August in Edinburgh means a succession of large gentlemen in tartan shirts blocking your view of face-painted unicycling jugglers. And music. Lots of music.

Centre stage is taken by The Edge but here’s a round-up of some of the more underground and under-publicised musical events taking place over the next four weeks.

First up, the legend that is MJ Hibbett. He returns to the Fringe with Dinosaur Planet for the second year, and his musical production is twice as big as last time. He’s at the GRV daily at the rather non-rock time of noon, for the first week of the festival i.e. the 5th – 14th. Tickets here.
(and, hear him in conversation on freshairfm.org.uk on Thursday 5th sometime after 8.30pm)

Another improbable musical ‘event’ is Amoeba to Zebra – Yorkshire pop act Being 747‘s bid to educate the UK’s kids in science and evolution via the medium of song. It’s at the Counting House for the first couple of weeks, more here.

John Otway, Fringe perennial, is playing a set of Really Free gigs. I’d imagine you need to get there early, there being the Voodoo Room from 8pm from 9th – 15th.

The Spiegeltentis in George Square Gardens, and has a pretty varied old lineup over the month – most notable is the fact that Irish singer Jack Lukeman is playing for 3 consecutive Mondays from the 9th.
And on the 4th Monday, the 30th, itm? faves Burnt Island are on with Adrian Crowley.

For a bit of culture, how about some Shakespeare? On a boat. A musical version of The Tempest will be performed on a barge, no e evenings of 9-13th August. The soundtrack, and the reason for its mention, is provided by members of The Stantons / A Very Secret History.

The Forest Cafe‘s own label is hosting a 2-day ChipTune Festival at the Forest Cafe in Edinburgh during the festival -Sat 21st and Sun 22nd August – and all free! www.forestrecords.org / www.ultrachip.co.uk

On August 26th Edinburgh Printmakers presents Instruments of Darkness, a night of music at the Electric Circus, headed up by The Frankensteins – a band put together by ex-Fall guitarist Tommy Crooks and also featuring Steve Hanley. Also on the bill – Malcy Duff, El Search, Lee O’Connor, The District Nurse, and Nob.

And August 28th-29th sees the return of the Retreat ! festival – 2 days of… well, quality music really. This one is worth its own item, so for now, we’ll say that eagleowl, Jesus H Foxx, Meursault and Withered Hand are among the 16 acts billed for the 2 days at Pilrig St Paul’s Church – more at the Retreat website.

More to follow…