music feature
On The Edge
DF Concerts' Dave Corbet on the Fringe's flagship music strand The Edge
There was a time when music at the Edinburgh Festival meant classical and folk. Good classical and folk in the main. But there wasn't much for those who like their music rock or pop. Then in the late nineties a number of new music strands popped up as part of the Fringe, and ten years later the contemporary music strand of the Festival is massive, and rivals many specific rock festivals in terms of the number and variety of bands that play (only without the mud). The biggest of those new music strands was T On The Fringe, an August programme of gigs from the people behind Scotland's biggest rock fest T In The Park. It's got a new name this year - The Edge - but is still doing its bit to ensure the music fan will not be disappointed at the Fringe this year. ThreeWeeks spoke to the man behind it - DF Concerts' Dave Corbet - to find out more.
TW: How did T On The Fringe originally come into being?
DC: When I started at DF some 12 years ago I felt that we should be doing something as part of the Fringe festival. It's the one time of the year when I think Edinburgh is a more attractive proposition for a band to play than Glasgow. The problem was that at the Fringe it's really easy for your shows to get lost in amongst all the other things going on. So we knew that if we were going to do it, it had to be on as big a scale as possible. The three things that fell in to place were the opening of the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh which gave us a decent size venue to use alongside the city's other music venues, the support of the Fringe Society who could see the potential to bring a new audience to the festival, and finally Tennents sponsorship which meant we had the cost of marketing for the festival covered.
TW: You've got a new name this year, The Edge, does that mean any change in format?
DC: No, we are planning to follow the same format - it's been successful so far! We are, however, always looking to improve the line up and experience wherever possible.
TW: How do you select the bands who appear each year?
DC: We try to have as open a booking policy as possible. A good mix of musical genres whilst always contemporary and with one or two 'unusual' acts like Xavier Rudd and Jay Brannan.
TW: How do you balance big acts versus new names and different music genres?
DC: The hope is that the larger more well known acts draw people in to look at the full line up and, whilst looking, get interested in one of the newer less well known acts. And over the years we create a cycle. Both Editors and Kate Nash played the smaller Cabaret Voltaire in earlier years and then went on to headline much bigger gigs later on.
TW: There seem to be some regular annual events as part of The Edge - I'm thinking Michael Franti and the Soma night - is that deliberate?
DC: The Soma Records club night has been a regular feature with a different line up each year. The label is such a important part of the Scottish music scene that it was important to include them in a contemporary music festival. We do try not to repeat the line up wherever possible, however Michael Frantis' gigs have been so good in the past and he is very, very keen to play each year so it's hard to say no!
TW: Contemporary music at the wider Edinburgh Festival has really grown in recent years, why do you think that is, and do you think the music business is aware of just how much music is on offer at the Fringe?
DC: I think it's a natural extension of the Festival. It's a time when people's focus is on looking for new artistic experiences and contemporary music has a part to play in that. When you think about it it's strange that it has not featured as a major part of the Fringe from the start. In terms of the Festival's position in the music business calendar, no I don't think it is properly recognised yet. There are some very encouraging signs though. In the last couple of years more and more of the London music agents have been visiting the Fringe to see what the fuss is about.
TW: What's 'Your Sound', and how will it feature as part of the Festival?
DC: We started 'Your Sound' in King Tuts as a way of bringing together new bands and new managers with experienced music industry professionals, to nurture and grow new music. So logically we felt it was right to include a showcase night at the Fringe featuring some of the great bands we have come across through 'Your Sound'.
TW: How would you recommend a Fringe-goer navigate your programme? How should they choose gigs to see?
DC: I think most experienced fringe-goers who have been going for the comedy and theatre over the years tend to pick a couple of shows they know will be good and then take a risk on a couple of shows that sound interesting. I would say apply the same rules. Go to our website (http://www.theedgefestival.com) and select a couple of gigs where you know the artist and are confident that you will enjoy the show, then pick a couple of shows you will take a risk on. All the artists on our website will have a link for more information so have a look and take a couple of chances.
http://www.theedgefestival.co.uk
published: Oct-2008
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