Announcing the Taproom Sessions: A Festival Off the Beaten Track
While Edinburgh bursts at the seams each August with the noise and colour of its iconic festivals, a quieter, more independent cultural outpost has been launched at our working brewery just a short stroll from the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyrood.
Welcome to the Taproom Sessions — a series of events running throughout August at the Bellfield Brewery Taproom & Beer Garden in Abbeyhill. Many of the performances have been organised with support from the city’s renowned Hidden Door and Soundhouse charities.
We’re creating a space for artists and audiences to connect — minus the crowds, the stress, and the hefty ticket prices. At the Taproom Sessions, 100% of ticket sales (less Citizen Ticket fees) will go directly to the performers / Hidden Door. It’s our way of putting creativity — and community — first.
Alongside our award-winning beer, Scottish Street Food Award 2023 champions Bia will be serving up incredible food from our kitchen throughout August.
August 2025 Line-Up
Here’s what’s confirmed so far, with more to be announced:
Kate Young
Tuesday 5 August
7:30–9:30pm
“amazing stuff” - Brian Eno, “extraordinary” - Guy Garvey, “stunning” - Sian Eleri
Scottish artist and composer, Kate Young has recently released her album, Umbelliferæ, which is largely inspired by plantlore and the traditional uses of wildflowers from across the UK. Song-led string arrangements make for a rich and unique listening and live experience - much like a sensorial wander through a botanical garden.
Nosferatu with Live Musical Score by Graeme Stephen
Tuesday 12 August
7:30–9:30pm
A haunting classic reimagined with a live, genre-bending soundtrack.
Nosferatu is the mother of all modern vampire films, and provides rich source material for Graeme Stephen's new composition. Directed by F. W. Murnau from a screenplay by Henrik Galeen the film terrified 1920s audiences and still retains the power to spook a crowd today. Critic and historian Kim Newman declared it as a film that set the template for the genre of horror film.
Adam Holmes
Thursday 14 August
7:30–9:30pm
Soulful, poetic, and deeply Scottish – a rare acoustic set from a homegrown favourite.
Adam’s 8 albums have cast an impressive shadow across the UK Folk Scene and gained him Scottish Album of the Year Nominations (in 2014, 2017 and 2018) and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Nominations. You may have heard Adam’s songs in the TV show Outlander, Hallmark Movies or on the BBC. More recently Adam gained a global audience when one of his songs gained half a million followers and hundreds of millions of streams.
Hidden Door Presents: Music & Spoken Word
Sunday 17 August
5–10pm
Curated by the brilliant Hidden Door collective — expect fresh sounds and unforgettable voices. Music from Esther Swift, Blair Coron and Gaze is Ghost. Spoken word from Iona Lee and Katie Ailes.
Phil Bancroft Trio
Monday 18 August
7:30–9:30pm
One of Scotland’s most inventive saxophonists leads an electrifying trio set.
We are delighted to offer a performance by the Phil Bancroft Trio - Phil on tenor sax, twin brother Tom on drums and Mario Caribe on double bass. Tom and Phil studied medicine at Cambridge University, with both entering practice in the 1990s; however, the magnetic and irresistible lure of jazz pulled them from the medical path towards lives offered up to the services of music.
The Penalty with Live Musical Score by Graeme Stephen
Tuesday 19 August
7:30–9:30pm
Another silent-era classic brought to life by a genre-blending musical genius.
Graeme's score for The Penalty premiered at HippFest Silent Film Festival in March 2018 gaining a five star review from The Scotsman.
Phil Bancroft Trio
Thursday 21 August
8:30–10:00pm
One of Scotland’s most inventive saxophonists leads an electrifying trio set.
We are delighted to offer a performance by the Phil Bancroft Trio - Phil on tenor sax, twin brother Tom on drums and Mario Caribe on double bass. Tom and Phil studied medicine at Cambridge University, with both entering practice in the 1990s; however, the magnetic and irresistible lure of jazz pulled them from the medical path towards lives offered up to the services of music.
Hidden Door Presents: Music & Spoken Word
Sunday 24 August
5–10pm
A second evening of discovery, featuring some of Edinburgh’s most original voices. Music from Mike McKenzie, Doom Scroller and Thundermoon. Spoken word from Josh Cake and RJ Hunter.
Cahalen Morrison
Monday 25 August
7:30–9:30pm
“Cahalen is making music the world needs" - Tim O'Brien.
Originally hailing from the high desert of Northern New Mexico, Cahalen Morrison has made a name for himself over the past decade, touring solo, as a duo with Eli West, or with his roadhouse country band Western Centuries.
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