Edinburgh Man Retreat! Festival

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It's been a while since I posted, but since we're going to be NYC for a week as of this weekend it felt like a good time. When the flights were booked Sunday was the best fit based on work and family commitments, but now I'm somewhat apprehensive. To be honest, I'm sure it's the safest day to fly, but the human brain isn't always rational.

Anyway, during the Edinburgh Festival I recorded a number of podcasts. Most of these were about the festival fringe, which is predominantly comedy, but the last show was centered around a small two day music festival. I thought it might be an interesting one to post on the OJ blog. I feel the need to say that despite the fact it took place in a church hall, there was nothing religious about it. It's a great space that Emily from Tracer Trails has used to put on some brilliant shows in the last couple of years by people like Calvin Johnson and Darren Hayman.

So, in the last weekend of the festival, at Pilrig St. Paul’s which lies at the boundary of Leith and Edinburgh, Tracer Trails presented a two day festival to celebrate the music scene in the city and Scotland. Lots of great bands played over the weekend, and Bart and Emily were kind enough to let me speak to some of the bands over the two days.

The show featured chats with Emily from Tracer Trails and Bart from eagleowl and The Gentle Invasion, Rob St. John, Johnny Lynch aka The Pictish Trail, Skeleton Bob and Two Wings. I felt honoured too, because Rob and Song by Toad records gave me an exclusive first play of Rob St. John's next single, and there was also an exclusive version of a track by Two Wings.

It was a brilliant weekend. Great to see so many local bands with a wide variety of styles and influences over a single weekend. That, and it was BYOB, which is always nice.

Listen to the Edinburgh Man - Retreat! Festival Special