TINDERBOX ORCHESTRA
A melting pot of local and international artists enliven a stunning new Fringe venue
Pianodrome at The Old Royal High (Grand Hall)
8-9pm | Aug 5-7, 10-14, 17-21
“An orchestral revolution”
Edinburgh Evening News
“Capital’s Old Royal High School set to burst into life as the Fringes Biggest new Venue”
Brian Ferguson – The Scotsman
“A spectacular modern band”
The Guardian
Harnessing the true spirit of the Fringe, Tinderbox Orchestra’s endless energy for collaboration is creating a melting pot of local and international artists in a stunning new festival venue – the Grand Hall at ‘Pianodrome at The Old Royal High’.
Bringing together rappers and singers with soaring strings, heavy brass, woodwind and thundering bass and drums, Tinderbox transforms preconceptions of what an orchestra can be. Packed with original music and unexpected collaborations, it is an unforgettable experience featuring some of Scotland’s leading young musicians across genres and a rotating cast of local and international guests. Their new show builds on a sell-out Fringe run in 2019 and recent headline shows across Scotland.
The show takes place in-the-round at an extraordinary new Fringe venue at the Old Royal High in the heart of Edinburgh – once intended as the main debating hall for the Scottish parliament, this brand new festival hub will be filled with music led by Tinderbox and their various guests.
Wherever Tinderbox go, they link up with local bands and artists, creating orchestral collaborations that you would never expect – and they are continuing in this spirit for the Fringe this year. With different guests joining them across their run of shows, collaborators range from Chinese alternative folk-punk ensemble Dawanggang (German Record Critics Award for Album of the Year) to an array of Scottish bands and singers including improvisational trio S!nk, alt-folk duo Jellyman’s Daughter, indie songwriter Brave Little Note, electro-pop artist PINLIGHT, Duke Duncan & the Hurricanes, and spoken word and rap collective Culture Clan.
Over the lockdown, Tinderbox also developed online collaborations with a dance group from Project Elimu in Kibera, one of the largest informal settlements in Kenya, and with drummers and puppeteers from Kathputli Colony, an extraordinary community of traditional artists in Delhi – both of whom will be visiting Edinburgh for the Fringe as well. They will be bringing their own shows as well as sharing the stage with the orchestra, demonstrating the power of music to build relationships and make connections across borders at this time.
Tinderbox Grand Hall
Formerly intended as the main debating hall for the Scottish Parliament, this epic venue is being reimagined with music, dance, spoken word and performance for this year’s festival!
Stay late for the Tinderbox Lates sessions (10pm-12:30am) and enjoy a variety of bands, artists, and DJ sets!
Or even get down early for an open stage session at 2pm, and share something yourself!
More info on this at the following link:
Press Photos | Promo Videos
“Rave Culture meets last night of the Proms” The Herald
“A trip on a grand, ambitious and stimulating scale” The Scotsman ****
“A spectacular modern band” The Guardian ****
“A carousel of conductors brought forth booming covers, symphonic original compositions and unique collaborations, sweeping from the deeply atmospheric to the psychedelic, contemporary and soulful.” The List ****
Collaborators
Dawanggang | 5th – 7th Aug
“Brings together the past and present, in the form of Asian folklore, sound art, Chinese Opera and rock”, BBC Radio 3
Housekind | 10th & 12th Aug
Beautiful, Trad-inspired folk with indie undertones, and poetically-told stories
Duke Duncan & The Hurricanes | 11th Aug
A hedonistic psychedelic melange, like Alice out-hatting the Mad Hatter with Kerouac at The Hacienda.
PINLIGHT | 13th Aug
Thoughtful electro alt-pop with neon laced synths, interwoven orchestral instruments and themes of self-affirmation and love.
Brave Little Note | 14th Aug
Alter ego of song-writer and composer Jacqueline Irvine, Brave Little Note was born of an inherent need for musical expression, and this is reflected in the honesty of her writing.
Jellymans Daughter | 17th – 18th Aug
“Somewhere between the realms of folk, bluegrass, pop, rock and chamber music […] a deeply soulful, break-neck amalgam of old-time and new age roots influences”, Popmatters
Culture Clan | 19th Aug
Collective of rappers and spoken word artists in Edinburgh
S!nk | 20th – 21st Aug
S!nk compose music on the spot, realising rough-hewn instrumental explorations which open out into rich landscapes of sound. ‘Mysterious and beautiful’, The Wire
Listen to Claire & Leo on EHFM talking about all the wonderful things we have coming up over the Fringe with Tinderbox Orchestra and the Pianodrome at the Old Royal High.
There’s such an exciting mix of musicians from different genres, ages and backgrounds in the show, and when they come together their energy is incredible! This is the most ambitious and collaborative Fringe run we have ever put together and we’re so excited to bring it to the festival this year.
Jack Nissan | Artistic Director
The orchestra is part of the wider Tinderbox Collective, a vibrant community of young people, musicians, artists and youth workers in Scotland. From grass-roots youth work to award-winning music productions, they aim to ignite a spark in people, one which fills them with confidence, imagination and a sense of possibility, and enables people to achieve things they never thought possible.
For bookings enquiries please contact Katch at Offsite Productions <info@offsiteproductions.org>