Has it been a week already? I was struck down by a cold this weekend so i missed some of this week unfortunately, though i did make it along to the Blue Blazer on Sunday, which was great. Now, one or two things to mention, mostly upcoming gigs. First of all though, Cloudland Blue Quartet has asked me to tell you about his new CD, “Splinterheart”, you can hear it online and purchase it here. He’ll be playing at the November Secret CDs to promote the CD as well, just to let you know in advance.

I think i’ll take the opportunity to mention my newest CD too, actually, you can hear it, and purchase it here. It’s not available as a physical CD yet, but you can download it, and i’ll be launching the CD at a Lot Acoustic Showcase on 24th November, with my new duo (the other member of which is currently a closely guarded secret!). And of course many other OOTB related artistes have got CDs for sale, and well worth it they are too, i try to buy as many as i can. It pretty much goes without saying, but ask the artistes when you see them live, or check out the details on their myspace. CDs are usually only a few quid, and you get a lasting record of the band, which is definitely worthwhile, since bands are always splitting up or moving away, it seems.

Aaaand a big welcome to the two dozen or so new subscribers to the Out of the Bedroom mailing list. If you are receiving this for the first time, it’s because you (at some point in the distant past, probably) put your email address on an OOTB raffle ticket. I send out a weekly email with details of what OOTB is doing (which isn’t a huge deal at the moment, it must be admitted), and also i usually include details of other gigs that are on, CDs being released, and special events featuring performers who are in some way affiliated with OOTB. If you don’t want to be on this list, just reply to this email and i’ll remove your email address from the list. Think twice before you do though, because not only do i include a shortlist of very good gigs, many of which are free, but you also find out about the occasional exclusive release, or special event here that you may not have heard about elsewhere.

On that subject, here are a whole lot of gigs you might want to go to before all the bands split up, change their lineup and repertoire, or become huge and successful and move away to the big smoke. Firstly tonight (Tuesday), it’s the Regent Showcase at The Regent Bar at the top of Abbeymount and Easter Road. It starts at 8:30 and it’s a showcase of some very good acoustic acts and one or two comedians. It’s free, and it’s a good atmosphere.

I had a feeling that Sam Barber and the Outcasts were playing a gig this week, i know they’ve got two next week (which i’ll mention in next week’s email) but i can’t seem to find any details for them for this week. Anyway, i’m sure there are ways you can find out, if you really need to know. 🙂

This Friday (15th Oct) there’s tons of stuff on. There’s the McEwan’s Ale House open mic at 9/9:30pm of course, which is free, and there’s also Miyagi, House of La & Die Schneiders for £3 (and that’s only a quid per band) at the Voodoo Rooms, at 8:30pm (and Miyagi are on first).

Also this Friday, it’s a Bainbridge Presents night, featuring Underclass, Cancel The Astronauts & Jump Press A in the intimate environs of Sneaky Petes on the Cowgate, and it’s a 7pm start, so don’t arrive fashionably late! I don’t know if this one costs to get in, because the Sneaky Pete’s website doesn’t have tickets for sale for this gig.

[[ STOP PRESS – The gig at Sneaky Pete’s will be going ahead on Friday, but without Underclass, due to illness. ]]

Then on Sunday (17th Oct) at the Listening Room at The Blue Blazer, it’s the usual open mic from 8-9pm, and then the featured act this week will be Caro Bridges, who is awesome, as you’ll know if you’ve heard her elsewhere. Don’t quote me, but i wouldn’t be too surprised if she had Matt Norris accompanying her on the mandolin as well. And it’s free, too!

Thought i’d just mention this one as well, on Monday 18th, it’s Gavin Bain’s band, Hopeless Heroic live at Bannerman’s. I think it’s an 8pm start, more details in the FB link.

