Have you ever been to a gig in a Bingo Hall in Edinburgh? If you have, you may remember The Empire, which between 1963-1991 served as a Bingo Hall by day, and a concert venue by night. Back in the 70s and 80s, the people of Edinburgh didn’t have to travel to Glasgow to enjoy the very best of the rock industry, or to discover the latest up-and-coming artists.

The Empire Palace, now known as the Festival Theatre, was filled with long tables and benches to accommodate bingo players during the day. At night, they would be removed to allow for concerts to take place after 11pm. Ticket prices ranged between 50p to £1, which would normally sell out within days.

Rock, soft rock and heavy metal saw a rise in popularity during the 70s and 80s, and many outstanding artists and groups played to packed auditoriums across the country, some of which would nowadays fill stadiums and arenas. Many well-known artists have played to Edinburgh audiences, but the most popular ones include Black Sabbath (1971, 1972), T-Rex (1971), Free (1972), Slade (1972, 1973), The Cramps (1986), and The Ramones (1986).

However, two of the most significant concerts to have taken place at The Empire were by Elton John (1972) and David Bowie (January and May, 1973), who was at the height of his Ziggy Stardust fame. In his dairy series, Sir Michael Palin mentions how the comedy group Monty Python – who had performed at the King’s Theatre that same weekend - were kept awake in their hotel in Edinburgh by David Bowie’s party, who were staying in the same floor as them. He fondly remembers what a refreshing change it was to see David Bowie’s entourage in the hotel.

The Empire as a bingo hall Rock, soft rock and heavy metal saw a rise in popularity during the 70s and 80s, and many outstanding artists and groups played to packed auditoriums across the country, some of which would nowadays fill stadiums and arenas. The modern bingo games in the online casino have for the determination of the numbers partially great animated graphics and also the background music and sound effects are not lacking. You have a “bingo” when five of the numbers you draw allow one to make a line on. Hall Life Music Bingo! Bingo card with Crazy In Love - Beyonce, Truth Hurts - Lizzo, Rules - Doja Cat, Sweet but Psycho - Ava Max, 34+35 - Ariana Grande, Daisy - Ashnikko, The Man - Taylor Swift, Dynamite - BTS, The Box - Roddy Rich and Firework - Katy Perry. Welcome To Celtic Hall The Capital District’s home for Irish and Scottish Culture! Managed by the Capital District Celtic Cultural Association (CDCCA), Celtic Hall is located at 430 New Karner Road in Colonie, NY, and was established to serve as a central location for Celtic education, performances, athletics and other cultural activities. Bingo Volunteer Sign Up Sheet The Lyric Band of Hanover The Lyric Band is located in Hanover, Pennsylvania and consists of a talented and dedicated group of musicians who take great joy in sharing their music with the people of South Central Pennsylvania.

The Empire, along with the Edinburgh Playhouse, was one of the biggest ‘concert venues’ at the time in the capital, but the King’s Theatre also hosted one of the greatest music groups of the era, Led Zeppelin, back in 1973. The music group, who continues to tour worldwide, played to 1,473 fans who queued outside of the theatre overnight for a £1 ticket

In recent years the Festival Theatre has continued the tradition of hosting gigs in the capital with numerous national and international stars treading the boards, including Garbage, Luther Van Ross, Eddie Reader, Christy Moore, James Blunt, Mike + The Mechanics, Ryan Adams and Paul Carrack. Plus every July we host the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival, which sees the best jazz and blues artists play to a packed auditorium.

Do you have a fond memory of any other concerts we’ve missed? Remember to tell us on social media. For a more comprehensive list of gigs, visit the Edinburgh Gig Archive website.

The images of David Bowie are credited to Julie Tomlinson.

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As you may imagine, we here at BingoPort are bingo fanatics; there are few things that get our hearts racing quite like the call of “eyes down”. Still, we have to admit that what makes the game truly special are the little rituals and eccentricities that go with the game—and what else could top that list than the bingo calls that accompany each number?
A little while back, we explored some ideas for bingo calls with a 21st century twist (still waiting for Let’s Be Havin’ You to catch on…), but why stop there? Having already proved that bingo and music go perfectly together in our song titles with a bingo twist article, we’ve come up with some alternative ideas for bingo calls based on some of the most popular songs of all time.

1: Blondie – One Way or Another

Understandably, there were plenty of options to choose between when it came to the number one—but with the slightly maniacal (and, let’s face it, pretty fitting) lyric “one way or another, I’m gonna win you”, we had to choose Blondie’s 1979 classic.

2: Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – It Takes Two

We can only assume that the “Yeah! Woo!” sample that features throughout the song was recorded following a particularly big win in a bingo hall.

3: Commodores – Three Times a Lady

When writing this song, Lionel Richie was inspired by his father’s comment about his mother: “I love you. I want you. I need you. Forever”. We have a similar attitude towards bingo.

7: The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army

This song’s unforgettable riff may have become a famous chant on the football terraces, but you may want to avoid trying to start a crowd singalong in the middle of a quiet bingo hall.

8: The Beatles – Eight Days a Week

Although the song was a major hit, it took almost fifty years until Paul McCartney first performed the song live. Let’s hope it doesn’t take that long for you to experience the thrill of winning at bingo!

16: Chuck Berry – Sweet Little Sixteen

Some might argue that this song is really about a girl, but if you take a rather (very) liberal reading of the song, it could be about the universal popularity of bingo. Maybe.

22: Taylor Swift – 22

Even when you’re going through the ten stages of losing at bingo, “everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we’re 22”!

63: The Four Seasons – December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)

Few songs more accurately capture the first moments of meeting your one true love than this 70s classic—the same feeling many players go through on the way to becoming a bingo veteran.

69: Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69

It’s often been speculated that Summer of ’69 refers to more than simply the year 1969. We can only assume that this, too, is a hidden bingo reference.

Boutte Bingo Hall Music Schedule

90: George Michael – Freedom! ‘90!

Boutte Bingo Hall Music Schedule

Okay, so this song may not include the number 90 anywhere in the lyrics, but what better way could there be to cap off our rundown of bingo call songs than with one of George Michael’s most loved hits?

Bingo Halls Near Me

Got any more ideas for great bingo call songs? Let us know in the comments!
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