Musician in plea for safe return of stolen banjo

A FRINGE musician who had his custom-made tenor banjo stolen after a gig has pleaded for its return - to save his festival.

Mike Bennett is listed to play nearly every night in August in bars and venues across the city but could lose all his sets if he is without the rare instrument.

The 22-year-old turned to hug a friend as he saw her off in the Cowgate on Sunday morning around 2am when a thief snatched his 1500 banjo from behind his back.

He chased the six-foot blond man down the Cowgate and up Infirmary Street but the thief got away.

Mike, who lives in Tollcross, gave up his job as a computer programmer to follow his dream of becoming a professional musician and now plays four or five days a week at gigs across the city.

He said: "I was on my way home from a gig at McEwan's Ale House. I just turned my back for a moment to hug my friend as we went our separate ways and this guy snatched my banjo. I ran after him and I think I saw him go up Infirmary Street, but when I got there he had gone.

"I had just put it down for a second and it was gone. I saw the guy just before it happened, but it happened so fast."

The former Heriot-Watt student, who is originally from Yorkshire, said his unusual choice of instrument and its quality of sound had helped him to join several different bands and he now faces the prospect of having to pull out of his Festival gigs.

He said: "This banjo was hand-made for me. I saved up and had it constructed by Bob Thompson, who is a master stonemason in Edinburgh who also makes amazing banjos.

"I still do some freelance programming work when I have to, but this has become my trade and everything was just coming together. I play almost every night now, so it's pretty devastating.

"There aren't many banjo players out there, especially with an instrument like this.

"It's a very distinctive four-string Irish-style banjo, like The Pogues and the Dubliners use. It has an abalone wine leaf inlay and the headstock has this butterfly inlay. It also has a transparent skin and is about three-and-a-half feet tall.

"I've been to every music shop and pawnbrokers in the city and asked them to call the police if it comes in. It will be very difficult for them to sell. I can't offer much but I will give a reward to someone if they bring it back or help me find it."

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed that an expensive banjo had been reported stolen from the Cowgate in the early hours of Sunday morning.

She appealed for anyone with any information about the theft to get in touch.