EdinburghBerlin

The students magazine

From the city’s neat and bourgeois atmosphere, it might not be too obvious that Edinburgh also caters for those with a taste for all things just a little way out. Besides the thriving indie and folk music scenes, there’s plenty of room for punks, rockers, metal heads and goths in Scotland’s capital. But the dark scene doesn’t advertise – you’ve got to be on the lookout for yourself. And what you find is well worth the effort: quirky and offbeat record stores sell all kinds of noise for those daring enough to listen; rock-themed boutiques may just have the leather outfit you never knew you wanted; and of course you can spend your night getting bruised in the middle of a mosh-pit. Read on to discover the best places to shop, drink in style, rock out, and even nurse your hangover the day after.

Now the uninitiated might tell you that in order to experience Scotland’s alternative scene you have to go to Glasgow, but this isn’t necessarily true. Matt, who regularly organises gig nights at Bannerman’s (see below), tells me that punk, metal and gothic is just as big in Edinburgh as it is in Glasgow. The only difference is in the size of the venues (in which case, Glasgow does take the cake). But Edinburgh makes up for its lack of larger places by the sheer number of pubs and clubs that offer live music most days of the week. The city’s main attraction in this respect is definitely Cowgate, where Opium, Bannerman’s, Whistle Binkies, The Hive, and the Banshee Labyrinth (see all below) are huddled close together and offer something for every taste.

As Matt says, there’s generally more metal than punk going on in Edinburgh. Lots of bands trade members between each other and everyone basically knows everyone else. This obviously makes for a lot of creative energy and excellent musicianship, something you can easily witness during an evening of watching local acts. According to Matt, the only real reason you hardly see people dressed in black roaming the streets of Edinburgh is for fashion purpose, which may seem odd to those familiar with Stockholm or Vienna, where the scene is quite proud of showing its colours. But this also means there’s no dress code to adhere to when hitting the clubs – you just come as you are, as does everyone else. This openness obviously extends to the music as well.

Get in Gear
Edinburgh has a lot to offer in terms of record stores or outfitters – you just have to know where to look. Make sure not to break the bank though – it’s hard not to get carried away on a shopping spree here.
Text by Bernhard Schubert
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