Hello again everybody, i’ve got quite a few events to tell you about this week, but first of all, let me just quickly say sorry to anybody that turned up at The Lot on Wednesday looking for the Tigertown Presents gig, there was a gig on at The Lot that night, but the gig i thought was at The Lot was actually at Electric Circus. Anyway, it’s the first time i’ve made a mistake like that on this list i think, and i’ll make an effort not to do it again in any hurry!

Okay, now onto this week’s events, in chronological order i think… Tonight (Tuesday 9 Nov) at The Regent Bar at the top of Abbeymount and Easter Road, it’s the Regent Showcase, featuring a selection of Edinburgh’s solo and duo performers, and possibly one or two comedians. It’s free, it starts at 8:30pm and there may be open slots available i believe.

This Friday (12th Nov), at Henry’s Cellar Bar, it’s the launch of the new CD by Earl Grey and the Loose Leaves (an Edinburgh blues band i believe), with support from Missing Cat and Fitzroy Soul, and some others i think. Members from these bands have been to OOTB in the past, in case you’re wondering where the connection is. And they’re good too, that’s the other reason i’m mentioning it. Not sure if it costs to get in, i imagine it’ll be a few quid, but i don’t know. It’s 8pm till 3am. Also, i need to tell you that the excellent McEwan’s Ale House open mic is on as usual this Friday from 9pm in the McEwan’s Ale House opposite the old Odeon on Clerk Street.

Also this Friday (12th Nov), it’s a Bainbridge Presents gig called Amplified, at the GRV. It’s a 14+ gig. The bands are People Places Maps and Underclass, with support from Espionage of the Loc and SmallPRINT. Again, they’re good bands, with band members who’ve been along to OOTB and the Listening Room over the years. It’s an early one, 7pm till 10pm. Not sure what the admission cost is, it’ll be a few quid i expect.

This Saturday (13th Nov) it’s Aaron Wright and the Aprils and 6 Day Riot performing live at Electric Circus on Market Street. It’s a 7pm start and it’s £3 to get in. Should be good. I’ve heard Aaron Wright solo but not with a band yet.

Then on Sunday (14th Nov) it’s Tom Watton who’s the featured act at The Listening Room in The Blue Blazer (on Spittal and Bread Streets). You’ll like him, his stuff’s very varied and he’s a really enthusiastic performer. He’s on at 9pm, after the usual open mic furiousness at 8pm, which you should definitely consider being there for as well.

Also on Sunday 14th November, it’s the Fresh Promotional Video Shoot at Maggie’s Chamber at 139 The Cowgate. Basically, they’re making a promotional video to promote their events, and they have a lot of bands playing as part of it, including (but not limited to) Back Alley Romeo, Casino Queen, Two Steps To Envy, People Places Maps, The Harlots, Kill Code Red and November Orchid. It’s 6pm and it’s £2 entry, just thought you all might like to know about it.

I wanted to mention some things in advance of next week too, there’s a gig on Wednesday 17th November at The Royal Oak on Infirmary Street (just off South Bridge/Nicolson Street) called Magic Letters. It’s an 8pm start, it’s only £2 to get in, and it stars Caro Bridges and the River, so it’s your chance to hear the amazing singer-songwriter Caro Bridges with her new band in an intimate acoustic setting. Support slots are from Mutant Lodge (Nyk Stoddart’s offbeat alter ego) and Calum Carlyle (in a rare solo appearance), so do get there in a timely manner. I’m hoping to make the Royal Oak into a more regular venue for our sort of acoustic nights in the future, i’ve got plans. Watch this space…

The other thing i wanted to mention about next week is Hannah O’Reilly/Augustalia‘s EP launch gig at The Voodoo Rooms next Thursday (18th Nov) at 7:30pm for 8pm, and it’s £4 to get in. The support is from The Dull Fudds and Lee Paterson so it’ll obviously be a quality evening.

While i’m on the subject of Hannah O’Reilly and Calum Carlyle (i’ll never get used to speaking about myself in the third person!), both artists have been giving away free exclusive mp3 downloads recently on their mailing lists, so do yourself a favour and join Hannah’s mailing list here, and join the Calum Carlyle list here.

I’ve got more stuff lined up to tell you about next week, there’s quite a selection of good gigs on the horizon actually, it’s quite heartening. If you’re in a band or are playing a gig, and you want me to mention it on the list, do get in touch by replying to this email. Our community is becoming a little diffuse at the moment, with OOTB not running the open mic night at the moment, but it’s great to see so many OOTB people at these other gigs, keeping in touch with each other and enjoying each other’s music. Anyway, don’t stay in watching X Factor, come out to some of these gigs and have a great time, see you out there, or see you next week in the OOTB email!

