Edgefest Music Festival – Bringing The Memories And The Fun

Where – Lilliardsedge Park, Jedburgh

When – 4^th/6^th Sept 2026

Review and photographs by Linda McDermott

Saturday 5^th September 2026 Day Two

Day two of Edgefest Festival in the heart of the Scottish Borders had a lot to offer, with seven acts on the bill and the gates opening at midday. After a great night on Friday, when four bands entertained the early arrivals, the staff were braced for a much bigger crowd. With the weather holding and the sun making an appearance, it was great to see families of all generations finding their space in the large arena and laying claim to it for the day.

At one o’clock it was into the big top, and I mean big top. With room for around 4,000 people, there was certainly plenty of space for a bit of a dance.

First up were Scotstown Dance Band, who had made the trip down from the north of Scotland and announced that this was the furthest south they had ventured to play. They brought a traditional Scottish feel to the big top, with tunes that had an unmistakable Scottish character and plenty of rhythm to get the afternoon off to a lively start.

They may have been the first act of the day, but there was already a lovely atmosphere building in the tent. Children and parents were clapping along and there was plenty of movement as families enjoyed the music together. It was a relaxed and very Scottish way to open Saturday, and the response from the crowd showed that they had got the day off to a great start.

With the sun shining and clouds drifting by, compère Dionne Hicky appeared on stage. She was all sparkly, and brilliant at getting people involved and building anticipation for what was coming next. As well as introducing the acts, she took time to make dedications and encourage people to come into the big top and make the most of the music.

Next came Kevin McGuire, known as the king of line dancing after getting people out on the streets of Glasgow and further afield to enjoy his music. His version of Have You Ever Seen the Rain has become a hit, and the Edgefest crowd got right behind it. For only the second act of the day, the tent was already looking very busy, with families and country music fans filling the space.

Kevin asked everyone to light up their phone torches for Wild Mountain Heather, and the crowd duly obliged, creating a sea of little lights across the tent while violinist Lauren added a beautiful tone to the song.

Then came Whiskey for Breakfast, the track that has had people taking to the streets to show off their moves, apparently as far afield as America. I could certainly see why it has caught on, although there were only a few brave souls willing to

demonstrate their skills in the big top today. He also treated us to his new single, Here We Rodeo, giving us a taste of what is still to come from him.

Looking around the tent, packed with young children, teenagers, parents and grandparents, it was another reminder that Edgefest really is a family affair. Kevin had certainly got the country fans enjoying themselves, and there was a great atmosphere as the afternoon continued.

Next up was Professor Green, and the energy levels were turned up another notch. The rapper, singer and songwriter certainly knows how to work a crowd, and from the moment he appeared on stage, the big top was full of movement.

And randomly during his set four people dressed as bananas somehow managed to weave their way through the crowd, waving inflatable bananas in the air as they went. No, I wasn’t seeing things. It really did happen!

Professor Green had the crowd jumping and bouncing on command. When he asked everyone to sing Jump, Jump, Jump, he launched into a mash-up of what seemed like a hundred songs. Okay, maybe not quite a hundred, but it was certainly close, and it worked brilliantly. The energy inside the tent was incredible, with everyone joining in and responding to every instruction. He even had me jumping, and believe me, that’s no easy task!

Then came Boney M, who have been in the music business for around fifty years, and there was no denying their pulling power. The tent filled right up for their set as hit after hit spilled from the stage. Some of the songs I had completely forgotten about, yet weirdly, the words came straight back to me as soon as they started singing.

They were a party and a half, nailing it from start to finish with Daddy Cool, Holiday, Painter Man, Ma Baker, Belfast, Brown Girl in the Ring, No Woman, No Cry and Rasputin among the songs keeping the crowd entertained.

The big top was jumping, and whether you were old enough to remember these songs when they were first released or had discovered them much later, the music and atmosphere carried you along, with the performance leaving you smiling.

That said, there was one song we were all waiting for. The 1977 hit Rivers of Babylon was kept until near the end of the set, and when those first notes rang out, the crowd erupted. I could still see it in my mind’s eye from Top of the Pops all those years ago, and hearing it live in a packed festival tent was a proper nostalgia hit. Finishing with the disco classic Gotta Go Home, Boney M had delivered.

Sigala was up next, bringing another change of pace with his boppy dance tracks. With hits featuring artists including, Ellie Goulding, Becky Hill, Craig David and Rita Ora, there was plenty for the crowd to get their teeth into.

If you’re into dance music and your hips are still up to the job, Sigala is definitely one for the must-see list. Dance anthems echoed around the tent as the movers and groovers threw out their best shapes, looking like they were auditioning for a talent

show. The atmosphere was exactly what you would expect from a Saturday night at a festival, music loud, people dancing and everyone having a fun time.

With positions taken at the barrier, it was time for the penultimate act of the night, Emeli Sandé. As she walked onto the stage, a huge roar went up around the big top, and from the moment she started singing it was clear why.

Her set drew on her back catalogue, stretching back to 2012, and that voice was every bit as amazing live as you would hope. For me, the standout was the very emotional Clown, a song she wrote while trying to get signed. Sitting at the piano, she delivered it beautifully, and the entire big top seemed to fall silent as the audience became as mesmerised as I was.

We were also treated to a new song from an album due out next year, and it certainly sounded like it had single written all over it. She dedicated Highs & Lows to everyone who had been there from the beginning, as well as treating us to Wonder, Beneath Your Beautiful and Next to Me.

Then came the moment that sent the crowd ballistic, as Professor Green joined Emeli on stage to perform Read All About It. It was a fantastic way to bring together two of the day’s acts and one that the crowd clearly loved.

And that’s the thing about Edgefest. It is full of acts that take you on a ride through the years, reminding you of bands and songs from your youth, introducing you to music you might have missed along the way. It’s a festival where generations can find something they love, and more importantly, enjoy it together.

Saturday night was now coming to a close, with just the headliners to go, and what better way to finish than with Five?

“Everybody get up singing, 1, 2, 3, 4, Five will make you get down now” With songs that made you want to recreate the moves of Ritchie, J, Abz, Scott and Sean, there was no shortage of hits to choose from. Everybody Get Up, Got the Feelin,’ If Ya Gettin’ Down, We Will Rock You and plenty more came thick and fast, with each one triggering another memory. They seemed to get through the hits far too quickly for everyone’s liking, although they did take a brief breather and slow things down with Closer to Me. It wasn’t long before the party was back in full swing though.

The guys also took time to thank a group of girls at the barrier who had apparently been at every date of the tour. Now that’s devotion for you. They had been at the barrier all day waiting for the guys to come on stage, and when Five finally appeared, their excitement said it all. With the whole tent singing, moving, and reliving a little piece of their younger years, Five had given Saturday night the big finish it deserved.

And so, day two of Edgefest came to an end, but with one more day still to go, there was no time for the festival blues just yet. Saturday had delivered everything from Scottish music and country to rap, disco, dance, soul, and pop, with plenty of nostalgia thrown in for good measure.

After another packed day, it was time to head home, recharge and get ready for Sunday.