The Festival Café Bar line-up

Join us in the lively, free Festival Café Bar for live music, choirs and exhibitions as part of this year’s programme of free entertainment.

Wednesday 9 August

Becca Sloan is a rising name in the Edinburgh music scene known for her soulful voice, heart-felt lyricism and improvisation with her young-band. A BBC Introducing Scotland artist who has garnered attention for her distinct and soulful voice, she is inspired by the modern voices of Celeste, Cleo Sol and Puma Blue, as well as old classics such as Nina Simone and Otis Redding. With a new single in the works produced by Cathal Murphy, Becca’s music draws upon themes of love, adoration and growing up.

Fred Hills is a drummer, composer & collaborator based in Brighton, UK. Taking inspiration from a wide range of genres, Hills' music is a captivating blend of contemporary jazz, alt-folk & progressive indie. His debut EP Incerto, released via Ninja Tune, was described by BBC 6 Music presenter Cerys Matthews as ‘a tapestry of delicate and expressive guitars, eloquent strings and colourful rhythms’.  Fred Hills Trio consists of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Stuart-Buttle on violin/guitar and Alfie Weedon on double bass. 

Thursday 10 August

Few bands are as musically diverse as DOPESICKFLY. Their infectious blend of funk & soul rock and hip-hop - complete with razor sharp lyrics - gives them a sound unlike any other. DOPESICKFLY’s brazen sounds and gregarious diversity has seen them evolve into an extraordinary fusion of sounds and cultures. Fronted by vocalist and songwriter Ant Thomaz, the 5 piece are constantly influenced and inspired by one another’s backgrounds. Their stories - past and present - mold and shift their sound to create something completely unique.

Mystika Glamoor is known as the surrealist socialist socialite of Edinburgh drag, blending campy humour with political themes and an esoteric twist. Having performed locally and internationally for six years, she has established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the local scene, hosting multiple shows as well as co-owning Kafe Kweer, a sober food and events space for the local queer community.

Tanwi Bhattacharya is an Indian classical dancer and practises Katha, Bharatanayam and Bollywood. She was an IT professional and project manager for 12 years in different multinational companies but left that profession to pursue her passion of dance as a full-time dancer, choreographer and teacher. She trained under eminent gurus in India and has received multiple awards and recognition in India and abroad.

Friday 11 August

Nathaniel is an international Swiss artist, the creative director of the Edinburgh Collective and a multi-instrumentalist with a fondness for pop and jazz. He aims to create what he calls, ‘good-vibe, organic music’ that he uses to share down-to-earth- life stories and emotions. His music has been played on BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland and he has just returned from his first Scottish Odyssey Tour. He started singing, playing piano and saxophone as a child, developing a strong passion for jazz and pop whilst living in Zug, Switzerland and graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in Acoustics and Music Technology. His dream is to travel around the globe and record music with strangers, turning these moments into heartfelt songs that resonate with people around the world. 

Grace and the Flat Boys is an Edinburgh-based band playing their own mix of jazz, R&B, rock, and soul. This year has seen them release two singles featured on BBC Introducing Scotland and sell out Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete's for the release of their single Sometimes. Following performances at the likes of Kelburn Garden Party, Stag & Dagger and Fynefest, the group is now working on a follow up to their 2021 EP Wheels with plans for release later this year. 

The Edinburgh Chinese Arts Association (ECAA) is a voluntary, not-for-profit, independent arts association established in 2013. Their aim is to improve the pursuit of Chinese art in Edinburgh, spread and display the charm of Chinese art, and prosper the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural artistic atmosphere in Edinburgh. ECAA also aims to promote community engagement and strengthen community cohesion through the arts and culture.