Well, we’ve reached the end of another OOTB email, there’s been tears, there’s been laughter… Well, actually there probably hasn’t been. I was thinking of having some sort of bonus for people that actually read this far, like a giveaway or lucky prize draw or something, but i haven’t quite come up with any good ideas yet, i’ll let you know anyway. Okay, go and get some good local music into you and i’ll see you back here next week.

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Hi everybody! People still say to me “oh i’ll need to get myself along to OOTB sometime”, which is very supportive of them, but a wee message to all those people, we’ve not actually been running OOTB nights for four weeks now. Just so you know. Don’t worry though, we’ll be back. In the meantime, here are a few things that are on this week that you might wish to try out…

Tonight (Tuesday) it’s Acoustic Edinburgh at Medina. It’s free, and it’s the first Tuesday of each month (which means it’s probably too late to go for this month by the time you read this, but you’ll know for next time). Paul Gladwell’s playing tonight and Gary Stewart’s headlining, and there are a few other acts too.

Tomorrow (Wednesday), it’s Secret CDs at the Voodoo Rooms. As far as i know this is the first time Secret CDs has been at the Voodoo Rooms, and this is one gig i won’t be missing. Here’s who’s playing: Joe Viterbo, this is the band that features Ralph Speed and Graeme Mearns. That’s pretty much all the information you need to know that this will be well worth coming out for. Sacre Noir are on too, again, not to be missed. I remember their first gig at the Wee Red Bar fondly, and they’ve gone from strength to strength since. Amy Duncan‘s on too! Holy crap how does Mr Igoe get such great lineups at his gigs? Showing my age a little, but mt first experience of Amy Duncan was as part of the Edinburgh trio Automatic Earth, which featured Neil Dixon, back in the 20th century. She’s great, so come along. ANd finally, Hailey Beavis who is part of the Forest Records Collective, and i generally have been very impressed with everything from them that i’ve heard, and i bet you will too. Doors open at 7.30 p.m. and entry will be a ridiculously cheap £3 with a special offer of £1 discount on your first CD purchase of the evening.

This always happens, two come along at once! Also tomorrow (Wednesday), it’s Matt Norris And The Moon and Edward And The Itch at Maggie’s Chamber, as part of the This Is Not A Toga Party night, think it’s £3 on the door, doors are open 8pm, and there’s another band on (sorry! Haven’t got the info to hand), tell them who you heard about the gig from when you go.

On Thursday, in the Jazz Bar, it’s Roberta Pia’s Unpeeled night, starring: Emily Scott, Donna Maciocia, William Douglas And The Wheel and Lee Paterson. Also, you get to see the Too Much Fun Club creating art before your eyes. So that’s all really good, and it’s £4 to get in, or £3 for students. And tell them where you heard about the gig too, please. 🙂 – oh yes, the first fifty attendees get a “winner” medal, apparently.

On Friday it’s the McEwan’s Ale House Open Mic of course, always a good one, i’ve only heard good things about it.

Then on Sunday, (10 October) the featured act at The Listening Room at The Blue Blazer is Dave Robertson aka Heroin In A Nutshell, all the way from Perth. You very rarely get to hear him performing in Edinburgh, so don’t miss him. His stuff’s like energetic acoustic rock. It’ll get your cardiovascular system going. And it’s free. 8pm for the open mic section, 9pm for Dave Robertson’s set.

Then next Tuesday it’s the Regent Showcase, again, always a good one. 8:30pm start, and it’s a right rollicking selection of Edinburgh’s burgeoning acoustic talent.

That’s about it for now, if you’ve got an OOTB related gig to tell everybody about, then let me know, i’ll also tell you about any updates to the Itinerant OOTB saga as and when we get them, but until then, rock on!

