DAY SLEEPER, SNEAKY PETE'S, EDINBURGH, SEPTEMBER 9 2025

 A quick dip into indie-land before next weekend's Core Fest metal overload

Line-up:

DEEP SEA CREATURE: Usually solo singer-songwriter project of LIAM DEMPSEY who, by sheer coincidence, is also in DAY SLEEPER. Joined tonight by a couple of friends for the latter half of his set. Emotional stuff, but with a side of wry humour.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/zDlYtqvscuo   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566873721151

GOODNIGHT LOUISA: 'Dark pop' artist, FKA  Louise McCraw. Because that's her name. Fragile and beguiling and entirely lovely. 

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/FlS77OtGLKU   https://www.facebook.com/goodnightlouisa

DAY SLEEPER: Robust indiepop, featuring the impressive voice - and enormous trousers -  of LEO BARGERY. They battle against chronic technical issues throughout their set, but soldier on like true heroes despite their evident frustration, and put on a fine show regardless.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/k96zTDS2C0g    https://www.facebook.com/daysleeperisaband

DELIVERING THE GOODS, BANNERMAN'S, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 30 2025

Now, it's no secret that I don't have a lot of time for tribute bands, so you might be wondering what I'm doing here tonight. Well, please allow me to clarify. DELIVERING THE GOODS is not really a 'tribute band'. It's more of a 'homage'. Put together by Ali Lauder of  any number of local extreme metal bands, it's a one-off* celebration of JUDAS PRIEST, featuring a set of deep cuts and album tracks. None of the 'greatest hits'. It's also Ali's 40th birthday**, and this is how he wants to mark it. And it's in aid of CATS PROTECTION, which is a very good thing.

* - Yes, I know they've played before, but it was just the once and I wasn't there.

** - Coincidentally, it was Rob Halford's 74th birthday a few days ago.

INTERESTING FACT (and yes, it absolutely IS a fact) - my next door neighbour's name is Judith Priest.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I don't actually like Judas Priest, but I DO like cats.

Line-up:

TYMVOS: Edinburgh-based death metal. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Got some new songs to play tonight, one of which you can find below.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/Q-5ehFX1c_4   https://www.facebook.com/Tymvosband

PENNY COFFIN: Glaswegian death metal. Brutal and very, very loud. My ears will still be ringing two days later.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/BcmAsxWkcSM  https://www.facebook.com/pennycoffindeath   

DELIVERING THE GOODS: Featuring members of BARSHASKETH, AGELESS SUMMONING, VOID OF LIGHT, BLACK TALON and IRON ALTAR. I wonder how many cows died to leather up this bunch of big lads. Regardless of my dislike for covers bands and Judas Priest, this is great fun. Probably helped by their avoidance of 'greatest hits'. The only title I recognise is 'Hell Bent for Leather', which you can enjoy in the video below. I am also impressed by Ali's remarkable vocal range, hitting heights I've never heard from him before.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/2-lzaskObhM

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE, LA BELLE ANGELE, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 23 2025

The second of two actual Edinburgh Festival gigs this year. This one's a band I've not seen for aaaaages*, but the wife quite fancied it, so why not?

* Good grief! Longer ago than I thought. 2013, it was.

 Line-up:

THEO BLEAK: Dundee based singer/songwriter, poetic and emotional, songs about life an' stuff. Not actually called Theo Bleak. Actually called Katie Lynch. Chap with the guitar is called Mark. Not overly active on the socials, but you could try Instagram.

Video:  https://youtu.be/JH2LqyjAN0I    https://www.instagram.com/theobleak

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LANTERNS ON THE LAKE: Alternative/indie cinematic dream-poppy almost-folk with a social conscience from Tyneside, they've been around since 2007, which is quite a long time ago. Last time I saw them I'm sure they had a violinist. No sign of her tonight. Never mind, they're still very good indeed, showing off a mix of old, new and rarely seen songs. 

Video:  https://youtu.be/RmrwDQTigqg   https://www.facebook.com/LanternsOnTheLake

CLOTH, LEITH DEPOT, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 12 2025

The first of two actual Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows this year. This one is part of a series of conversations with Vic Galloway combined with live sets. Tonight's show features indie kids CLOTH, fresh from their tour supporting the mighty MOGWAI. 

Incidentally, the ticket price for this gig included a £1.00 levy to help out independent venues. This is a VERY GOOD THING, and everybody should do it.

Line-up:

SIOBHAN WILSON: The wispiest of indie/alt-folk singer-songwriterism. Gentle and beguiling and absolutely lovely. Siobhan is SUFRECS, the organiser of this series of events. Her Bandcamp page would suggest that she has been doing this singing-songwriting thing for a number of years but she still displays a charming schoolgirlish excitement at doing it in front of an audience. A delight.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/sNwln8sTf2c   https://siobhanwilson.bandcamp.com/music  https://www.facebook.com/siobhanwilsonmusic

                                    

Next, we get the interview with Vic Galloway, well known DJ and presenter. Interesting, I guess, and a large part of the event concept, and even a chance for the audience to put a few questions to the band. However, the chat limits the band to a brief 5 song set, and I'd like to see more of them.

CLOTH: Glasgow-based but Borders-born twins Rachel and Paul Swinton, fresh off a big tour supporting Mogwai. They don't sound like Mogwai. Subtle, low-key indie, they're normally a three-piece, but they're playing without their drummer tonight. Which is odd, because he's here, at the back of the room, his duties being covered by a little box apparently called Roland. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/GNFMzXI7GEM   https://www.facebook.com/clothband