Edinburgh has produced an abundance of musical talent over the years including The Proclaimers, Bay City Rollers and Idlewild, but who is the most popular local act based on chart positions?
Other Lothian acts who have been top of the pops include Someone You Loved singer Lewis Capaldi from Whitburn and Haddington’s Marillion singer Fish, aka Derek Dick. While, Stockbridge-raised Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson sold millions of records with the American rock band. And former Hibs ball boy and reggae/ rock singer Finley Quaye from Leith, Edinburgh’s folk rockers The Incredible String Band and Drylaw/ Pilton’s hip-hop rockers Young Fathers have sold records all over the world, with the latter still performing on the main stage at music festivals all over Europe and beyond.
We have based our Edinburgh and Lothian chart on the number of UK top 10 singles and albums each act has had over the years.
5. The Proclaimers
At number five in our chart, The Proclaimers, who were born in Edinburgh, raised in Fife and now live in the Capital, have enjoyed an incredible career over five decades, scoring three top ten albums and three top 10 singles, with 500 miles landing their only UK number one single to date when it was re-released in 2007 for Comic Relief. Photo: Michael Gillen
6. Idlewild
Formed in Edinburgh in 1995, rockers Idlewild enjoyed their most successful period in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with two top ten albums and one top single, with 'You Held the World in Your Arms' their biggest hit, reaching number nine in the singles chart in 2002. That track was taken from their most popular album to date 'The Remote Part', which hit number three in the same year. The band did however score a number one album in their home country of Scotland in 2019 with 'Interview Music', which reached number 22 in the UK album chart. Photo: John Devlin
7. Finley Quaye
Reggae/ rock singer Finley Quaye won the 1997 MOBO Award for best reggae act, and the 1998 BRIT Award for Best Male Solo Artist. He has one album in the top 10 - 1997 debut 'Maverick A Strike' - which hit number three in the charts. The album included his only top 10 single 'Even After All' reaching number 10. Perhaps his well known hit, 'Sunday Shining' only made it to number 16 in the same year. Photo: JEREMY STOCKTON
8. The Incredible String Band
Psychedelic folk rock band The Incredible String Band were formed in Edinburgh in 1964 and went on to release 12 studio albums with various line-up changes over the years. The group hit number five in the album chart with their third album, 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter', released in 1968. Robin Williamson and Mike Heron formerly with The Incredible String Band are pictured above. Photo: Ian White