Edinburgh Tradfest: The Hot Seats

After too long The Hot Seats are back and we’re super happy to host them at Edinburgh Tradfest for the first time.

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 Bearmanand 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 tune smithing 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!

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The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council.

If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.