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Another week’s gone past! Hope you’re all recovering from the Festival by now. Just got a few events to tell you about this week, firstly it’s the Regent Showcase tonight, it’s in the Regent Bar, which is at the top of Abbeymount and the end of Regent Road. Starts at 8:30pm and it’s free to get in. The musical selection often has a considerable overlap with Out of the Bedroom, it’s always been a good night in my experience, go along, you’ll like it. 🙂

I’m always telling you about the McEwan’s Ale House open mic on Fridays at 9pm, and The Listening Room at the Blue Blazer on Sunday starting at 8pm, and i’m mentioning them again because i still keep hearing from people how good these nights are (though i’ve been too darn busy to go along for a while myself, hope to rectify that soon!), so yeah, go to those, if you can, they’re great fun.

Next thing to mention to you is a gig at the Voodoo Rooms Ballroom on Monday 20th September, featuring Hannah O’Reilly, Neoviolet, Caro Bridges, Dan Gillan and Cal Roberts, and it’s £5/4 to get in (which is a bargain for five acts of this calibre. What can you buy for a fiver these days? Seriously…)

Wheels (slowly) turn behind the scenes as we breathe life into the old OOTB horse yet again, more news on that as it happens, in the meantime, relive the good old days on our YouTube channel! Say hello if you see me at one of those gigs i just mentioned too. 🙂

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Hello again everybody. This week our feature act are Petits Maitres. They haven’t got a myspace that i can find, i haven’t (to my knowledge) heard them perform. Sorry if you wanted a rundown of what they’re like, looks like you’ll just have to turn up to OOTB and find out by listening to them! I plan to anyway. More havoc and craziness this week as OOTB continues to drag itself through the Festival in the top bar of the hot and sweaty Tron….

Also, I received the following email from Norman Lamont, see if you are interested in being part of this Leonard Cohen tribute event…

I’m working with a small venue to promote a Leonard Cohen tribute evening some time in October. The idea is each person would play one, or maybe two, Cohen songs. There’d be a charge at the door and all proceeds would go to a charity, to be selected yet. At this stage I’m just looking to see who’d be interested, as there’s a question mark over the size of the venue.

Anyone interested, please drop me a line at biz@normanlamont.com

There’s no guarantee of a place for anyone – it all depends on numbers and venue but people can register interest with me. There’s no need to choose a song now.

Tons of other stuff on of course, Matt James is launching his new CD at the Phoenix Cellar Bar tomorrow (Wednesday), with support from Aos Si, Hannah O’Reilly and Jym Ponter, it’s at 6:30pm and costs a fiver.

Andi Neate is playing a show at the Jazz Bar on Thursday at 7:30pm, sorry but i’ll be at OOTB!

Tonight at Medina, Acoustic Edinburgh presents Emily Scott, Jo Mango, and the incredible Banana Sessions. It’s not free during the Festival, as far as i know, but who cares, you’re only young once, right? Personally I’m off to see Susanna Macdonald‘s Experimentalista show tonight (having been kept away by prior engagements and a cold till now).

On the 24th August, which is a week today (Tuesday) there’s another Regent Showcase, unsurprisingly, at the Regent Bar, it’s free, it starts at 8:30 and it’s a whole lot of fun in a bun.

Every Sunday The Listening Room is still chugging away, open slots in The Blue Blazer on Sunday from 8pm to 10pm. Again, a lot of fun, seems you get a lot of interesting performers at the Blazer during the Festival.

The Big Red Door are having a craft sale on the 21st August (which is Saturday) at 10am, oh yes, the Out of the Blue Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street is doing something similar on Saturdays now too, except it’s more of a market with produce and so on, you can get your weekly shopping in! That’s 10am till 2pm every Saturday.

This Friday (the 20th) at 7:30pm at Word of Mouth Cafe on Albert Street, there’s another open mic night. As you know, i think it’s an excellent one, so do come along. it’s free, and it’s fun.

Oh yes! Nearly forgot, I’m going on tour starting on Saturday, so if you live anywhere in the UK (except down south), then do come along, or if you know someone out in the sticks, tell them to go along to one of our more rural gigs. More details here anyway.

