It was a cold night, so of course I adorned the only coat I own with faux fur for tonights gig, Nick Shane headlining at Banshee Labyrinth in Edinburgh’s Old Town. I had heard Nick’s Music before and seen him perform so I knew it was going to be a good night, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from the support acts.
Opening the night was singer-songwriter Rhuaridh McHardy, who got the crowd going and played a good mix of acoustic tunes from the more melodic to the more upbeat and even threw in a wee cover of ‘Canter’ by Gerry Cinnamon, which the crowd absolutely loved. I think he could definitely go places if he keeps on this track, he has a cracking voice!
Next up was the absolute powerhouse of a band We Cry Wolf, who were a very cool and eclectic mix of more chill and mellow to more extreme rock and I was all there for it, this is a band I would definitely go see again, and would like to see on a headline tour if I get the chance. They were absolutely full of energy, and the room definitely felt sweaty once their set finished.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better on came, the somewhat merry (it’s rock and roll, it’s allowed) Dirty Bams…full of dutch courage, enthusiasm and all the electric guitar riffs, bass drum and rowdy banter you could want from a band you’ve just stumbled upon on a Saturday night in a haunted pub! They definitely got the crowd ready and primed for Nick coming on and some even lost their t-shirts half way through their set – it was hot to be fair! If you get a chance to catch them play at a venue near you, do it, you wont leave disappointed!
Then the man of the hour, Nick Shane and his awesome band consisting of drummer Billy and Bassist Cara Rose. If you haven’t heard Nick’s Music before and you happen to catch him live, be prepared to be transported back to the early 2000s indie scene. He has such a well thought out and unique style of song writing, like he’s channeling pure Edgar Allan Poe through his veins instead of the Heroin chic that the indie scene back then was maybe better known for – that is, without Edgar’s Feverish Madness of course!
This was my first time hearing Nick perform with a band behind him and it was completely different to when I saw him support Kyle Falconer recently on tour. Both amazing but – different, the sign of a good artist is one that can adapt to any environment, and feel just as comfortable on stage with only a guitar and mic, as much as with a whole lot of drums and bass going on behind him.
Nick has been on the scene for a while, but with that comes knowledge, a finely tuned craft and someone that is always sure to entertain you. His headline at Banshee was no different. I’ll be honest and admit, I was a little worried after hearing the support acts and seeing how loud and mental their sets were, that Nick’s set might not make the same impact, but boy was my scepticism misplaced. He brought pure rock and indie magic to the stage, and Nick looked so at home performing with the band behind him, it was nice seeing a different side to him from his acoustic set I had seen previously, which aired more of a vulnerability and softness. This was the polar opposite, but completely blew me away.
You can catch Nick at several festivals over the summer including:
29th March – Love Music Hate Racism, Edinburgh
16th May – After All Festival
28th July – The Heartland Festival
Never one to take a break from bringing new music to your ear holes, Nick’s latest single ‘Don’t Bit Back Baby (It’s Alright)’ is being released on 3rd April 2026 and comes from his upcoming New Album ‘Louder Than Now’.
Recorded at Stage 2000 Studios in Dundee, the track features a whole host of talented session musicians including vocals from Rue Copper and Jodi Rae as well as drums from Billy Caldwell who you will see perform quite often with Nick and Organ from Ed Muirhead. What stands out for me from this track is the Saxophone. Any tune with a Sax, in my eyes, instantly earns the cool factor.
Nick has pulled out all the stops with this new track, and I can’t wait to hear what the rest of the album has in store!
Keep an eye on his socials, Spotify and website for more.
Qulture Magazine 
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