GIGS AT EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB
Welcome to the Edinburgh Folk Club est 1973
Home to folk nights in the capital for over 50 years. @efc1973
THIS PAGE IS STILL TEMPORARY WHILE WE SORT OUT A NEW DESIGN.
MEANWHILE, DO READ ON ABOUT UPCOMING EFC GIGS …
Wednesday 27 May 2026
Doors/bar 7:30pm and showtime 8pm
Tickets: £15 (general), £12 (usual concessions) on line from https://t-s.co/pau76.
Members admission £10 available only at the door or email jb@stoneyport.uk with "EFC members booking" in the Subject.
Scotland’s Paul McKenna has long been ranked among our finest singers and songwriters, armed with a powerful yet intensely emotive voice and passionate social conscience, often expressed through his songs, a combination that’s brought frequent comparisons to the great Dick Gaughan.
Cutting his teeth as the front person for The Paul Mckenna Band, Paul travelled the world sharing his songs and his stories for over a decade, playing many of the biggest venues and releasing 5 albums. Having honed his craft, he is now touring on his own.
Paul was a featured artist at the world-renowned Transatlantic Sessions in 2019. Alongside Cara Dillon, Tim O’Brien, Molly Tuttle, and the multi-talented house band, he performed a string of shows across the UK.
2024 saw Paul McKenna team up with long term friends, and traditional music powerhouse, Ímar to release a brand-new song titled “Always You”. The single was an immediate hit with fans and was released in time for Paul to join Ímar on their tour of Ireland and perform the song with them on each night of the tour.
Performance highlights over recent years include Edmonton Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Fest, Woodford Folk Festival, and regular appearances at Celtic Connections.
Paul has shared the stage with many great artists over the years including Dick Gaughan, Dougie MacLean, Archie Fisher, Dave Gunning, The East Pointers, Karine Polwart, Cara Dillon, Karan Casey and Billy Bragg, to name a few.
SAMBA SENE and DIWAN
Wednesday 24 June 2026
Doors/bar 7:30pm and showtime 8pm
Tickets: £15 (general), £12 (usual concessions) on line not yet available
Members admission £10 available only at the door or email jb@stoneyport.uk with "EFC members booking" in the Subject.
SAMBA SENE & DIWAN
Fronted by the charismatic Senegalese vocalist Samba Sene, the band Samba Sene & Diwan is an international collective united by a shared global outlook and a deep love of West African rhythm.
Their sound is an exuberant, dance-driven fusion: funky mbalax and Afrobeat grooves interwoven with flashes of ska and reggae.
(note: What is mbalax? Mbalax (pronounced mm-bal-akh) is a vibrant, high-energy genre of popular dance music from Senegal and The Gambia. In the Wolof language, the word literally translates to "accompaniment". Mbalax is defined by fast-paced syncopated percussion, call-and-response vocals, and sometimes by brass sections. Mbalax may be sung in Wolof, French, or English. All of these elements combine to make a quick beat and a bright, heavy tone full of deep drum beats and vibrant vocals).
So, expect original songs delivered with impassioned vocals, infectious guitar licks and a live energy that keeps the floor moving.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Samba relocated to Scotland in 2000 and has been based in Edinburgh ever since. His singing and songwriting draw from a wide palette ... from traditional Senegalese music through to funk, rock, and ska, with influences including Baaba Maal (a formative mentor), Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Alpha Blondy, and Aswad. A very broad church then!
Samba's songs exploring love, equal rights and pure celebration are always upbeat, uplifting and created to be shared.
Exuberant, richly layered … (**** The Scotsman)
A vibrant rainbow of colourful beats and rhythms (***** Edinburgh Spotlight)
MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards
Club of Year, 2017
It is believed that Edinburgh FC has the unique distinction in the UK of receiving the above award as well as being awarded Folk Club Of The Year in the BBC Radio Two Folk Awards 2003.
No other folk club in the UK has achieved “The Double”!