EH1 Live

After the dreary summer and muddy music festival season, it’s a lovely thing to see Edinburgh-based promoters This Is Sound stray from the norm, and present an indoors music festival in mid-September. EH1 Live returns for its second year, picking up a city of festival fans and showcasing a warmer way to experience live music.

Taking place all day on Sunday, EH1 Live presents only Scottish bands, and sees The Phantom Band, Tommy Reilly, The OK Social Club, The Imagineers, The Stagger Rats and 50+ other bands play over 5 different venues. With so many excellent acts, all clashing against each other, it’s impossible to see every one: this is Music-News.com's bite size round up of the best 7 bands from this year's EH1 Live Festival.

Kicking off the day at the Liquid Rooms are Glasgow based Hip Parade, setting up disaster for the other bands really, as there is no following this 4-piece. Energetic and fast, Hip Parade show off their biggest hits from recent album I'll be Your Audience. There seems to be quite a few bands of late offering Scottish hiphop, but none do it quite likeThe LaFontaines. With power-rock and hard-hitting beats, lead man Kerr Okan raps his way through a catalogue of anthems with a brutal Scottish accent and cocky rude-boy charm.

Taking things down a notch in Electric Circus is another Glasgow-based (but not for much longer) performer Tommy Reilly. Tommy does today what Tommy does best: heart-wrenching lyrics, sweet vocals and one acoustic guitar. Tommy Reilly has previously performed with his band, but it’s his solo shows that are totally, breathtakingly beautiful. Following on from Tommy Reilly is no easy fete, but it’s a challenge John Wean gladly take on. John Wean are really starting to make a name for themselves, as they bring the noise to every venue they play. The guys are slightly pretentious, but just nearly have the right songs under their belt to justify the attitude.

Greg Pearson proves today to be a soulful concoction of sheer brilliant vocals and very catchy tunes. Pearson’s set comes across as so effortless, and naturally striking, easily making him one of today’s biggest performers. Miniature Dinosaurs show through their set today, that they are on the verge of being the biggest band in the world. At points you can hear Talking Heads, Weezer and even Madonna-like pop. In fact, its so hard to pinpoint a comparison or a genre because they are so massively unique. Cabaret Voltaire may be Edinburgh's dingy, dirty cave-like venue (even with their revamp!) but Miniature Dinosaurs bring in the sunshine tonight.

Anderson McGinty Webster Ward and Fisher perform the best show of the day, by a long shot. The five, very beautiful, musicians are so talented it’s almost unbelievable. Not only have they all got personally distinctive lead vocals, but they can all play an array of instruments. A band can count themselves lucky if one member can play a double bass, never mind three of them: AMWWF switch instruments and vocals, leaving the crowd hanging on to see what will happen next. AMWWF are the definition of a super group, not just because of it’s member’s musical backgrounds, but because of the hero quality in performance today.