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Hi everybody, well, it’s winter! Still seems pretty warm though, but let’s see how long that lasts… Okay, well i’ve got one or two upcoming events to tell you about, though i’m sure there are probably quite a few more on the go, so do go out and check stuff out for yourself.

Okay, well on Tuesday the first of November (according to their website, although i suspect they mean 2nd November, which is tonight), it’s Acoustic Edinburgh. They don’t actually email me/OOTB saying what’s on at their nights, so i sometimes forget to mention them on this list. Just so you know it’s the first Tuesday of every month. Anyway, their website says it’s Bob Hillary and the Massive Mellow headlining this month, with Andi Neate, Erin Todd and K-Lab on the bill as well. it’s free, it’s at 7:30pm and it’s at Medina on Lothian Street (near Bristo Square), so why not check it out?

Tomorrow (Weds 3rd Nov) there are two things to mention to you, one is Secret CDs number 36 featuring Blueflint, Bob Hillary (wow, he gets around!), The Ferny Brackens and Cloudland Blue Quartet (whose new CD i mentioned last week or the week before). This sounds like quite an acoustic and harmony filled evening. It’s a 7:30pm start, it’s at the Voodoo Rooms, and it costs £3 to get in, and you get £1 off your first CD purchase of the evening.

Also tomorrow, with a 7pm start, at The Lot in the Grassmarket, it’s Cattle + Cane, with support from Screen Kids, Caro Bridges and Dan Gillan. The pricing for this event seems to be all over the place, but the tickets have got £6 on them, though i gather you get various discounts if you went to last week’s Lot Acoustic Showcase and/or the Medina Hallowe’en night on Sunday.

Then on Thursday 4th Nov, at the Voodoo Rooms again, it’s Dave Arcari (who’s a storming slidey blues guy) and Lee Paterson (who’s very good, and many of you’ll have heard him before), and it’s at the Voodoo Rooms at 8pm, costing £5 to get in. By the way, when you go to these gigs, do mention that you heard about them from the OOTB mailing list. This will increase the chances of the organisers actually telling me when other future gigs are coming up, so i can pass that info on to you in future emails.

On Friday (5th November), it’s the McEwan’s Ale House open mic again from 9pm, though since it’s bonfire night, when we traditionally burn the pope in effigy, a tradition not entirely compliant with modern European anti-discrimination legislation, i suspect, but anyway, what i’m thinking is it might be quieter than usual at the McEwan’s Ale House due to bonfire night (but maybe not, maybe everybody’ll be all keyed up and ready for a good time for all i know). So yeah, McEwan’s Ale House on Friday, then The Listening Room on Sunday 7th Nov, which is free and starts at 8pm for the open mic section, and 9pm for the featured act. This week i haven’t had an email from the Listening Room yet, so i’m not 100% sure who the featured act is, but i strongly suspect it’s a chap called Tom, who has been along for a few weeks and is a very captivating performer. I know that’s vague, i didn’t even catch his surname, and i’m also not 100% sure if it’s him this week. He’s good though. The Blazer’s been really good recently anyway to be honest, so why not go just the same?

I’m just going to mention the Hog The Stage competition again, as a wee reminder. Bands and performers from all round Scotland are entering this competition to play as part of Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay celebrations, and many of them will be known to you from Edinburgh’s music scene and from Out of the Bedroom. You can enter your own band, and you can listen to, and then “like”, other bands who have already entered. Obviously, i’d be really chuffed if you would “like” my song, but obviously you’ll find songs by excellent artistes like Aaron Wright, Joe Viterbo, Augustalia, Banana Sessions and many more on the Hog The Stage website as well. So go and have a listen and click the ones you like.

Oh, i also wanted to mention The Forest Cafe, i heard a rumour that they now have to raise half a million quid in order to buy the venue, or else they’ll have to close down. So, that’s food for thought. I know a lot of people don’t use Forest Cafe, and quite a few people sneer on it a little, which is unfortunate, because it represents a free creative space for a variety of artistic endeavours, which include musical performances. And if that’s lost, then, well, it’s lost. I’ve seen Forest go from strength to strength over the last ten years or so, and it would be a shame if it went the way of the dodo. I don’t know the details, you’ll most likely find the real facts on their FB profile and their website, i’m not sure how they propose to raise the money, but just mentioning it, in case you want to keep your ear to the ground about that. Because whether you’re a fan of Forest or not, it’s part of the bigger picture when things like this are closed down. I mean the arts (except for certain classical endeavours) receives very little funding in this country, so when the country is asked to tighten its belt, one of the first “luxuries” to feel the pinch is the creative arts, and it’s up to those who care about these things to stay awake and informed about them. Anyway, that’s my wee rant over for the week!

