Under the Radar: Acolyte

Leith-based four-piece Acolyte are a beguiling explosion of creative disciplines who garnered five-star reviews for their site-specific performance, Production Line Of Dreams, at last year’s Hidden Door Festival in Edinburgh. Comprising award-winning poet Iona Lee, Gloria Black (vocals and synths), Daniel Hill (percussion) and Ruairidh Morrison (looped bass), the band met at an open-mic night at legendary Edinburgh venue Henry’s Cellar Bar in 2018 and have crafted a unique sound which draws on everything from trip-hop to jazz to prog rock, and is occasionally reminiscent of Grace Jones.

Early creative foundations include playing in church bands to acting in musicals, and they regularly collaborate with dancers, film-makers and visual artists. The band have just released The Blue Dark EP on Lost Map Records (including limited edition vinyl) which includes bonus remixes by local producers Maniatrix, Ravelston and Eyes of Others. This will be followed by a string of live shows including an in-store show at their local Good Vibes record shop (27 June), two performances at Kelburn Garden Party, plus appearances at the Fuzz Bat All-dayer at Leith Depot (1 August) and Edinburgh Psych Fest (6 September). Expect their burgeoning following to grow and look out for an album in the near future, https://linktr.ee/acolyteband

Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide, see www.borntobewide.co.uk

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