Stuart Nutting samples Edinburgh's very own music festival.

I wandered into the Liquid Rooms around four o’clock on the day of the festival and anyone else in my shoes would be forgiven for thinking EH1 Live is a little more experienced in years than it is. This was only its first outing, which was surprising given its professional looking set-up. I was introduced to the proceedings by Edinburgh band The Merrylees, who bashed out Beatles-influenced rhythmic ditties. Their live performance far surpassed the expectations I had, having only listened to their mediocre online demos.

 At various points throughout the afternoon I checked into the festival’s two 14+ stages to watch some young musicians perform covers of Kasabian, Kings of Leon and anything else they could lay their excitable little hands on. I participated in an audience of tumble weed for bands who deserved a much larger audience, and ventured off to sample one of the festival’s various other venues.

I ended up in the narrow void of space that is Sneaky Pete’s, looking at a pillar and listening to a fellow by the name of Scott McWatt doing a variety of folk ballads only to permeate the middle of his set with a cover of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems”, with alternative Scottish problems thrown in, the likes of which I’m sure a rich rapper man could really relate to; try remixing said song with “My Old Man's a Dustman” in your head - that’s about the jist of it.

Next it was onto catch the headliners, The Dykeenies, who were unfortunate enough to have to follow stage predecessors The 10:04’s, who in amongst the attitude and the clanging pedals managed to give off the impression that they cared about making sure every single person in the room had a good time. I dare say they’d have fetched me a nice cup of tea if I’d have asked politely enough.

The whole day seemed to me to be a testimony to how strong the cities unsigned music scene is. In a city known for its drama and comedy, which is being constantly dwarfed musically by its older brother to the west, EH1 Live managed to showcase all the Scottish talent of which it has been made clear to us there is an overwhelming abundance of, in just one day. I for one will be looking forward to hearing next year’s batch of innovative new Scottish musical protégés and hope other people take note of the festivals potential as a tool for promoting the national music scene.

[4/5]

Stewart Nutting