So yeah, still no word on where we’re going to be holding the OOTB open mic nights, or when we’ll be starting them again, it seems like every possible venue has some logistical reason why we can’t hold the night there, or else (more commonly) they already have an open mic night in place. We’ll be back though, we’re not giving up on finding a venue, so it’s only a matter of time. Okay, take care, and i’ll see you out there in the world of music!

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

PS – it turns out The Forest as well as the Roxy Art House are both under threat of closure, or will definitely close. Not good news, in light of the recent closure of the Big Red Door. Sad times…

http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/100930-roxy-art-house-rip

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Arts-venues-pushed-to-the.6588160.jp

Right, first of all, apologies for the tardiness of this week’s email, i do this in my spare time, and i’ve had a lot less of that recently. Still no news on the horizon for OOTB’s fabled new home, however there’s tons of stuff on this week, most of it all on the same nights, so here goes:

Sophie Bancroft is launching her CD tomorrow night (Thursday 28th Oct) at The Lot, in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, it’s £10 to get in, and doors open at 7:30pm, over 14s only.

On Friday, remember to go to the McEwan’s Ale House Open Mic on South Clerk street, opposite the old Odeon at 9pm, all the cool cats will be there. 🙂

Then on Saturday 30th, at The Captain’s Bar on South College street, it’s the long awaited “A tip of the Hat to Leonard Cohen” night, featuring covers of Leonard Cohen songs by the following artistes: Norman Lamont, Fraser Drummond, Jim and Paula Igoe, Karen and Jess Austin, Jerry Anderson, Andy Hill, Simon Kempston, Kat McKenzie, Calum Carlyle, Nelson Wright and Rosie Nimmo. it’s FREE to get in, though a collection for charity (The Parents’ Circle) will be taken.

On Sunday, which is Hallowe’en, there are a ton of things on. For example, at Cabaret Voltaire at 7pm, it’s Six Storeys High, Ashes From The Wake and Three Long Words. £6 in advance and £7 on the door.

Same night, it’s Top Hat, Alistair W. McErlain & Theo Bard at Nobles’ Bar on Constitution Street in Leith, i think it’s free, but don’t quote me. And it’s a 9pm start.

Same night again, it’s The Listening Room at The Blue Blazer on Spittal Street, featuring Mark Wynn. 8pm for the open mic section, 9pm for Mark Wynn.

Same night, yet again, and this is the one i’ll be going to (though i am sure the rest are all going to be excellent nights too), it’s Dry The River, Lorraine Macauley and Matt Norris and the Moon, at Medina, which is on Lothian Street at 7pm. The FB event doesn’t tell you how much it is on the door, but my ticket cost £6 when i bought it off of Matt Norris.

And there’s one next week i have to mention too, on 3 November, it’s Cattle & Cane, Screen Kids, Caro Bridges and Dan Gillan, and that’s at The Lot in the Grassmarket. 7pm start again, this time it’s an 18+ gig and it’s £6/5.

Got to rush, sorry for the lack of personality in this email. I’m actually rushing out to yet another gig at The Lot tonight, it’s Hailie Beavis, The Last of Barrett’s Privateers, Kat McKenzie and Quickbeam. I would have given you the details properly but i left this week’s email too late and by the time you read this it’ll all be over long since. Okay, se you all next week! Take care, and remember to put your clocks back this weekend so you don’t miss all the gigs on Sunday night!

 Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

The students must be back or something, because Edinburgh’s starting to explode with artistic and creative activity. You all know i’m about to launch into a list of events for you to go to, so let’s get started. First thing is the Hidden Door Festival which is on from this Friday to Sunday at the Roxy Art House, just have a look at the performers, there’s dozens, and the ones i’ve heard of are very good indeed (in some cases exceptional, including Lipsync For A Lullaby and Iona Marshall), so do consider going to that.

Before that though, a band you may have heard at Out of the Bedroom, Divide and Rule will be performing on Thursday 21st October at 9:30pm in Sofi’s Bar at 65 Henderson Street in Leith. Show your support, and have a great night out.

