THE HOT SEATS
“You can search far and wide and you will not find anyone playing old-time music with this level of sincerity and drive. Other young stringbands either play it too safe, or so haphazard and punkish that it comes off as hokey and contrived. The Hot Seats know how to honor the tradition while bringing it into the modern era with rare intensity.” -– Six Water Grog
After too long The Hot Seats are back and we’re super happy to host them at Edinburgh Tradfest for the first time. It’s hard to overstate the affection we have for this band who first played in our living room more than a decade ago, and on many memorable occasions throughout the years.
The Hot Seats from Virginia play string band music, which is the easiest way to describe what they do. They draw on a lot of Americana styles – old time, bluegrass, ragtime and country – and give them their own special twist. Amazingly they have been going for 23 years and are still led by three of the original members of the band – Jake Sellers, Josh Bearman and Ben Belcher. The band members are all multi-instrumentalists and part of the excitement of their shows is to see them pass instruments mid-song with no break in performance. With over two decades to refine their repertoire, their tight tunesmithing and heart-felt harmonies are as sharp as ever.
The band have recorded 13 albums over the years and the list of festivals they have played is almost endless. It includes the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (they won a Herald Angel in 2006), Celtic Connections, Tønder Festival (Denmark), Orkney Folk Festival, South by Southwest, HebCelt, Speyfest, Red Wing Roots, Richmond Folk Festival (Virginia), Bristol Rhythm and Blues Festival and many many more.
They are returning to Scotland for the first time since the pandemic and hitting the Shetland Folk Festival before they get to us. Their bio says they love to travel in a van, but it will be the ferry and train all the way to Edinburgh on the 6 May. We can’t wait!
In Traverse One
Tickets: £17.50/£14 each
Doors open: 8pm | Music starts: 8.15pm
Tickets may also be booked via phone. Call the box office team on 0131 228 1404