It’s Out of the Bedroom #662 and do we have a show for you? Thankfully, the answer to that question is “yes”… this Thursday 8th February from 8.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. at  the excellent Woodland Creatures. Entry is free and if you want to play, sign up starts at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, with 10-15 minutes per act depending on the number of performers. You are welcome if you are a performer of original material, a music lover or simply curious. Host for the evening will be Jim Bryce with Malcolm McLean on sound desk.

OOTB 661 on 25th January was reviewed on this website and was a fine tribute to the spirit of Rabbie Burns, albeit no songs of Rab’s were performed or even alluded to. The shortbread went down well, too. Line up for the evening: Suhail, Jeanice Lee, Metecandriu, Startled Bee, Julien Pearly, Izzie Walsh, Michael MacAneny, John Porro, Chris Fogerty, feature act: TG McEwan.

Feature act for #662 is Conor Michael Riordan. Conor is a Banjoist poet from the Wirral, who’s been in Scotland for the last 10 years. Catalogue of song themes include people, politics and alcohol. Conor is an outstanding and highly entertaining performer with words that stay with you long after the show is over. One to watch – this young man could go far.

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…
OOTB ?

The second Out of the Bedroom of 2018 this Thursday is number 661 and just happens to fall on Burns Night, 25th January. In celebration of the great man, we’ll be bringing shortbread. No idea if he liked the sugary and buttery biscuit so connected with Scotland but Burns’ face features on a fair few tins! Our very fine venue is Woodland Creatures and first open slot is 8pm and we finish up at 11pm. Entry is free and you are welcome as a performer of original material, a music lover or simply a shortbread eater. If you want to play, sign up starts at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, with 10-15 minutes per act depending on the number of performers. Host for the evening will be James Igoe with Malcolm McLean on sound desk.

OOTB 660 on 11th January was a very enjoyable start to the year though not too many musicians so do come along as the audience is there! The evening featured: host Tina Louise Avery, Skip the Android, James Igoe, Conor Michael Riordan and feature act Roelle Blue.

Feature act is TG McEwan. TG is a phenomenally prolific singer-songwriter who has been performing since the 1980s and has played well over 1,000 gigs. TG will be launching his new album “Promises” which comes with a whopping 120 page booklet! Some of TG’s songs can be found on his YouTube channel and some songs are available on ye olde MySpace. If the new songs played at OOTB recently are an indicator, TG’s album will be amazing.

As well as being a very fine musician and gentleman, TG also co-founded a groundbreaking open mic night in Edinburgh in 1993 called Workers in Song. This was an original music open mic night, later becoming Edinburgh Songwriters Showcase, and was the inspiration for Out of the Bedroom. Basically, TG McEwan is a genius!

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…
OOTB ?

Welcome back to Out of the Bedroom! Yes, it’s 2018, it’s a brand new year and we’re back at Woodland Creatures for more open mic entertainment in our 660th open mic night. Thanks to everyone who came along to play or support the musicians at OOTB in 2017. We hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did and we’re sure you’ll find plenty to enjoy this year.

Usual rules apply… first open slot is 8pm and we finish up at 11pm. Entry is free for all whether you are a performer of original material or a music lover. If you want to play, sign up starts at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, with 10-15 minutes per act depending on the number of performers.

Feature act is Roelle Blue. Roelle Blue is the stage name for Edinburgh-based Kirsty Heggie, who is gaining a reputation as an exceptional musician. Her skill and style allow her to be classed as a folk singer, while her diversity invites hints of gothic, celtic, psychedelic, rap, punk and blues. With original material that appeals to a wide audience and also the more obscure art fans, Roelle also has a unique take on classic hits and old folk songs, she never fails to be heard and distinguished.

Roelle’s is a voice that is strong and striking, unlikely to be forgotten, and is a classical guitarist but may use electric guitar. Having made her way from busking on streets, to travelling as a minstrel has led to a 2017 performance at Celtic Connections in Glasgow where judges asserted that she is a “highly recommended” artist. Roelle has acquired a comfort with the stage and to listeners that reflects her life experience and intense relationship with word and music. Influences range from Bob Dylan to Bjork. “Somewhere in between Joni Mitchell and Irvine Welsh.”

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…
OOTB ?