Also on Thursday 21st October, at Henry’s, 8a Morrison Street, it’s TV21 Acoustic, a night which features Iain Shaw, Sam Barber And The Outcasts, and Shock & Awe. It’s £5 on the door.

Did you know it’s currently the Edinburgh World Justice Festival by the way? And there are a lot of free events you can attend. Here are a few of them, they’re not musical, but you know there’s a history of musicians being politically active, so why don’t i tell you anyway? You can skip to the paragraph after if you really aren’t interested in justice.

Okay, these are all free and unticketed by the way, tonight (Tue 19 Oct) in the Quaker Meeting House (up the steps off Victoria Street) at 7pm, it’s a debate entitled “Private Gain, Public Pain: Campaign Against the Arms Trade“. Then tomorrow (Wed 20 Oct) in the Augustine United Church it’s a discussion called “For Our Honour: Scotland’s Role in Tackling Honour Based Violence” at 7pm. On Thursday 21st at 7:30pm it’s “Afghanistan: 30 Years of War and Poverty” at the Augustine United Church again. And on Saturday at St Columba’s by the Castle (at 14 Johnston Terrace) it’s “Cuba and Health“, a film and then a debate, that’s at 2:45, and then it’s followed at 4:45 by “Son Cubano y Salsa“, a celebration of music and Cuban culture. Not bad for free, i suspect i’ll be there all afternoon.

Now, it’s actually just over a week away, but i thought i’d just mention the next Lot Acoustic Showcase on Wednesday 27th October (which is next Wednesday), featuring The Last Of Barrett’s Privateers, Quickbeam, the captivating Hailey Beavis and Kat McKenzie. It’s 7pm-10.30pm as usual at The Lot in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket it’s a 14+ gig and it’s £4 adv/£5 on the door.

There are some more good things on the horizon, like a special Hallowe’en evening at Medina featuring Matt Norris and the Moon, Dry The River and Lorraine McCauley, and also Norman Lamont’s tribute evening to Leonard Cohen on 30 Oct at Captain’s Bar. I’ll give you all the details next week, but do search for these yourself on the ‘net (either google for the venues or for the bands, it’s how i get quite a lot of the information for this newsletter, and why should you wait on the newsletter when you can find out the info for yourself?)

I got an email from Paper Truth this week telling me about his new EP, “Tame” that he’s just released. So go and check that out, Paper Truth is excellent, for those of you that remember him at OOTB (well, he’s just as good for those of you who don’t, i suppose!).

Quite a few people have been asking how the search for a new OOTB venue is going, and it is proceeding apace. well, when i say “apace”, i mean quite a slow pace. However, the OOTB inner circle have been wheeling and dealing with key people in all the right places, and we’re not prepared to put up with OOTB being out of action for too much longer, so hopefully i’ll be able to give you an announcement in the next couple of weeks at longest about where and when you can get your OOTB fix again. And thanks to all the people who’ve told me how useful the OOTB mailouts are in the meantime, it makes it all worthwhile! 🙂

On the other hand, it’s nice to see that our “sister” nights at the Blue Blazer/Listening Room (Sundays 8pm) and the McEwan’s Ale House (9pm Fridays) are being so enthusiastically attended in OOTB’s absence, McEwan’s Ale House was stuffed with people last week, and the Listening Room’s been very well attended too.

One other thing i was going to mention is the Hog The Stage competition. Bands and performers from all round Scotland are entering this competition to play as part of Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay celebrations, and many of them will be known to you from Edinburgh’s music scene and from Out of the Bedroom. You can enter your own band, and you can listen to, and then “like”, other bands who have already entered. Obviously, i’d be really happy if you would “like” my song, but i’m honour bound to tell you that you’ll find songs by Aaron Wright, Joe Viterbo, Augustalia, Banana Sessions and many more on the Hog The Stage website. So go and have a listen and click the ones you like.

I kind of feel like i’ve missed something out. If you sent me an email about a gig and i’ve not mentioned it, then sorry about that. I don’t think i have though, it’s just a feeling. Anyway, all the more reason for you to go and fire up google and find out who’s playing where near you and when for yourself! 🙂 And remember to “like” all the bands you enjoy on facebook, and friend them up on myspace, oh and buy their CDs too! You may be surprised how much of a boost it is when bands sell some of their CDs, and you get a permanent record of what one of your favourite bands sounds like. In my experience you don’t get a lot of opportunities to buy a band’s CD either, they either sell them all or split up, so buy the CDs now while you can, i say. Remember you can get beer any time, but music will fade away without constant financial nurturing! Okay, sermon over, see you all here next week, same time, same channel.

