The end of an era? A tribute to Edinburgh's alternative home Legends

It’s loud, it’s a little rough around the edges and completely unapologetic. That’s what we love about Legends, the beating heart of Edinburgh’s alternative scene. Our city’s metal-heads, punks and goths have found their spiritual home here, the only place they can gather as a community to embrace their oddities together. Venues like Legends are more than just bars or gig rooms, they are bricks and mortar that echo with memories and provide a safe space from the ordinary world. Though its name has changed over the years, it has offered the same sanctuary for over thirty-five years. As one of the few venues for Scottish metal, Legends has brought in opportunity for new local talent to cut their teeth alongside touring bands.

However, tragically Legends looks as though it’s set to close its doors imminently, the building bought over by a chain of bars who will be removing all trace of it from the map. (They shall remain unnamed here, however I’m sure most readers will have seen the news) This leaves yet another gaping hole in the alternative scene here in Edinburgh. In addition to the recent loss of The Black Bull, Edinburgh finds itself with only two remaining venues for the community. 

There’s only so much we can say about our love for Legends, so we’re handing over to the community. We’ve reached out to regular bands and long-time customers, who all poured their hearts out over what the venue means to them.

Alex Jean (Luxera):

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‘It feels silly to say that Legends, an alternative dive bar on the Cowgate changed my life, but it did. In my first year of university, I had just moved to Scotland from France and knew no one. I was having a horrible time; I had no friends, couldn't fly back to see family and friends back home because of COVID restrictions and I hated my living situation in halls. Through Legends, I met friends, bandmates, and overall, as cheesy as it may sound, I met my people. For the first time in my overseas university experience, I felt like I fit in somewhere and had found somewhere that I felt "at home" when I was very far away from mine. 

When I saw local bands like Disposable play at Legends and the energy that was created between them and the audience, I made up my mind to one day play there myself. Some friends and I made a band, and decided that once we got good enough to play in Legends, we'd have officially "made it". Since playing it for the first time, we've supported some of our favourite bands, and even headlined it; and every time it feels magical. There's an energy around Legends that we simply never found anywhere else. It always feels like anything can happen, that it truly is the people's venue. Our last show there on the 28^th February was a very emotional night for all and is a memory I'll treasure forever. Legends is a pillar for the alternative community in Edinburgh, and an absolute staple for local (and touring) bands, and provides a stage for up-and-coming musicians to feel like the biggest band in the world; I know that's how it feels for me playing up there. I truly don't know where the alternative scene will go if we lose Legends. It has been a definite turning point in my life, and has changed it for the better.’

Bekah Robertson (lead speaker of Unspeakable Monday):

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‘I loved the typical bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic! and Paramore, but I wasn't exposed to any metal growing up so being in this incredible safe space meant I got to learn more about myself and the genre that now means a lot to me without feeling judged. Anyone who was around me was incredibly accepting and passionate about their bands, telling me about concert experiences and recommending albums. 

The experiences I had here shaped me as a musician and an adult, from the lovely bar staff to the patrons who frequented the bar, the incredible bands who made their debut and continued to play, to the inspirational graffiti on the bathroom stalls. Everything about this place will be missed so much I can't even express what a loss it will be to the alternative community. We felt shunned in our first years of gigging, being put on bills with bands who didn't fit our genre and feeling very out of place or even laughed at for being different. Bands like us can't thrive without places like Legends who truly want and encourage our alternative expression through our music.’

Sean Price (EHHC promoter):

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‘Legends means a lot to me as one half of EHHC promotions as it’s really the only venue in the city that really feels like it embodies what hardcore and what DIY is about. Everyone at Legends has been so accommodating of us and the shows we put on, where a lot of people may misinterpret what we do as violent and aggressive they understand the expression and the passion behind it. As well it seems everywhere else in the city is 18+ which is awful for local music development especially for hardcore which has been youth centric from its inception. We are now faced with putting on exclusively 18+ shows which we don’t want to do as one of the best parts of the shows we’ve put on in the last year or so is seeing so many young faces coming through the doors at every show, getting involved in the scene and even starting their own bands. It would be such a shame and a big set back for us to have to close the door on such a valuable part of what we have built. Live music should be for everyone regardless of age.’

Michael Brown (aka Nicholas Glassworth of The TV Casualties):

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‘Legends (Opium to my generation’s crowd) closing from being bought over is like someone torching a piece of art you hold close to your being. It’s always been a place for younger generations interested in alternative culture to grow, socialise and find themselves. It was essential for my youth growing up be that nights out during university starting over a decade ago or attending many of their live music gigs as have grown up. Because it was a place that accepted so many people. The staff have always cared for so many during troubles and ensured all had a great but safe time. I’ve met very close friends here, and it’s always been a central part of Edinburgh I felt most comfortable visiting if for a quick drink, longer socialising or looking for something to do such as live music. So so so many cherished memories of the place. Many memorable and some….Not so memorable in a fun way. Laughs at the downstairs bar. Partying till 5AM in a packed weekend. Karaoke Mondays. Past romantic relationships were formed here. Some of the best nights out ever we’re here. Some of the most intense mosh pits in Edinburgh.' 

Cindy McKenzie:

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‘As Legends have rightly acknowledged the alternative scene in Edinburgh is getting smaller and smaller. It might not help that many of us are getting older as well. However I’ve been going to Opium/Legends for 10 years, and I always loved the inviting atmosphere and never once did I feel out of place or unsafe (even when bouncers escorted people out)

Dancing on the stage in unison to some old emo anthems, or discovering new music the downstairs area. Meeting people from all over the globe. One time spotting someone through the mirror and just striking up a conversation, leading to OX184 once the club had shut with their friends who went elsewhere. The amount of times I went with a good work friend and we would stay until closing.’

Chris Duff:

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‘I've been a regular at legends for the better part of 22 years. I've met most of my current group of friends there, had many an epic night out there, laughed, cried, cheered, and celebrated birthdays there. I DJed there on 2 different stints for a couple of years. It's been a mainstay for most of my adult life and now it's closing. For me and many others, legends has been a meeting place, a gig venue, a workplace, a safe space. The significance of it's loss to staff, regulars, and the Edinburgh Alternative scene cannot be overstated, and it will be sorely missed. End of an era.’

We write this article not only to cherish the memories of this spiritual home, but as an urgent appeal to the new owners. Please consider the great value of this venue to the local community and its long heritage in Edinburgh’s music scene. These days, grassroots venues are under more threat than ever and it is ever more vital that we fight to keep them open and thriving. The outcome does looks bleak, but I am confident that the alternative community will go on in our city.  The underdog always finds a way to come out on top. Everyone at EMN thanks all the contributors who have shared their stories and we hope this can make even the smallest difference. We sincerely hope this will not be the end for Legends.

By Madison Stevens