This is it – the last Out of the Bedroom of 2017 with the wonderful Michael as our feature act. We’ve reached OOTB number 659 and we’re bringing cake for you as it’ll be our Christmas show. All religious and non-religious people are welcome and you are free to embrace or completely ignore the Christmas theme. If you want to take part, you can play a festive song – just make it a good one without any fear. First open slot is 8pm and we finish up at 11pm. Entry is free for all whether you are a performer of original material or a music lover. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, with 10-15 minutes per act depending on the number of performers.

“Where did 2017 go?” I hear you say. We’ll we’ve had a great time with 18 shows at our (still quite) new home of Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk. Loads of great new acts, musicians returning after a lengthy absence and our amazing regular performers. All-in-all something to celebrate…

At the most recent OOTB, our 658th show, we had another cracking line up with debut host Majk Stokes, Tina Louise Avery, Michael (see below), Darren, Ailsa and The Seahorses, Rui Alma, Conor Michael Riordan, soundman Chris Glen and our feature act Jim Bryce.

Our final feature act of 2017 is Michael, a very lovely septuagenarian gentleman with a long and distinguished musical career stretching back six decades. Born and raised in the Leith area, and proud of that fact, Michael played semi-professionally with his good friend Geoff in ’60s band The Jeffreys and has continued to play live ever since. Just over ten years ago, ‘Mick and Geoff’, as they were know then, made their Out of the Bedroom debut and only recently has Michael become a solo performer and singer. Michael’s songs are beautifully-crafted in the ’50s rock ‘n roll and country traditions with a nod to The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jim Reeves and Elvis among others. Michael has no music available online, no social media presence or any website and we love him for that! 

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…
OOTB ?

As 2017 closes in, Out of the Bedroom has two more top notch shows for you. Open mic night number 658 is on this Thursday 30th November in the backroom of Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk. Feature act for OOTB 658 is the legendary man of many talents Jim Bryce. First open slot is 8pm and we finish up at 11pm. Entry is free for all whether you are a performer of original material or a music lover. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, with 10-15 minutes per act depending on the number of performers. Host for the evening will be our newest host Majk Stokes.

For OOTB number 657 (16th November) we had a good, enthusiastic crowd though more musicians would have been nice – musicians, are you hearing me? ?. The evening featured: host Tina Louise Avery, Michael, Colin Whitelaw (aka Colin Anytime), Jonas Cimermanas (aka Skip the Android), James Igoe, Lach and feature act Startled Bee.

Jim Bryce is… unique. If you want a “typical singer-songwriter” – whatever that is – you’re not going to get it. Bryce veers wildly from dissonant boogie-woogie to rock to MOR, from jazz-tinged musings to elegiac pibroch to music-hall. The influences are legion; the results unmistakably Bryce. Jim’s lyrics can be political, achingly beautiful, witty or plain daft. As a composer, he has written for BBC, theatres the length of the country, Ceebeebies and squeaky stuff for the concert-hall, with works performed at the Ravenna Festival and on the Edinburgh Fringe.

“Decidedly quirky songs, somewhere between boogie-woogie and advanced atonality” (The Scotsman) “Randy Newman after a pint of Pimms” (RBL music). “The Noel Coward for our generation.” (Joe Goldblatt) “Strums a guitar, plonks a keyboard, and has no idea why he’s here.” (Jim Bryce)

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…
OOTB ?

Out of the Bedroom open mic night number 657 is on this Thursday 16th November at the backroom of Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk. Feature act for OOTB 657 is Startled Bee – prepare to bee delighted! First act is on stage at 8pm and we finish up at 11pm. Entry is free for all whether you are a performer of original material or a music lover. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, with 10-15 minutes per act depending on the number of performers. Host for the evening will be Tina Louise Avery.

For the record OOTB number 656 (2nd November) was a most enjoyable occasion and featured: Tina Louise Avery, Will & Geoff (also known as Schadenfreude), TG McEwan, Iain & Cassy (Combo Combo), Jack Blimey, James McGinley, host Peach and feature act Liam Stuart. 

Startled Bee is a singer-songwriter based in Edinburgh and the “m” in mph. He plays mostly Startled Bee originals and acoustic arrangements of favourites from the mph songbook. Sometimes accused of being a romantic in his lyrical themes, Startled Bee pleads mostly guilty with a touch of quirk.

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…
OOTB 🙂

The Out of the Bedroom open mic night juggernaut reaches the milestone of its 656 show this Thursday 2nd November at the backroom of Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk. First act is on stage at 8pm and we finish up at 11pm. Entry is free for all whether you are a performer of original material or a music lover. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, about 10 minutes or two songs per act depending on the number of performers.