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Has it been a week already? I was struck down by a cold this weekend so i missed some of this week unfortunately, though i did make it along to the Blue Blazer on Sunday, which was great. Now, one or two things to mention, mostly upcoming gigs. First of all though, Cloudland Blue Quartet has asked me to tell you about his new CD, “Splinterheart”, you can hear it online and purchase it here. He’ll be playing at the November Secret CDs to promote the CD as well, just to let you know in advance.

I think i’ll take the opportunity to mention my newest CD too, actually, you can hear it, and purchase it here. It’s not available as a physical CD yet, but you can download it, and i’ll be launching the CD at a Lot Acoustic Showcase on 24th November, with my new duo (the other member of which is currently a closely guarded secret!). And of course many other OOTB related artistes have got CDs for sale, and well worth it they are too, i try to buy as many as i can. It pretty much goes without saying, but ask the artistes when you see them live, or check out the details on their myspace. CDs are usually only a few quid, and you get a lasting record of the band, which is definitely worthwhile, since bands are always splitting up or moving away, it seems.

Aaaand a big welcome to the two dozen or so new subscribers to the Out of the Bedroom mailing list. If you are receiving this for the first time, it’s because you (at some point in the distant past, probably) put your email address on an OOTB raffle ticket. I send out a weekly email with details of what OOTB is doing (which isn’t a huge deal at the moment, it must be admitted), and also i usually include details of other gigs that are on, CDs being released, and special events featuring performers who are in some way affiliated with OOTB. If you don’t want to be on this list, just reply to this email and i’ll remove your email address from the list. Think twice before you do though, because not only do i include a shortlist of very good gigs, many of which are free, but you also find out about the occasional exclusive release, or special event here that you may not have heard about elsewhere.

On that subject, here are a whole lot of gigs you might want to go to before all the bands split up, change their lineup and repertoire, or become huge and successful and move away to the big smoke. Firstly tonight (Tuesday), it’s the Regent Showcase at The Regent Bar at the top of Abbeymount and Easter Road. It starts at 8:30 and it’s a showcase of some very good acoustic acts and one or two comedians. It’s free, and it’s a good atmosphere.

I had a feeling that Sam Barber and the Outcasts were playing a gig this week, i know they’ve got two next week (which i’ll mention in next week’s email) but i can’t seem to find any details for them for this week. Anyway, i’m sure there are ways you can find out, if you really need to know. 🙂

This Friday (15th Oct) there’s tons of stuff on. There’s the McEwan’s Ale House open mic at 9/9:30pm of course, which is free, and there’s also Miyagi, House of La & Die Schneiders for £3 (and that’s only a quid per band) at the Voodoo Rooms, at 8:30pm (and Miyagi are on first).

Also this Friday, it’s a Bainbridge Presents night, featuring Underclass, Cancel The Astronauts & Jump Press A in the intimate environs of Sneaky Petes on the Cowgate, and it’s a 7pm start, so don’t arrive fashionably late! I don’t know if this one costs to get in, because the Sneaky Pete’s website doesn’t have tickets for sale for this gig.

[[ STOP PRESS – The gig at Sneaky Pete’s will be going ahead on Friday, but without Underclass, due to illness. ]]

Then on Sunday (17th Oct) at the Listening Room at The Blue Blazer, it’s the usual open mic from 8-9pm, and then the featured act this week will be Caro Bridges, who is awesome, as you’ll know if you’ve heard her elsewhere. Don’t quote me, but i wouldn’t be too surprised if she had Matt Norris accompanying her on the mandolin as well. And it’s free, too!

Thought i’d just mention this one as well, on Monday 18th, it’s Gavin Bain’s band, Hopeless Heroic live at Bannerman’s. I think it’s an 8pm start, more details in the FB link.

Well, we’ve reached the end of another OOTB email, there’s been tears, there’s been laughter… Well, actually there probably hasn’t been. I was thinking of having some sort of bonus for people that actually read this far, like a giveaway or lucky prize draw or something, but i haven’t quite come up with any good ideas yet, i’ll let you know anyway. Okay, go and get some good local music into you and i’ll see you back here next week.

