Bay City Rollers are the most successful music act of all time from Edinburgh, indeed Scotland, selling an incredible 120 million records worldwide. The 1970s teen idols have been called the "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh" and one of many acts heralded as the "biggest group since the Beatles". 'The Rollers' enjoyed many huge chart hits, including 'Shang-a-lang', 'Bye-bye Baby' and 'Saturday Night'. During the 1970s, the Bay City Rollers achieved successes across the globe throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. The band continued touring and recording into the early 1980s with much less commercial success before going on hiatus in 1987. The band have reformed in many guises during the 1990s-present, and performed various nostalgic concerts.Bay City Rollers are the most successful music act of all time from Edinburgh, indeed Scotland, selling an incredible 120 million records worldwide. The 1970s teen idols have been called the "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh" and one of many acts heralded as the "biggest group since the Beatles". 'The Rollers' enjoyed many huge chart hits, including 'Shang-a-lang', 'Bye-bye Baby' and 'Saturday Night'. During the 1970s, the Bay City Rollers achieved successes across the globe throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. The band continued touring and recording into the early 1980s with much less commercial success before going on hiatus in 1987. The band have reformed in many guises during the 1990s-present, and performed various nostalgic concerts.
Bay City Rollers are the most successful music act of all time from Edinburgh, indeed Scotland, selling an incredible 120 million records worldwide. The 1970s teen idols have been called the "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh" and one of many acts heralded as the "biggest group since the Beatles". 'The Rollers' enjoyed many huge chart hits, including 'Shang-a-lang', 'Bye-bye Baby' and 'Saturday Night'. During the 1970s, the Bay City Rollers achieved successes across the globe throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. The band continued touring and recording into the early 1980s with much less commercial success before going on hiatus in 1987. The band have reformed in many guises during the 1990s-present, and performed various nostalgic concerts.

Edinburgh's top 10 greatest music acts of all time - from Idlewild to Bay City Rollers

The 10 best bands and music artists who came from Edinburgh – from the Proclaimers to Bay City Rollers
Kevin Quinn
By Kevin Quinn
Published 7th Jan 2023, 04:45 BST
Updated 7th Jan 2024, 11:06 BST

Although Glasgow is widely regarded as the hotbed of musical talent in Scotland, Edinburgh has long produced some of the country’s finest musicians, including the world’s greatest ever tartan-clad band.

From rock and pop, to folk and hip-hop, talented Edinburgh musicians have headlined festivals, topped the charts and sold out large venues for years. Covering all musical genres, take a look at our best acts.

10 legendary Edinburgh gigs throughout history, from The Beatles to Queen

10 legendary Edinburgh gigs throughout history, from The Beatles to Queen

Finley Quaye broke into the charts in 1997 thanks to his critically acclaimed double platinum debut album Maverick A Strike, which included hit singles 'Even After All', 'Sunday Shining' and 'Your Love Gets Sweeter'. The soulful reggae artist has since recorded a further six albums and worked with William Orbit, Beth Orton, Tricky and Iggy Pop.

5. Finley Quaye

Finley Quaye broke into the charts in 1997 thanks to his critically acclaimed double platinum debut album Maverick A Strike, which included hit singles 'Even After All', 'Sunday Shining' and 'Your Love Gets Sweeter'. The soulful reggae artist has since recorded a further six albums and worked with William Orbit, Beth Orton, Tricky and Iggy Pop. Photo: JEREMY STOCKTON

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Formed in Edinburgh at an under 18s hip-hop night at The Bongo Club in 2008 by Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham 'G' Hastings when they were just 14, the group started performing in the Capital's nightclubs when the band members were all in their teens. They rose to fame when their debut album 'Dead' won the Mercury Music Prize in 2014. They went on to release two more studio albums, with their fourth, 'Heavy Heavy' due for release in February. Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images.

6. Young Fathers

Formed in Edinburgh at an under 18s hip-hop night at The Bongo Club in 2008 by Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham 'G' Hastings when they were just 14, the group started performing in the Capital's nightclubs when the band members were all in their teens. They rose to fame when their debut album 'Dead' won the Mercury Music Prize in 2014. They went on to release two more studio albums, with their fourth, 'Heavy Heavy' due for release in February. Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images. Photo: VALERY HACHE

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Singer songwriter Callum Beattie is signed to 3 Beat Records. He has released six singles, two EPs and his debut album 'People Like Us' was released in May 2020 and topped the Scottish album chart. The former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil played Glasgow music festival TRNSMT last summer and is due to release his second album 'Vandals' next month. Picture by Michael Gillen, taken at Party at the Palace 2022.

7. Callum Beattie

Singer songwriter Callum Beattie is signed to 3 Beat Records. He has released six singles, two EPs and his debut album 'People Like Us' was released in May 2020 and topped the Scottish album chart. The former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil played Glasgow music festival TRNSMT last summer and is due to release his second album 'Vandals' next month. Picture by Michael Gillen, taken at Party at the Palace 2022. Photo: Michael Gillen

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The Incredible String Band (sometimes abbreviated as ISB) were a Scottish psychedelic folk band formed by Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron in Edinburgh in 1966. Palmer and Willisams started off as a traditional folk duo in 1963, performing at folk nights in the Capital, particularly at a weekly club run by Archie Fisher in the Crown Bar. The group enjoyed chart success, particularly for their 1968 album The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, one of 12 albums they released. Although successful, they were often seen as an underground band, loved by the British counterculture of the time. Following Palmer's early departure, Williamson and Heron performed as a duo, later augmented by other musicians. The band split up in 1974.

8. The Incredible String Band

The Incredible String Band (sometimes abbreviated as ISB) were a Scottish psychedelic folk band formed by Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron in Edinburgh in 1966. Palmer and Willisams started off as a traditional folk duo in 1963, performing at folk nights in the Capital, particularly at a weekly club run by Archie Fisher in the Crown Bar. The group enjoyed chart success, particularly for their 1968 album The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, one of 12 albums they released. Although successful, they were often seen as an underground band, loved by the British counterculture of the time. Following Palmer's early departure, Williamson and Heron performed as a duo, later augmented by other musicians. The band split up in 1974. Photo: Contributed

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