Studio 24 showcases influential underground acts and is the king of Edinburgh’s alternative music scene.

The Venue
Studio 24’s appealing obscurity, which defines the club, begins with its off-the-beaten-track location, far from the mainstream club circuit of the city. Tucked away in Edinburgh’s New Town, behind Waverly train station and in the shadow of Calton Hill is this inconspicuous looking venue. It is apparent from the unassuming exterior that the venue does not cater to the uninformed masses; Studio 24 relies on a constant flow of in-the-know customers and visitors.

The club is dark and dank through and through, it has stone walls and floors, which begin to drip with moisture on the more energetic nights. Downstairs, behind the main stage and dance area, there is a raised level bar with a considerable seating area in front of it. The upstairs of the club, reached by a narrow and often slippery set of stone steps, holds a smaller bar, an open plan dance floor and a small, dimly lit seating area. The ceilings upstairs are quite low, giving an intimate rave bunker atmosphere which this club is renowned for.

The People
The crowds you will encounter on any given night in Studio 24 are as varied as the multitude of different nights the club hosts. Studio 24 is home to a number of bizarre offshoot nights, from ska to flamenco, punk to metal. On certain long-standing club nights like Saturday’s heavy metal night, Retribution, the crowd can seem somewhat cliquey and tribal in the closely knit moshing circles of the dance floor. However, there is always a large contingent of non-regulars. What is common to all those who frequent the venue is a non-judgmental insouciance which assures a night of intense clubbing. Unlike many of the mainstream clubbing venues in the city, people do not come to Studio 24 to pose and pout. Rather, they come for the specialist music nights, which are continually packed full of colourful and passionate alternative music lovers, who make this fairly humble venue something spectacular.

The Music
Studio 24 is a chameleon. It transforms itself according to whatever music is being pumped out of its recently revamped and upgraded speakers or being played live on its large stage. From heavy death metal nights like Retribution, rockabilly nights like Itchy Feet, spontaneous hard techno and live sets from up and coming scenesters - the raw underground atmosphere of Studio 24 is always fitting for a night of energetic party vibes.

The Drink
The regular club nights at Studio 24 generally have a modest entry fee of about £5. This is accompanied by drink promos which generally offer deals on vodka mixes, shots and bottled beer. On specialist gig nights, the drinks at the bar are averagely priced - around £3.30 for a pint.

The Last Word
Studio 24 is the ultimate hangout for those in the know on the underground music scene. Dark, dank and fabulously unconventional.

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