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Hi everybody! People still say to me “oh i’ll need to get myself along to OOTB sometime”, which is very supportive of them, but a wee message to all those people, we’ve not actually been running OOTB nights for four weeks now. Just so you know. Don’t worry though, we’ll be back. In the meantime, here are a few things that are on this week that you might wish to try out…

Tonight (Tuesday) it’s Acoustic Edinburgh at Medina. It’s free, and it’s the first Tuesday of each month (which means it’s probably too late to go for this month by the time you read this, but you’ll know for next time). Paul Gladwell’s playing tonight and Gary Stewart’s headlining, and there are a few other acts too.

Tomorrow (Wednesday), it’s Secret CDs at the Voodoo Rooms. As far as i know this is the first time Secret CDs has been at the Voodoo Rooms, and this is one gig i won’t be missing. Here’s who’s playing: Joe Viterbo, this is the band that features Ralph Speed and Graeme Mearns. That’s pretty much all the information you need to know that this will be well worth coming out for. Sacre Noir are on too, again, not to be missed. I remember their first gig at the Wee Red Bar fondly, and they’ve gone from strength to strength since. Amy Duncan‘s on too! Holy crap how does Mr Igoe get such great lineups at his gigs? Showing my age a little, but mt first experience of Amy Duncan was as part of the Edinburgh trio Automatic Earth, which featured Neil Dixon, back in the 20th century. She’s great, so come along. ANd finally, Hailey Beavis who is part of the Forest Records Collective, and i generally have been very impressed with everything from them that i’ve heard, and i bet you will too. Doors open at 7.30 p.m. and entry will be a ridiculously cheap £3 with a special offer of £1 discount on your first CD purchase of the evening.

This always happens, two come along at once! Also tomorrow (Wednesday), it’s Matt Norris And The Moon and Edward And The Itch at Maggie’s Chamber, as part of the This Is Not A Toga Party night, think it’s £3 on the door, doors are open 8pm, and there’s another band on (sorry! Haven’t got the info to hand), tell them who you heard about the gig from when you go.

On Thursday, in the Jazz Bar, it’s Roberta Pia’s Unpeeled night, starring: Emily Scott, Donna Maciocia, William Douglas And The Wheel and Lee Paterson. Also, you get to see the Too Much Fun Club creating art before your eyes. So that’s all really good, and it’s £4 to get in, or £3 for students. And tell them where you heard about the gig too, please. 🙂 – oh yes, the first fifty attendees get a “winner” medal, apparently.

On Friday it’s the McEwan’s Ale House Open Mic of course, always a good one, i’ve only heard good things about it.

Then on Sunday, (10 October) the featured act at The Listening Room at The Blue Blazer is Dave Robertson aka Heroin In A Nutshell, all the way from Perth. You very rarely get to hear him performing in Edinburgh, so don’t miss him. His stuff’s like energetic acoustic rock. It’ll get your cardiovascular system going. And it’s free. 8pm for the open mic section, 9pm for Dave Robertson’s set.

Then next Tuesday it’s the Regent Showcase, again, always a good one. 8:30pm start, and it’s a right rollicking selection of Edinburgh’s burgeoning acoustic talent.

That’s about it for now, if you’ve got an OOTB related gig to tell everybody about, then let me know, i’ll also tell you about any updates to the Itinerant OOTB saga as and when we get them, but until then, rock on!

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Another week’s gone past! Hope you’re all recovering from the Festival by now. Just got a few events to tell you about this week, firstly it’s the Regent Showcase tonight, it’s in the Regent Bar, which is at the top of Abbeymount and the end of Regent Road. Starts at 8:30pm and it’s free to get in. The musical selection often has a considerable overlap with Out of the Bedroom, it’s always been a good night in my experience, go along, you’ll like it. 🙂

I’m always telling you about the McEwan’s Ale House open mic on Fridays at 9pm, and The Listening Room at the Blue Blazer on Sunday starting at 8pm, and i’m mentioning them again because i still keep hearing from people how good these nights are (though i’ve been too darn busy to go along for a while myself, hope to rectify that soon!), so yeah, go to those, if you can, they’re great fun.

