Identifying the best venue for an Edinburgh night out is a heated debate. While some are drawn to techno-bass-heavy DJs that will make you keep counting the beats in your dreams, others look for a venue that values live music and instrumental skill. Some fall just in between. There is no single correct answer, but I’ll give you mine nonetheless.
HIVE:
HIVE is the venue on this list that I would rate the lowest, in terms of musical appreciation. This is not the place to go to if you want to appreciate music, but rather to let yourself get carried away in the midst of your friends at 2 am. HIVE does offer different genres, but they have something in common: the audience. You won’t hear a guitar solo or the huge range of a talented singer. The element that turns HIVE into what it is simply isn’t the music. It is the atmosphere, the way people just want to enjoy a carefree night. And if you look around, you’ll see that they are having a great time. Live music cannot be the only key to a good night out.
Three Sisters:
Often starting with a live band or musician, Three Sisters offers a gentle start to the night and prepares you for what, or rather who, is about to follow: the DJ. The musicians enable you to build a strong and personal connection to the music. You see the way the guitar is strummed and the drums are played. It should be noted that the lively crowd generally seems to wait for the DJ to fill up the dance floor. This makes the live music appear more like an opener to the club night. Bass? Yes. Popular songs and lyrics to scream to? Also, yes. The general focus compared to HIVE is more on creating music and music creating a sense of nostalgia and joy.
Stramash:
With Stramash we reach my list’s top two. A venue perfect for lovers of rock, indie and pop music. Live music, might I add. You will hear bands presenting their own music or tribute bands. Just looking at its layout, with a stage at the front, will tell you that Stramash wants you to appreciate the music played. We as listeners are pushed into the role of the audience of a concert. The music played is generally very popular, but compared to the previous venues, it adds a layer of genuine appreciation. Here, the connecting factor is the love for the same kind of music. But do the people look substantially happier than in HIVE or Three Sisters? No.
La Belle Angèle:
Onto first place, La Belle Angèle. Personally, I adore La Belle Angèle because it offers a variety that lets you enjoy your favourite bands as well as discovering new ones. By offering special themed nights — a One Direction night to name just one — it covers different niches and tailors the experience to individual taste and interests. The night out becomes a tribute to your favourite period in music history. In terms of live music, it resembles Stramash. You are welcome to enjoy gigs on a stage. However, these gigs are not meant to be enjoyed while sipping a drink at the bar. Instead of creating the illusion of a concert, you’ll enter a proper one. Therefore, La Belle Angèle creates a balance between a themed DJ night and amazing live music.
Where does La Belle Angèle as first place leave us? Certainly not with a specific answer to the question of Edinburgh’s best venue. The biggest focus on music doesn’t equal the best night out. In the end, it really comes down to your mood and what you want your night to become. One night, HIVE’s music and atmosphere might be right for you, another night you’ll adore the live voices in Stramash.
Photo by Dominik Mecko on Unsplash
