The Edinburgh Gig Archive - Empire/Festival Theatre

The Empire Theatre in Nicolson Street, has stood since 7th November 1892, the first of the great Moss Empire chain, built by famous theatre architect Frank Matcham.
The theatre has played host to the likes of Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Morecambe and Wise, Judy Garland, Tony Hancock, Tommy Cooper, and Bruce Forsyth, as well as the many legendary bands and performers mentioned below. Now the Festival Theatre.

1971 15th January Black Sabbath, support bands Freedom & Curved Air

Thank you to David Evans for the images above of the 1971 Black Sabbath tour programme.

1971 6th March Deep Purple, & Ashton, Gardner, & Dyke

Thank you to David Evans for this rare ticket.

1971 16th March Stone The Crows, & special guests Beggars Opera & Arc

1971 19th March Jethro Tull, support band Steeleye Span, 23:30 show time
1971 25th September Deep Purple
1971 30th October T-Rex

Thank you to Geoff Collier for this ticket.

1972 15th January Family, & Help Yourself

1972 29th January Black Sabbath, support band Wild Turkey

Tour poster Showing the Empire date as 26th November 1971, this date was cancelled and rescheduled for 29th January 1972. Nazareth did not play at the rescheduled date. I ove the "Dark Princes Of Downer Rock" header.

1972 4th February Mountain, support band Jimmy McCulloch
1972 5th February Barclay James Harvest, support Bands Stud & Comus
1972 12th February Quintessence
1972 19th February Stackwaddy, Medicine Head & Bridget St John
1972 25th February Free, support band Amazing Blondel

Thank you to Geoff Collier for this ticket.

Thank you to John Gray for these rare pictures of Free at the Empire 25th February 1972. © John Gray.

1972 26th February Roy Harper
1972 4th March Elton John
1972 24th March Jethro Tull
1972 15th April Curved Air

Thank you to Geoff Collier for this ticket.

1972 14th September Free, supported by Smith Perkins & Smith

1972 23rd September Deep Purple
1972 7th October Lindisfarne, Genesis, & Rab Noakes

Thank you to David Evans for this rare ticket.

1972 24th November Slade, support bands Thin Lizzy & Suzi Quatro

Thank you to Geoff Collier for this ticket.

1972 25th November Hawkwind
1972 8th December Wishbone Ash

Thank you to Geoff Collier for this ticket.

1973 6th January David Bowie, support bands Fumble, & Stealers Wheel

Thank you to Geoff Collier for the two Circle tickets above.

Grand Circle ticket.

The nine pictures above are David Bowie at The Empire Theatre on the 6th January 1973. Thank you to Julie Tomlinson for these rare pictures. ©Julie Tomlinson 1973.

1973 20th January Uriah Heep

1973 14th April Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
1973 19th May David Bowie (Bowie's party keeping The Monty Python team awake back at the hotel, see under The Kings Theatre for the full story).

Grand Circle ticket.

Orchestra stalls ticket.

The above two scans are the front and rear of a flyer advertising the concert. Thank you to Scottie Somerville for this item.

The twelve pictures above are David Bowie at The Empire Theatre on 19th May 1973. Thank you to Julie Tomlinson for these rare pictures. ©Julie Tomlinson 1973.

A tour itinerary from the David Bowie May/June tour, showing Bowie staying at the Posthouse Hotel (now the Holiday Inn at the Zoo). From Mick Rock's fantastic book Moonage Daydream.

1973 1st June Slade

1973 3rd November Roxy Music

Thank you to Andy Mitchell for this ticket.

1973 1st December Rory Gallagher, support band Strider

1973 10th December Yes

1973 22nd December Hawkwind
1986 23rd February Steel Pulse (the opening party for Regular using The Empire as a venue)

1986 16th March Sigue Sigue Sputnik

Thank you to Marc Marnie for this pass.

Sigue Sigue Sputnik at the Empire 16th March 1986. Thank you to Graham MacIndoe for the three pictures above. ©Graham MacIndoe 1986.

1986 23rd March The Cramps

The Cramps at the Empire 23rd March 1986. Thank you to Graham MacIndoe for the four pictures above. ©Graham MacIndoe 1986.

The late great Lux Interior of The Cramps at The Empire Theatre 23rd March 1986. Thank you to Paul Archibald for this photo. ©Paul Archibald 1986.

1986 26th April The Waterboys

1986 16th May The Ramones (moved to the Playhouse on the 14th May)

The Brass Monkey bar in Drummond Street. This bar was formerly Stewart's bar, and was where bands and artists playing the Empire were told to go if they wanted a light refreshment.

The Grave's in Piershill Cemetery of The Great Lafayette, and his dog Beauty. Lafayette died in a fire at the Empire on 9th May 1911. More can be read on this extraordinary story here.

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