Next thing to mention to you is a gig at the Voodoo Rooms Ballroom on Monday 20th September, featuring Hannah O’Reilly, Neoviolet, Caro Bridges, Dan Gillan and Cal Roberts, and it’s £5/4 to get in (which is a bargain for five acts of this calibre. What can you buy for a fiver these days? Seriously…)

Wheels (slowly) turn behind the scenes as we breathe life into the old OOTB horse yet again, more news on that as it happens, in the meantime, relive the good old days on our YouTube channel! Say hello if you see me at one of those gigs i just mentioned too. 🙂

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Hello again everybody. This week our feature act are Petits Maitres. They haven’t got a myspace that i can find, i haven’t (to my knowledge) heard them perform. Sorry if you wanted a rundown of what they’re like, looks like you’ll just have to turn up to OOTB and find out by listening to them! I plan to anyway. More havoc and craziness this week as OOTB continues to drag itself through the Festival in the top bar of the hot and sweaty Tron….

Also, I received the following email from Norman Lamont, see if you are interested in being part of this Leonard Cohen tribute event…

I’m working with a small venue to promote a Leonard Cohen tribute evening some time in October. The idea is each person would play one, or maybe two, Cohen songs. There’d be a charge at the door and all proceeds would go to a charity, to be selected yet. At this stage I’m just looking to see who’d be interested, as there’s a question mark over the size of the venue.

Anyone interested, please drop me a line at biz@normanlamont.com

There’s no guarantee of a place for anyone – it all depends on numbers and venue but people can register interest with me. There’s no need to choose a song now.

Tons of other stuff on of course, Matt James is launching his new CD at the Phoenix Cellar Bar tomorrow (Wednesday), with support from Aos Si, Hannah O’Reilly and Jym Ponter, it’s at 6:30pm and costs a fiver.

Andi Neate is playing a show at the Jazz Bar on Thursday at 7:30pm, sorry but i’ll be at OOTB!

Tonight at Medina, Acoustic Edinburgh presents Emily Scott, Jo Mango, and the incredible Banana Sessions. It’s not free during the Festival, as far as i know, but who cares, you’re only young once, right? Personally I’m off to see Susanna Macdonald‘s Experimentalista show tonight (having been kept away by prior engagements and a cold till now).

On the 24th August, which is a week today (Tuesday) there’s another Regent Showcase, unsurprisingly, at the Regent Bar, it’s free, it starts at 8:30 and it’s a whole lot of fun in a bun.

Every Sunday The Listening Room is still chugging away, open slots in The Blue Blazer on Sunday from 8pm to 10pm. Again, a lot of fun, seems you get a lot of interesting performers at the Blazer during the Festival.

The Big Red Door are having a craft sale on the 21st August (which is Saturday) at 10am, oh yes, the Out of the Blue Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street is doing something similar on Saturdays now too, except it’s more of a market with produce and so on, you can get your weekly shopping in! That’s 10am till 2pm every Saturday.

This Friday (the 20th) at 7:30pm at Word of Mouth Cafe on Albert Street, there’s another open mic night. As you know, i think it’s an excellent one, so do come along. it’s free, and it’s fun.

Oh yes! Nearly forgot, I’m going on tour starting on Saturday, so if you live anywhere in the UK (except down south), then do come along, or if you know someone out in the sticks, tell them to go along to one of our more rural gigs. More details here anyway.

Sorry if you have an event i missed off this list, it can be difficult compiling a relevant list of gigs, especially during the festival. Anyway, see you all on Thursday (if you can fit into the tiny Tron top bar that is!)

Calum Carlyle
Oyut of the Bedroom

PS –  i just realised i forgot to mention Fanattica’s final ever gig! It’s THIS SATURDAY in Henry’s Cellar Bar at 7pm. Too important for me not to tell you, so i’m sending this little PS. More details on the FB event page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141989199168493

See you all out there in musicland!

The Last of Barratt’s Privateers are the featured act in this week’s Out of the Bedroom, in The Tron on Thursday at 8pm. It’s free, and to be frank, they’re awesome. They’re like modern Scottish bluegrass, and you may recognise one or two of the band members too. There’s no musical reason these guys shouldn’t be charging several quid to get into one of their gigs, see them now while you can for free.And that brings me neatly to something i have been wanting to say on this list for a wee while. Every time i go to Out of the Bedroom, i am impressed by the high standard of performances, and the range of styles. Not only that, the whole evening is free to get into. Despite this, people still tell me they think open mic nights are rubbish and most acoustic performers are samey and boring. If you think this, then i am 100% certain you aren’t going out to enough quality music nights. Either that or you just don’t like much music, and if that’s the case, why are you even on this mailing list?

