, this space 
usually doubled up as the "dressing room" for  the bands
that played the larger space downstairs.


Allan Campbell at The Hoochie Coochie Club.  Picture by Simon Clegg.
Simon writes "Allan Campbell was an English teacher at I think Boroughmuir School and shared his flat in Cheyne Street with the late Johnny Waller. He founded Rational Records and was manager of Josef K.  He also promoted gigs in a variety of venues across Edinburgh - mostly at 'Coaster's in Tollcross and Valentino's in East Fountainbridge."

1984  26th August The Go Betweens           
1984  21st October The Gun Club        
1985  20th February James King & The Lone Wolves       
1985  25th April The Go Betweens      
1985  19th May Jesse Rae       
1985  20th October The Jazzateers & Bourgie Bourgie
1985  27th October Creation Records Special Primal Scream,
Meat Whiplash, & The Weather Prophets

1985
  3rd November Jeffrey Lee Pierce (Ex Gun Club)
1985  8th November Hipsway
1985  10th November Eyeless In Gaza
         
1986
  9th February Chakk   
       
1986 
25th July Love & Money
1986  1st August The Wedding Present
1986  8th August The Bad Hats
1986  11th August The Daintees
1986  15th August James

1987  24th April The Go Betweens
 
 Having a cig!  The Hoochie Coochie Club. Thank you to Simon Clegg for the picture.

 
Ironmills Park, Dalkeith

This park was the scene for a day of gigs in August 1979,
organised by the owner of The Cross Keys Inn, Dalkeith


The Freeze at Ironmills Park, other bands on the day included Switch and Avo-8 .
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


 Livingston Forum

The Forum near Livingston was used briefely around the
late eighties and into the nineties.  I understand this
structure is now a TK Max!!

1989  10th June The Stranglers

1989  3rd July Tin Machine
1989 
20th November The Cult
1989 
22nd November Aerosmith
1993  19th December Body Count feat Ice-T, special guests The Exploited
1996  5th October The Manic Street Preachers

 


 Lyceum

The Lyceum in Grindlay Street  was built in 1883, originally run
 by legendary theatre managers Howard and Wyndham. 
The Lyceum is of course better known for theatrical
productions, but the events below are more than worth a mention on this site
.

1964 31st August-5th September Marlene Dietrich, with Burt Bacharach and his orchestra

 
1971  1st-5th July Lyceum Pop Festival

 


 The Manhattan Disco, Leith

The Manhattan Disco on The
Shore, Leith,  was rarely used for gigs apart from a 
handful in the mid eighties.


From the 1984 Edinburgh telephone directory.

1985  25th September Sigue Sigue Sputnik

1985  16th October The Blood Uncles

 


 Meadowbank

Meadowbank Stadium has been used occasionally
for concerts, and briefely in the mid nineties some
concerts were moved to the inside sports hall here
from The Usher Hall.

1988  Aswad, Aztec Camera, Deacon Blue, The Mighty Lemon Drops,
Voice Of The Beehive for CND

1993  29th July Prince & The New Power Generation

2005  28th August The Pixies, support bands Idlewild, Teenage Fanclub, & My Latest Novel 
 

Joe Santiago's set list from The Pixies Meadowbank August 2005.  Thank you to Dan Schmitz for this item.
 
The Pixies at Meadowbank August 2005.  Thank you to C. Alexander


Idlewild supporting The Pixies Meadowbank August 2005.  Thank you to C. Alexander.

2006  24th August Muse
2007  26th August Razorlight, support band The Editors

 


 The Meadows

The Meadows have been used seasonly for The Meadows
Festival.


Scars at the Meadows Festival 1979.  This picture was taken with the bands
drummer,  Callum Mackays own camera.  Thank you to Alan for sending this scan.


The Cheetahs at the Meadows Festival June 1980.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


The Delmontes at the Meadows Festival June 1980.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


Mowgli & The Donuts at The Meadows Festival June 1979. 
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


Mowgli & The Donuts at The Meadows Festival June 1980. 
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


The Valves at The Meadows Festival June 1978. 
Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


The Twinsets,  The Meadows June 1982.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


A wee disagreement!  The Meadows Festival June 1980.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.
 

The Meadows Festival, June 1980.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


Texas at Make Poverty History, The Meadows 2nd July 2005.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid. 


 The Moon

The Moon was situated just down from the
Astoria, Abbeymount, and had
previously been the Regent cinema.  You were
allowed to bring your own refreshments, as the venue
did not have an alcohol license.  Also used for band rehearsals.

1980  17th October Exodus, The Bears & Avo8

 
Avo8 at Ruskin House, Windsor Street, August 1986.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.

1980  1st November The Mudsharks, DF Sense & Vertical Dreams

1980  8th November The Outpatients, & 35mm Dreams
1981 13th August (rescheduled from 25th July) Makossa, First Priority, Light Years, Elysian Fields, & The Horrible Sexy Vampires

 

 


 The Netherbow

The Netherbow situated at 43-45 High Street, hosted some
concerts in the late seventies and into the early eighties. 
Now the home of The Scottish Storytelling Centre.

