Watch: Edinburgh band film poignant video for Christmas song inside 10 empty venues in the city

An Edinburgh band have unveiled a poignant new Christmas video created inside 10 empty venues across the city.

Acclaimed duo The Jellyman’s daughter secured permission to film at venues like the Playhouse, the Queen’s Hall, the Roxy, the Caves and Leith Depot for their new song “Christmas.”

They made the video to highlight the plight of music venues which are still unable to reopen across most of Scotland nearly nine months after being forced to close by the pandemic.

The band have described the song and the video as “a fitting send off to 2020 - heartbreaking whilst remaining hopeful.”

The video, which highlights the UK-wide “Save Our Venues” campaign, was also shot at Stramash, Henry’s Cellar Bar, The Mash House, Sneaky Petes and Bannermans.

Both First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and culture secretary Fiona Hyslop were tagged by the band when the new video, which was made using a £1000 grant from Creative Scotland, was posted on Twitter.

The duo, formed in Edinburgh by singer and guitarist Emily Kelly and singer and cellist Graham Coe in 2011, say the song is their “submission” for the Christmas No 1 slot.

It includes the lines: "Raise a glass to ourselves, here's to our mental health

“When the days turn into nights turn into days

"And tonight, when we hang our stockings up

"We'll take more stock in what we've gotAnd here's to a happier new year”

Kelly said: “We've always been firm believers in the importance of small venues - both for the up-and-coming local acts to get their start and for international touring acts to have somewhere to find a new audience.

The Jellyman's Daughter have filmed a Christmas music video in the empty music venues of Edinburgh. Featuring Stramash, Leith Depot, The Caves, Assembly Roxy, The Queen's Hall, Sneaky Pete's, The Mash House, Edinburgh Playhouse and Henry's Cellar Bar.

"This year we became patrons of the Music Venue Trust and wanted to help raise awareness and hopefully donations for their Save Our Venues campaign.

"We're extremely worried about bands having somewhere to play after the pandemic is over as a lot of them are in need of urgent assistance.

“We filmed across three days and found it to be an extremely emotional experience to get back on the stages of our favourite venues and play the song to empty rooms.

"We thought at first it was maybe an ambitious idea, but all of the venues were so supportive and welcoming, as they’ve always been since we started the band.

The Jellyman's Daughter have filmed a music video in the empty music venues of Edinburgh. Featuring Stramash, Leith Depot, The Caves, Assembly Roxy, The Queen's Hall, Sneaky Pete's, The Mash House, Edinburgh Playhouse and Henry's Cellar Bar.

"The reaction has been amazing! People from all over the world have got in contact to let us know tears had been shed. It's been an emotional year for everyone!”

Sneaky Pete’s manager Nick Stewart said: “The video and most importantly the song are brilliant and it’s from a great album too. Get it straight to number one!

“The Music Venue Trust is trying to save venues from imminent permanent closure – hopefully this video will help raise awareness of our campaign.”

Edinburgh-based music tourism expert Olaf Furniss, who organises the annual industry convention and showcase Wide Days, which the band played at in 2014, said: “Not only have The Jellyman's Daughter accomplished an almost impossible feat by writing a Christmas song I actually like, they are also highlighting just some of the venues which form the backbone of our music scene.

"Every time someone is about to put on Slade or that bloody awful Mariah Carey song, they should pause and select The Jellyman's Daughter instead!"

A message from the Editor:

The Jellyman's Daughter have filmed a music video in the empty music venues of Edinburgh. Featuring Stramash,Leith Depot, The Caves, Assembly Roxy, The Queen's Hall, Sneaky Pete's, The Mash House, Edinburgh Playhouse and Henry's Cellar Bar.

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