All i’m saying is, i go to quite a lot of music nights in Edinburgh and beyond, many of them acoustic nights, and many of them featuring one or two performers who play at OOTB, or who have played there in the past. I like to think i have a discerning ear, and i know who i like most, musically, and why. With this in mind, i think Edinburgh is heaving with great acts, and many of them are playing free gigs the whole time. In short, i cannot in any way agree with anyone telling me that they think our evenings don’t contain a wealth of good performances. I’m not even trying to big up OOTB here, i’m actually trying to acknowledge the immense amount of talented songwriters who have graced us with their music. I mean last week it was Caro Bridges, and she’s really good as well. I can’t remember the last time i didn’t enjoy the OOTB feature act in fact.

I, and the rest of the committee, have worked hard to make OOTB the night it is, and we will continue to do so, for your enjoyment, and i hope that you will continue to come along to OOTB in the future, not out of a sense of obligation, but because you might enjoy it. We hope you will. Don’t get me wrong, i think criticism is good for a performer or songwriter as it helps them improve, that’s why we like to have reviews of our nights (though this is now on hiatus for the foreseeable future again sadly), but lazy criticism from people who haven’t even been along to the evening they are criticising anytime in the past year really has no value other than to create bad feeling.Now i’ve said that, just want to lighten the mood and tell you about some of the overwhelming amount of stuff that’s on in Edinburgh this week. There’s a lot of it, and here’s just a sample:

Tonight (Tuesday) it’s Acoustic Edinburgh at Medina featuring Edwina Hayes, Player Piano and Stanley Odd! – It’s at 8pm, and Acoustic Edinburgh is on every Tuesday during the Fringe Festival. It costs to get in during the Festival though, but it is very worth it. Also tonight it’s another Regent Showcase in the Regent Bar at the top of Abbeymount and Easter Road, starting at 8:30pm i believe, this one is free, and features a selection of Edinburgh’s acoustic performers and at least one comedian. I’ve been to one or two of these and it’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere. You’ll enjoy it. Honest. 🙂

Susanna Macdonald‘s Fringe show Experimentalista is in full swing, and tonight’s your last chance for a two-for-one deal on the tickets, though it’s worth seeing any time in the month.The Listening Room‘s still on on Sunday during the Festival (except on Fireworks night) at 8pm, in the Blue Blazer on Spittal Street and Bread Street, for two hours of open slots, so much eclectecism will be going on there. Also, Word Of Mouth coffee shop on Albert Street are offering a 20% discount during the whole month of August if you quote “facebook”. Bit cheeky of me to repeat that here, so if you do take advantage of this, please join their FB group. Also, while i remember, there’s an open mic night at Word of Mouth on 20th August (a week on Friday i think)? I’ll not be able to go myself, because i’m playing a gig in Bannerman’s that night (which you’re all welcome to come along to, though i think it’s a couple of quid to get in). Anyway, Word of Mouth on 20th August, they run a good open mic night, every time i’ve been along, very diverse, and everybody gets a fair hearing. Starts at 7pm for 7:30 and it’s free.

Now, The Banshee Labyrinth on Niddry Street are host to a few music nights during the Fringe, courtesy of Bainbridge Music, and the one i want to tell you about is on Sunday 15th August, at 7pm. Apart from anything else Neoviolet are playing (which is rare at the moment), and on the same bill you can hear me (Calum Carlyle & Sam Bradley) as well, all for free!!!

Hannah O’Reilly and Andy Valentine are playing at McEwan’s Ale House on Saturday 14th, it’s free too and it’s at 10pm.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) it’s Secret CDs at the Phoenix Cellar Bar, at 8pm too, £2 entry, and well worth it. This months the acts are Collar Up, Freight, Kat McKenzie and Michael O’NeilAlso in the Phoenix Cellar Bar, the following Wednesday (18th) it’s Matt James with his highly interesting percussive guitar style, releasing his new CD “Cyan”. Supporting acts are Hannah O’Reilly, Aos Si and Jym Ponter. Not sure how much it costs to get in but it’ll be reasonable. Not to be missed, since Matt James is not based in Edinburgh anymore.This Friday (13th!) at The Big Red Door it’s Banana Sessions – i caught both of their sets at the Wickerman Festival and i can heartily recommend them to you. Zed Penguins are on too, and though i’ve not heard them yet, i bet they’re awesome too. Go along, and have some fun. It’s on at 8:30pm and it’s one of your last chances to see a gig at the BRD.

I just know there’s a ton of stuff i haven’t mentioned. Sorry if your event was one of them. Okay, off you go, at least one gig a night now, and no excuses! 🙂

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom