Day 82
Music in Leith
Paddy Kavanagh from Leith Depot discusses the past and present of the music scene in Leith
Image: Jarvis Cocker at Leith Theatre
When writing about the history of music in Leith over the past one hundred years, you have to start with Leith Theatre. The theatre was a gift to Leith from Edinburgh after its merger in 1920, a merger that is still a widely debated topic up to this day. The theatre has hosted amazing gigs in its early years including Thin Lizzy, AC/DC & Dr. Feelgood to name just a few! And since it’s revival, the epic homecoming gig from Young Fathers in 2018.
Leith Dockers Club had Sting pop by and Leith Festival, Leith Jazz and Blues festival, Leith Folk Club, Dr Bells Baths, Pianodrome, The Pitt and Sketchy Beats and others, all host and create space for musicians and events and so the future of music in Leith remains bright.
Leith has its own scene going on that is eclectic, diverse and welcoming. I’ve witnessed that personally, in local church’s, cinemas and in the Cricket Club. I’ve been lucky enough to catch gigs hosted by Neu Reekie, Joseph Malik and The FranklinFest and one of my all time top 5 gigs is The Rezillos playing a couple of sets at the Parlour Bar on Duke Street.
Leith Depot is a small Grass Roots Music Venue and we have had the pleasure of hosting hundreds of acts including, The Nightingales, The Snuts, The Orielles, Callum Easter and lots and lots of the next generation of musicians and bands. We can testify that the music scene in Leith is alive and well. There is no doubt it will come back stronger when the pandemic is over.
One hundred years on Leith still has its own independent voice and feel, we can’t wait to get back to it!
