AT the behest of George IV, Edinburgh council asked author and champion Tory Walter Scott to stage-manage the king’s 1822 visit to the city. Amid the tartan pageantry was the Peer’s Ball at the Assembly Rooms. Almost two centuries later, we have the inaugural Alternative Peer’s Ball.
Featuring Lost Map Records head Johnny Lynch aka Pitctish Trail, his labelmates Monoganon, DJs from electronic music label LuckyMe, ethereal newbies SKJOR, bilingual chanteuse Siobhan Wilson, krautrocking duo Man Of Moon and SAY Award nominees Meursault, the night will culminate in a full set by London’s Django, Django.
DJ Vic Galloway curated the night, which will also feature artwork from artists Ursula Cheng,Too Much Fun Club, Donald Watson and Projector Club.
“Having visual art in the mix was imperative,” says Galloway, who says isn’t a stuffy posh ball but an “excuse to showcase some contemporary Scottish talent in a legendary local space with real attitude and love”.
All the acts have been championed by Galloway on his BBC Radio shows, including headliners Django Django, who he’s been a fan of since they sent him a demo shortly after forming at Edinburgh College of Art.
“Django Django are a great headline act and a party in their own right,” he says. “All of the other acts on the bill such as Pictish Trail, Meursault, Siobhan Wilson have all gone from emerging, new bands to more established names and hopefully I helped them along the way.”
Leave the gown in mothballs – unless you want to go full-on princess, of course.
“No one has to dress up in anything smart, but we’re hoping people will throw on something tartan or tweed for a laugh,” says Galloway. “You can turn up in jeans and a T-shirt if you like. It’s just a big party really!”
Saturday, Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, 6pm, £27.50. Tickets: bit.ly/AltPeersBall and 0131 228 1155
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