The Rise of Night Owl Shows

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Night Owl Shows

When Dan Clews, Founding Director of Night Owl Shows, arrived in Edinburgh in August 2016, his mission statement was simple: to tell the story of one of his musical heroes, James Taylor. But there was more to this somewhat straightforward plan as Clews hoped to play Taylor’s music as an accompaniment to anecdotes and storytelling about the great musician’s life. The resulting show was a huge success, so much so that in 2017, he returned with his friends Charlotte Breraton and Phoebe Katis to add Joni Mitchell and Carole King to the documentary musical performances.

In the eight years since, Night Owl Shows have become a significant presence in the wider Fringe landscape, all while maintaining Clew’s initial aspirations. As a collective, they’ve performed around the world, sharing the music of their heroes. They've also won more than 30 laurels from festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe, Perth Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and Brighton Fringe. With a growing American following, they plan to tour Stateside in October and November this year but before that, they’ll be bringing 12 daily productions to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, featuring an entourage of more that 20 performers. 

The Carole King & James Taylor Story (now merged into one show) is back, with Clews and Hannah Richards telling the story of the artists’ intertwined careers. In addition, there are shows dedicated to Elton John, Billy Joel, Sting, Dusty Springfield, Fleetwood Mac, Blondie, Amy Winehouse, Kate Bush, Adele, the music behind James Bond and the music movement in LA in the late 60s. 

Night Owl Shows go beyond what you might expect from traditional tribute acts. Each musician involved in the productions is a performer in their own right and their goal is to tell their story as fans of the subject. Audiences are invited to get immersed in these different journeys, leaving with a new appreciation for the artists that we consider to be the all-time greats. 

Visit nightowlshows.com for information and tickets