1979  19th December DF Sense (ex Switch)


DF Sense at The Netherbow 19th December 1979.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


 The Place

The Place, entered from either Victoria Street, or 
The Cowgate,  has been a popular club since the sixties, when
it would host beat clubs. Also known as The Onion
Cellar, the Mission and Shady Lady's in it's time.  Now Espionage.

1977 24th December The Skids
1986 13th October Plague of Fools & Twisted Nerve

 


Portobello Promenade

The Promenade has been used now and again for various events, and the odd Radio One Roadshow!


The above two photographs are The Heart Industry as Portobello Promenade, August 1987.  Photographs by Stuart Pennykid.


 

 

The Preservation Hall

The Preservation Hall in Victoria Street was a very popular and
busy pub, hosting various blues and folk gigs.  Now Finnegans
Wake Irish Pub.

   
This is a poster for a Blues 'N' Boogie Festival organised by Robbie The
Pict in 1988

1990  31st December Blues 'N' Trouble

1991  3rd November Dr Feelgood
1991  31st December Blues 'N' Trouble
1992  23rd September Dr Feelgood

 


 The Ross Bandstand

The Ross Bandstand in Princess Street Gardens has been used on numerous occasions for live music.

Swamptrash play The Ross Bandsatnd, summer 1988.  Thank you to Terence for this photo.

 


The Southern Bar

 

The Southern Bar in South Clerk Street has it's place in
gig history as the location of the unique show listed below.


1991 1st December The Joyriders and "Teen Spirit" 

This charity show organised by The Joyriders in aid
of the Edinburgh sick kids hospital was advertised on flyers
handed out after the Nirvana gig at Calton Studios on the
29th November.  The flyers stated "and very,
very special (American) Guests".  One the night, after the
Joyriders set ended, it was
announced that Teen Spirit would not be appearing due to
illness, and the venue nearly emptied.  After an hour Kurt
Cobain and Dave Grohl did appear, and played 5 songs
acoustically, under the name "Teen Spirit" to about 20 people.


 Trades Council

The Trades Council at 14 Picardy Place was used for
concerts in the late seventies.  Now Ego/Luna night club. 

1978  29th November Freeze & Johnny Colon

1979  30th August Switch


 Transport Halls

The Transport Halls at the bus depot in Annandale
street hosted several punk gigs in the late seventies.

1978  11th May The Skids      
1978
  24th November Scars, special guests Switch


Thank you to Stuart Pennykid for this scan, incidentally Stuart also drew this poster.

1979  13th April The Scars, & The Freeze, The Prats, The Ettes, The Disintegrators, & The Thursdays

Thank you to Trash for this ticket.

 


Anne, Teen, & Trash from The Ettes.  Transport Halls.  Thank you to Trash for this photo.   © Fran Morrison.

 

The Wee Red Bar

The Wee Red Bar is situated in the grounds of the Edinburgh College Of Art.  The bar has been on the go for decades, and is still going strong.  Please see the poster slide show below, including shows at the Wee Red by the likes of Glasvegas, and The Proclaimers.


 The West End Club

The West End Club up a flight of stairs in Princess Street
was an old sixties club originally called The
International, that by the late seventies had fallen on hard times. 
The club then started to be used for the odd punk gig. 
Later this venue would become Fire Island and play
host to various disco acts, including the late great John Waters 
star Divine, thundering about the tiny stage in the bay
window,  sweating,  to possibly the loudest synthesized
backing track I have ever heard!  So the next time you are having
your skinny latte in the cafe of Waterstones, remember you are
in good company.

1977  9th & 10th September The Valves
1978  17th December The Cheetahs 

 
Thank you to Craig Herbertson for this rare newspaper cutting.


Thank you to Alan for both these rare scans.


From the 1984 Edinburgh telephone directory.


 The Wester Hailes Festival

The Wester Hailes Festival took place on 24th May 1986 near Stevenson College.  The picture below is of The Blood Uncles.  Thank you to Jan for the photo.

 


 

The Wig & Pen

The Wig & Pen Pub at 19 Cockburn Street was popular with
Edinburgh's punk rock fraternity.  It also played host to gigs
by the likes of Josef K.  Now Ecco Vino wine bar.

Thank you to Alan for this scan dating to 1978.
 

Rare photo of Switch supporting The Cheetahs 
(known as the The Suffer-Jets at this time) at The Wig & Pen In May 1978.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.


 The Yellow Carvel

The Yellow Carvel in Hunter Square was a well known folk
club, in the sixties and into the seventies.  Some punk and
new wave acts started to appear towards the end of the decade. 
Now The Tron.

  
Tam White at The Yellow Carvel in 1970.  Thank you to Gordon for this rare picture.


The Valves at the Yellow Carvel, June 1978.  Photograph by Stuart Pennykid.
 
 
The Androids at The Yellow Carvel circa 1976.  Thank you to Craig Herbertson

 

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