Soundhouse to benefit from gigs at Pleasance Theatre

TOP MUSICIANS RALLY TO SOUNDHOUSE CAUSE

SHOOGLENIFTY, THE BEVVY SISTERS, DEAN OWENS, ADAM HOLMES & DJ DOLPHIN BOY SPEARHEAD VENUE FUNDRAISING DRIVE

BENEFIT GIGS ANNOUNCED @ PLEASANCE THEATRE, EDINBURGH: 18TH APRIL, 16TH MAY & 27TH JUNE

An array of top Scottish roots acts have pledged their support to The Soundhouse Organisation, the recently-founded charity campaigning for a new music venue in Edinburgh – and will soon be putting their money where their mouth is, by playing three fundraiser gigs for the project.

Folk-fusion pioneers Shooglenifty, sassy vocal combo The Bevvy Sisters, local Americana hero Dean Owens, rising star Adam Holmes and underground favourite DJ Dolphin Boy all feature among the line-ups this spring/summer at Edinburgh’s Pleasance Theatre, with other hand-picked acts including Blueflint, Banjo Lounge 4, The Pygmies, Lord Rochester and Cera Impala.

The Soundhouse Organisation evolved from the successful house concerts staged since 2002 by photographer Douglas Robertson, which have proved the demand among musicians and fans for a conducive, well-appointed venue in the capital, especially following the successive closure of several such spaces since the 1990s. Its goal is a venue that offers a fair deal to musicians, and a warm welcome to audiences of all ages, together with rehearsal space and educational activity, thereby creating a focal point for Edinburgh’s live music community.

The forthcoming concerts launch a major fundraising drive to support these goals. Each night features at least four acts, with performances in the Pleasance bar both before and after the main theatre shows. Tickets are £10, and all proceeds go to the Soundhouse cause.

“Edinburgh is a uniquely creative city, partly due to the annual Festival influx, yet for the rest of the year it as good as gets culturally kicked in the teeth by its own,” says Heather Macleod, of The Bevvy Sisters. “Too many fantastic venues have been axed, while amazing spaces lie rotting and disused. To enable growth from its uniquely diverse music scene, Edinburgh desperately needs a small to mid-sized venue, with a similar feel to Douglas’s house gigs, which can sustainably support this grassroots activity alongside world-renowned acts.”

“I am delighted to be part of the Soundhouse gig in support of the persistent and selfless work they are doing for musicians and music lovers alike. They are the key players in a vibrant and thriving scene that is helping to put Edinburgh firmly in the blood of Scotland’s musical heart,” said Adam Holmes.