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Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a cultural city that rivals any in Europe. Famous for venues like the Royal Highland Centre and the Edinburgh Playhouse, this is a city with tons of venues to choose from and a built-in audience ready to be entertained.
If you're planning a musical or other performance event, whether it's a summer concert series or a rock show, you're in luck here. The Giggster app can help you find the perfect location for just about any performance, along with events like weddings, birthdays, graduations, and anything else. And all at an affordable price.
Browse our listings and find the perfect space for any event. Thanks to Giggster, hosting live music has never been easier.
Giggster provides everything you need to stage concerts year-round. We curate the best Edinburgh concert venues, like , so you can book a whole venue for your performance and bring your vision to life. From children's shows to theatre performances and rock concerts, Giggster provides a platform for artists to connect with their audience. See what else we have on offer.
Edinburgh has some wonderful old assembly halls like Usher Hall, Queen's Hall (originally built as Hope Park Chapel on Clerk Street), and the former church of Binks Hall. Giggster can help you find amazing live music venues like these for your show.
Edinburgh is known for its pub scene, and the historic and modern pubs of the city make great music venues. Already equipped with bars, toilets, and space for performers, a pub or function room makes the perfect place for a show.
Cafés and restaurants can also be excellent venues for daytime live music performances or Saturday night concerts. Ideal for smaller shows, the guaranteed footfall of a restaurant can help you reach a new audience.
Boutique hotels offer an unusual but versatile space for a performance. Use the Giggster app to find a beautiful hotel that works for you.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: With 16 locations to choose from in Edinburgh, the Giggster app makes it easy to find what you're looking for.
Hassle-Free Booking: Book amazing places for a show more easily than ever with the Giggster app. Scroll through our listings and contact hosts directly with any questions you have. With prices starting at just £75/hour, you can find a place that fits any budget.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Book fantastic concert venues in Edinburgh without worry. You can cancel your reservation within 24 hours of confirmation with no cancellation fees, as long as you made your booking at least 48 hours before the show.
Platform Protections: You can add optional accidental damage, liability, or cancellation protection to your booking, so you can focus on putting on an amazing live music event and not worry about the unexpected.
From the Royal Highland Centre to the Bongo Club, Edinburgh has venues to match just about any kind of event. Visit the Giggster app and discover unique locations for whatever you have planned.
Whiskey and Music Pairing Events – Enjoy Cultural Traditions. Whiskey tasting is a great way to connect with Scottish culture. Book an authentic Scottish band in a beautiful venue, and you can really immerse yourself in this side of Scottish life.
Comedy Shows and Spoken Word Performances – Tell a Story. Edinburgh's connections to the Fringe Festival mean you'll always find an audience for comedy, theater, and spoken word here. These shows attract everyone from university students to seniors, and the city has some great events for an evening of comedy or other storytelling formats.
Local Band Showcases – Bring Something New. Musicians come from across Scotland and beyond to make it in Edinburgh, so tap into that local talent and put on a showcase for new artists.
Open Mic Nights – Discover the Big Thing. The wealth of talent available in Edinburgh makes it a great place for an open mic night. Book a whole venue and turn it over to new talent so they can get the word out.
Themed Club or DJ Nights – Bring the Energy. Edinburgh may be an old city, but that doesn't mean you have to be traditional. Put on a club night in a spectacular venue to draw in an enthusiastic local audience for your event.
The kind of atmosphere you want to create will influence the venue you choose. But it's not just the atmosphere you have to consider. Think about these other aspects that can make your show go smoother for both performers and music lovers.
Do the acoustics work for your show? This can be hard to tell just from looking at a venue, but ideally, you want a place with good natural acoustics if you're going to do an unplugged performance. If you're using amplification equipment, look for a place that already has a sound system.
What is the layout? Do you want a wide open space for dancing, or would you prefer to arrange seating for a more sedate show? You may also want to consider tables and chairs if you're providing food and drink or other catering options.
Are there amenities for performers? You can make performers' lives a lot easier by providing a green room where they can prepare for the show, a dressing room, and secure storage for their equipment. Look for existing facilities or rooms that you can use to provide these features and keep your performers happy.
Edinburgh is one of the world's great cultural capitals, making it a fantastic place for live music events, comedy shows, and just about anything else. But consider the pros and cons of an event in this old town before you book your perfect venue.
Advantages
Home of the original Fringe Festival, Edinburgh is one of the best cultural cities in Europe. You'll find an audience for just about anything here.
From historic theaters to charming pubs with a function room to designated concert halls and assembly rooms, you can find the ideal venue for your live performances from the great range available here.
As the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is easy to reach from just about anywhere in the UK and beyond. If you are putting on a show featuring artists with regional, national, or even international appeal, you can attract a broad audience to your live performances.
Disadvantages
Edinburgh gets busy. Thanks to attractions like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, the city is popular with international tourists year-round. And when the Fringe Festival is on, it's almost impossible to find a venue in town.
No one comes to Edinburgh for the weather. Book outdoor venues with care, as the unpredictable weather can disrupt your plans at any time of year.
Central Edinburgh is quite walkable, but the outskirts of the city are less so. Think about how people will get to and from your venue, especially at night, as public transport isn't always what it could be.
There's more to throwing an amazing event than just finding a venue with Giggster. Don't overlook these other aspects so that you can have an amazing event in a spectacular venue here.
How Many People Will Come? That's not always an easy question to answer, but it's worth giving it some thought anyway. The size of the crowd you expect helps to determine the venue you need for your event. Remember, in many situations, too small is better than too large. It's better to sell out every ticket than to have empty seats.
What's the Ideal Atmosphere? The kind of event you put on will go a long way to determine what sort of venue you want. Whether you're thinking of exciting club nights, a wild rock show, or a sophisticated classical concert, the right venue can give you the perfect atmosphere for what you have in mind.
Do You Need a Sound System? For an acoustic show, you may not need much equipment, but if you intend to amplify the music, look for venues that have their own equipment or make it easy to bring yours.
Book Talent Early – The best performers are always in demand. Booking your performers early is more than just a load off your mind—it also allows you to start promoting early. Getting the word out is critical to making your show a success, so finalize the lineup so you can start promoting.
Edinburgh isn't always the cheapest city, but Giggster can help you save on your rental, with prices starting as low as £75/hour. These other tips can also help you bring your event in on budget.
Have you considered partnerships?
If you're providing food and drink, look at sponsorships with local businesses. A local café may provide coffee, or a local bar or brewery might want to provide craft beer to live music venues at a reduced price.
Choose the venue wisely.
A truly unique venue doesn't need a lot of decoration or enhancement. Book a venue that suits the atmosphere you're trying to create, and you'll have the vibe you need for bands, parties, or other performers.
Do as much as you can yourself.
Tap into your network of friends or the local artistic community, or look for volunteers who will help you stage an event in exchange for free admission.
Edinburgh is a great place to plan just about any event, with locals ready to show up for cultural happenings of all kinds. Use the Giggster app to book an incredible setting for your next performance, whether it's for your own band's show or features some of the greats like Kylie Minogue or Tom Jones.