St James Quarter Sessions is set to return for a third year from 15 to 24 August, with a line up of established and up and coming talent taking over the East of the city during the Edinburgh Festival.
Taking place in St James Quarter, this year’s festival programme will see over 60 acts performing across the development, including the Level 6 rooftop, with panoramic views of Scotland’s capital and castle to provide one of the most unique festival stages in the UK.
Programme Highlights
- The Brand New Heavies bring iconic acid-jazz hits such as “You Are The Universe” and “Midnight At The Oasis” to Edinburgh. Fans can expect a set of classic tunes, heavy bass lines and hypnotic rhythms from one of the band’s that helped to establish acid-jazz in popular culture in the 90s.
- Glasgow rapper Bemz will be kicking off this year’s main event with a Friday night performance on the Level 6 Castle View stage.
- Cortney Dixon will perform a set of indie-pop anthems. Expect fuzz laden guitars and a raucous performance from the North East’s latest hot property on the music scene.
- Grassroots music champions Wide Days will be taking over the Castle View stage with their ‘New From Scotland’ series, showcasing Scotland’s hottest new talent.
- Critically acclaimed Highlands singer songwriter, Tamzene will be bringing her unique sound to Sessions. Tamzene will deliver an intimate set of R&B‑tinged pop ballads that draw on a nuanced mix of Irish, Jamaican and Highland roots.
- Nigerian-born and Edinburgh-raised James Emmanuel will also be bringing his soulful sounds to the Yellow Stage on Level 3 of the Galleria. Raised as the son of a preacher, he first found his voice in gospel choirs, a grounding that shaped his soulful sound from the beginning.
- Scottish duo The Laurettes will bring their unique take on Celtic-folk to the Sessions stage, supported by their all-female band.
- Dara Dubh, Beth Miller, Ant Thomaz, Indoor Foxes, Dictator, Justine Beverley and more home‑grown talent taking over stages throughout St James Quarter.
Festival-goers can sign up for free tickets, set times and stage information by downloading the St James Quarter App, which allows everyone to stay updated with events happening throughout the destination for Sessions and beyond.
Susan Hewlett, Festival Creator at St James Quarter, said, “At a time when festival ticket prices have never been higher and independent venues are closing across the country, we’re not only putting on this incredible line-up for free, but also giving existing and emerging artists the platform to continue being heard and discovered. We’ve even got clean toilets, no mud, and food and drink venues on tap – what more could you ask from a free music festival in one of the best cities in the UK.
The warm-up to this year’s St James Quarter Sessions will champion Edinburgh’s rich grassroots music scene by offering the next generation of Scottish stars a series of pop-up busking performances appearing throughout the destination. For more information visit www.stjamesquarter.com.