Sorry if you have an event i missed off this list, it can be difficult compiling a relevant list of gigs, especially during the festival. Anyway, see you all on Thursday (if you can fit into the tiny Tron top bar that is!)

Calum Carlyle
Oyut of the Bedroom

PS –  i just realised i forgot to mention Fanattica’s final ever gig! It’s THIS SATURDAY in Henry’s Cellar Bar at 7pm. Too important for me not to tell you, so i’m sending this little PS. More details on the FB event page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141989199168493

See you all out there in musicland!

The Last of Barratt’s Privateers are the featured act in this week’s Out of the Bedroom, in The Tron on Thursday at 8pm. It’s free, and to be frank, they’re awesome. They’re like modern Scottish bluegrass, and you may recognise one or two of the band members too. There’s no musical reason these guys shouldn’t be charging several quid to get into one of their gigs, see them now while you can for free.And that brings me neatly to something i have been wanting to say on this list for a wee while. Every time i go to Out of the Bedroom, i am impressed by the high standard of performances, and the range of styles. Not only that, the whole evening is free to get into. Despite this, people still tell me they think open mic nights are rubbish and most acoustic performers are samey and boring. If you think this, then i am 100% certain you aren’t going out to enough quality music nights. Either that or you just don’t like much music, and if that’s the case, why are you even on this mailing list?

All i’m saying is, i go to quite a lot of music nights in Edinburgh and beyond, many of them acoustic nights, and many of them featuring one or two performers who play at OOTB, or who have played there in the past. I like to think i have a discerning ear, and i know who i like most, musically, and why. With this in mind, i think Edinburgh is heaving with great acts, and many of them are playing free gigs the whole time. In short, i cannot in any way agree with anyone telling me that they think our evenings don’t contain a wealth of good performances. I’m not even trying to big up OOTB here, i’m actually trying to acknowledge the immense amount of talented songwriters who have graced us with their music. I mean last week it was Caro Bridges, and she’s really good as well. I can’t remember the last time i didn’t enjoy the OOTB feature act in fact.

I, and the rest of the committee, have worked hard to make OOTB the night it is, and we will continue to do so, for your enjoyment, and i hope that you will continue to come along to OOTB in the future, not out of a sense of obligation, but because you might enjoy it. We hope you will. Don’t get me wrong, i think criticism is good for a performer or songwriter as it helps them improve, that’s why we like to have reviews of our nights (though this is now on hiatus for the foreseeable future again sadly), but lazy criticism from people who haven’t even been along to the evening they are criticising anytime in the past year really has no value other than to create bad feeling.Now i’ve said that, just want to lighten the mood and tell you about some of the overwhelming amount of stuff that’s on in Edinburgh this week. There’s a lot of it, and here’s just a sample:

Tonight (Tuesday) it’s Acoustic Edinburgh at Medina featuring Edwina Hayes, Player Piano and Stanley Odd! – It’s at 8pm, and Acoustic Edinburgh is on every Tuesday during the Fringe Festival. It costs to get in during the Festival though, but it is very worth it. Also tonight it’s another Regent Showcase in the Regent Bar at the top of Abbeymount and Easter Road, starting at 8:30pm i believe, this one is free, and features a selection of Edinburgh’s acoustic performers and at least one comedian. I’ve been to one or two of these and it’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere. You’ll enjoy it. Honest. 🙂

Susanna Macdonald‘s Fringe show Experimentalista is in full swing, and tonight’s your last chance for a two-for-one deal on the tickets, though it’s worth seeing any time in the month.The Listening Room‘s still on on Sunday during the Festival (except on Fireworks night) at 8pm, in the Blue Blazer on Spittal Street and Bread Street, for two hours of open slots, so much eclectecism will be going on there. Also, Word Of Mouth coffee shop on Albert Street are offering a 20% discount during the whole month of August if you quote “facebook”. Bit cheeky of me to repeat that here, so if you do take advantage of this, please join their FB group. Also, while i remember, there’s an open mic night at Word of Mouth on 20th August (a week on Friday i think)? I’ll not be able to go myself, because i’m playing a gig in Bannerman’s that night (which you’re all welcome to come along to, though i think it’s a couple of quid to get in). Anyway, Word of Mouth on 20th August, they run a good open mic night, every time i’ve been along, very diverse, and everybody gets a fair hearing. Starts at 7pm for 7:30 and it’s free.

