Free music festival coming to Edinburgh's St James Quarter

The Sessions programme is designed to celebrate live music and spotlight a diverse selection of artists across genres including indie rock, alt pop, Scottish folk, electronic, R&B, jazz and neo soul. It will also feature DJs performing during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

There will be two main stages, six participating venues and pop-up acoustic ‘busker’ performances. For the first time, this will include a rooftop stage, Castle View, on level six of St James Quarter. The programme will run from August 16 to 25.

The opening night will feature alt-pop artist Kathryn Aly, folk singer-songwriter Zoe Graham, indie electronic act The Joshua Hotel and indie rock quintet Shambolics on the Castle View stage.

During the first weekend, TikTok sensation Katie Gregson-MacLeod will open Saturday’s Sessions, followed by multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Leif Coffield. There will be a jazz takeover on the Yellow Stage on Sunday, with psychedelic jazz and hip-hop ensemble Kai Reesu, jazz soul from Mama Terra and Fergus McCreadie, who closes the show.

Performances will also take place across the Quarter’s dining and entertainment venues, including The Alchemist, Bonnie & Wild, The Botanist, Duck & Waffle, Gordon Ramsay Street Burger and Joao’s Place at the W Edinburgh Hotel. Acts include Kohla, a singer-songwriter, musician and producer with a classical background, singer Grayling, To The Wild and an acoustic set from alt-rock band Picture The Scene.

To finish the festival on Sunday, August 25, there will be an afternoon of DJs curated by EHFM at Gordon Ramsay Street Burger. The closing party in the evening will feature top DJs, Jolene Live, Danse Atmos, Domenic Cappello and Hayley Zalassi, who will all be playing sets in Level B3 of the car park at the Quarter.

Susan Hewlett, St James Quarter brand and marketing director, said the festival was supporting a wide range of musical talent from street performers to some of the most exciting new artists from Scotland and beyond. She said: “In a year which has seen many small and community festivals cancelled, we are delighted to be able to provide a free platform during one of the busiest periods for the arts in Edinburgh.”