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

1971 6th March Deep Purple
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

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

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 23rd September Deep Purple
1972 24th November Slade, support bands Thin Lizzy & Suzi Quatro

1972 25th November Hawkwind
1972 8th December Wishbone Ash
1973 6th January David Bowie
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).

1973 1st June Slade

1973 3rd November Roxy Music
1973 10th December Yes

1973 22nd December Hawkwind
1986 16th March Sigue Sigue Sputnik

1986 23rd March The Cramps

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.

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