Now, The Banshee Labyrinth on Niddry Street are host to a few music nights during the Fringe, courtesy of Bainbridge Music, and the one i want to tell you about is on Sunday 15th August, at 7pm. Apart from anything else Neoviolet are playing (which is rare at the moment), and on the same bill you can hear me (Calum Carlyle & Sam Bradley) as well, all for free!!!

Hannah O’Reilly and Andy Valentine are playing at McEwan’s Ale House on Saturday 14th, it’s free too and it’s at 10pm.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) it’s Secret CDs at the Phoenix Cellar Bar, at 8pm too, £2 entry, and well worth it. This months the acts are Collar Up, Freight, Kat McKenzie and Michael O’NeilAlso in the Phoenix Cellar Bar, the following Wednesday (18th) it’s Matt James with his highly interesting percussive guitar style, releasing his new CD “Cyan”. Supporting acts are Hannah O’Reilly, Aos Si and Jym Ponter. Not sure how much it costs to get in but it’ll be reasonable. Not to be missed, since Matt James is not based in Edinburgh anymore.This Friday (13th!) at The Big Red Door it’s Banana Sessions – i caught both of their sets at the Wickerman Festival and i can heartily recommend them to you. Zed Penguins are on too, and though i’ve not heard them yet, i bet they’re awesome too. Go along, and have some fun. It’s on at 8:30pm and it’s one of your last chances to see a gig at the BRD.

I just know there’s a ton of stuff i haven’t mentioned. Sorry if your event was one of them. Okay, off you go, at least one gig a night now, and no excuses! 🙂

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom

Out of the Bedroom 403 features Cameron Robinson, and he’s great, so come along this Thursday. He’s a strong acoustic songwriter, always with something up his sleeve. He might even bring his ukelele if you’re lucky!

No sign of a review this week, i’m afraid, but don’t let it ruin your week. we’ll always have the OOTB 401 review and photos after all… (Postscript – actually, the OOTB 402 review just came in. You can read it here. Thanks to Adam from Visual-Opinions.com for the review and photos, and if you want to become an OOTB reviewer, please contact Visual-Opinions.com and make yourself known).

Want some new music? Here’s Hannah Werdmuller with a new song called “Fat Pigeon”

And here’s a video of Nyk Stoddart performing “You Are Not Here” live on 24th June at Out of the Bedroom.

You can also see a music video by Pol Arida here and Hannah O’Reilly’s new video can be found here. Enjoy!

And there’s a lot of other music popping up on the 5090 site, which i may have mentioned in passing in previous weeks. A few of the songwriters are from our shores here are a few Edinburgh songwriters you might enjoy:

• Hannah O’Reilly
• Flying Man Shark
• Gerry Bhoy
• Martin Lennon
• Calum Carlyle
• Hannah Werdmuller
• Woodstock Taylor

HOWEVER i strongly urge you to check out some non-Edinburgh performers too, like these recommended tracks for example. Also, check back over the next couple of months when everybody’s uploaded a lot more songs.

One other thing, Tommy Mackay has just co-released a single with Armando Iannucci, Check it out here.

Okay, time for the events. The Listening Room at The Blue Blazer at 8pm on Sunday and McEwan’s Ale House Open Mic on Friday at 9pm both get a mention of course, because they’re consistently good. Now let’s see what else is on.