The last OOTB, number 655, featured a wide range of great acts: Tau Boo, Michael, Jessica Cave, Tom ‘TG’ McEwan, Colin Súrname, Bill Philip, Lindsay Strachan, Adam Naylor, DB Hews, Nyk Stoddart, host Jim Bryce and feature act Majk Stokes. You can see some images from the night in the OOTB photos page.

Feature act for OOTB 656 is Liam Stuart, a young singer-songwriter and musician from Banff who is studying Popular Music at Napier University. Liam is an accomplished performer and has been influenced by classic rock and acoustic music such as Bon Iver, The Tallest Man on Earth, Joan Baez and The Beatles to name but a few. Liam has just recently co-founded Q Records, an Edinburgh-based record label comprised of fellow students and music enthusiasts specialising in artist management and record releases. 

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…

OOTB ?

The next Out of the Bedroom open mic night is number 655 and in on this Thursday 19th October. Come all ye newcomers, regulars and all those who fit somewhere in between to the very fine Edinburgh venue Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk. We start at 8pm and finish at 11pm and entry is free for all whether you are a performer of original material or a music lover. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, about 10 minutes or two songs per act depending on the number of performers.

We’ve had a run of exceptionally varied Out of the Bedroom nights recently and Malcolm McLean captured OOTB 654 evening with a set of evocative photos so you can imagine you were there (if you weren’t). Particularly memorable were The Champions, an ensemble all the way from South Africa with vocal harmonies to die for.

Feature act for OOTB 655 is “Magic” Majk Stokes an Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter and musician, who has been writing and performing silly songs for longer than he cares to admit. Majk has had a show in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival every year since 2013 and has performed on four continents. His left hand has appeared on television three times. His first band, Porridge Stoats, played in and around Edinburgh for several years and supported samba-punk band Bloco Vomit and the UK’s premier protest band Seize the Day. Majk writes poems and short stories, and plays and calls ceilidhs with the legendary Shingis McKingis ceilidh band. Majk has just released, this week, a new CD ‘Too Much Caffeine’.

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…

OOTB ?

After an exceedingly enjoyable night two weeks ago, Out of the Bedroom is back with more fun this Thursday 5th October. We loved the variety of the performers at our last show – please see Malcolm McLean’s excellent photos to get a flavour of the night. We welcome all newcomers, regulars and those-who-have-not-been-for-a-while. You don’t have to feel you have to fit in, there is no trend or fashion, just come along and be amongst friends!

The venue is the marvelous Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk. We start at 8pm and finish at 11pm and entry is free for all. Come along and perform your original material or simply enjoy the great music. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot, about 10 minutes or two songs per act depending on the number of performers. Your host will be James Igoe.

Feature act is Tina Louise Avery. Tina’s thought-provoking songs draw on real and fictional places and the people and emotions she encounters there. Her clear-voiced lyrics are accompanied by her distinctive finger-picking style and influences range from Paul Simon and Kate Bush to Natalie Merchant and Suzanne Vega. In January 2017, Tina was selected for the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections, and she has played support at the Edinburgh and Leith Folk Clubs and several venues for the Free Fringe during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The title track from Tina’s River Man EP won the 2013 Loanhead Music Festival Songwriting Competition. Her second EP will be released in November this year- watch this space! Tina is regularly accompanied by guitarist Vincent Gauchot.

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…

OOTB ?

We’re back, back, back!! Yes, this Thursday 21st September, Out of the Bedroom open mic night returns after our summer break. Thanks to everyone who played and attended the Legends night on 7th September. There may be more of those nights, with hundreds of performers over the years to choose from and some excellent talent emerging this year alone.

The venue is the wonderful Woodland Creatures on Leith Walk the night will run from 8pm to 11pm and entry is free for all. Come along and perform your original material or simply enjoy the great music. Sign up at 7:30pm for an open mic slot somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes per act, depending on the number of performers. Your host will be the fabulous Peach, also known as Small Feet Little Toes.

Feature act is The Old Town Rambler who is one of the exciting new acts to have emerged at OOTB this year. The ‘Rambler hails from North Berwick and describes his music as “roots, country, folk & blues fingerpicking and harmonica”. We think he’s one of the best traditional music players we’ve had in the open mic nights of late and we’re sure you will be delighted when you hear his music.

See you at Woodland Creatures this Thursday…

OOTB ?