Tonight you can go and hear a lot of bands for free at Forest Cafe including Acid Fascists, Glassface, Seafield Foxes, Dead On The Live Wire and Andy Brown’s Victorian Karaoke. None of them have any particular connection to OOTB, i don’t think (not yet anyway!) but it’ll be a good night and it’s free. 7pm to 11pm. Tell them OOTB sent you!

Tomorrow at Forest Cafe, it’s “An Evening of Songs with Freeloadin’ Frank” from 9pm to 11pm. Not sure if this is Frank doing a full size set himself or if there will be floorspots from other performers. I’d imagine it’s the latter. Again, it’s free.

There are a lot of Edinburgh Fringe gigs i want to tell you about, but i think i’ll generally mention them in the week approaching the actual gigs. Here’s one show i want you to know about in advance though, it’s Susanna Macdonald’s “Experimentalista”. It’s a really good show, based in part on her new full length CD, which is challenging but very rewarding. Go and book your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

Interesting times for OOTB ahead, as The Tron prepares to close for refurbishment after the Festival, so come along to OOTB over the next few weeks, while we’re still in The Tron and i’ll keep you informed here about what OOTB will be doing for the rest of the year once the Festival’s done. See you on Thursday!

It’s Out of the Bedroom 402 this week, only 98 OOTBs to go till the next “hundred” celebration. this week it’s Furious who’s our featured artist, so come along to The Tron this Thursday and hear Furious exemplifying his music for half an hour, and also soak up the eclectic vibe of the other OOTB performers.

Before i go any further, let me tell you that Visual Opinions reviewed OOTB 401, yay! You can read the review here, you can see a huge array of photos of the night here, and if you just can’t get enough reviewage, they also reviewed our special event The Secret Bedroom a couple of months ago too. I think they’re reviewing the next couple of OOTBs too. If you want to be an OOTB reviewer, then get in touch with Visual Opinions through their website, or talk to the reviewer at OOTB this Thursday.

Now, other interesting events… On Saturday 24th July, at The Lot, you can hear (for £5) Matt Norris and The Moon, Audigy, Andrew Norquay and Dan Gillan. In the words of their facebook event: “It will be a brilliant night of acoustic music, please come and support our very talented local artists.” and that’s an early gig, 7pm start, 10pm finish.

On Friday 23rd, you can see Cam and the HP at The Radical Road at 229 Willowbrae Road at 9pm, not sure if it costs to get in, but it’ll be extra special because they were due to play a gig elsewhere last week and it was cancelled, so i am sure they’ll be on extra top form this week.

I know it’s on Thursday too, but anyway, Graeme Mearns Band, DLS, Shields Up, and DATS are all playing at the teamFUDGE Leaving Party (which is also the Muckle Sandwich issue 4 launch party, i think) on Thursday 22 July. It’s at 7:30pm at Henry’s Cellar Bar. Should be a riot actually, but officially we still think you should be at OOTB instead.

There’s festivals on every week too, it being summer, this coming weekend it’s the Wickerman Festival down in Kirkcudbrightshire. Quite a few Edinburgh acts are playing there, mainly the ones i know are on the acoustic village stage. I’ll be playing there at 12:40pm on Saturday with Sam Bradley on bass, and Andi Neate is on on Friday, anyway, if you’re going to the Wickerman fest, check the acoustic village stage out, it’ll be good, i guarantee it.

There are lots of other events on this week, obviously, there’s The Listening Room at The Blue Blazer on Spittal Street/Bread Street, it’s on Sunday, get there before 8pm if you want to play in the open mic section of the evening. I played the feature slot there on Sunday just gone, and it was an awesome experience, i can’t recommend this open mic night enough, to be honest, it’s great. Tonight (Tuesday) the Cruz Bar on Leith’s Waterside are having a free open mic night too, their nights sound like they’re picking up, so maybe check that out too. There are a lot of other music events on too, facebook’ll tell you, now it’s summer there’s events spilling onto the pavement on every street corner! Anyway, see you on Thursday!

Calum Carlyle
Out of the Bedroom