Sketchy Beats Cafe

Sketchy Beats Cafe Non-profit community arts space,
Pay-as-you-feel practice room downstairs. Opening hours depend on bookings! BYOB, donation-based.
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Send us a message or book online:
https://sites.google.com/view/sketchy-beats/home Sketchy Beats is a not-for-profit arts space on Great Junction Street, Leith. The space is an open platform for creatives of any kind to use and share their ideas with the public. The concept started off as an experimental life drawing event, incorporating a live musician, a dancer, a nude model and a live DJ set.

This took place once a month in the basement of Yellow Bench on Leith Walk. As this event gained popularity, money was raised through a crowdfunding campaign to create a community space where creative concepts like this could happen every night. The space is designed to be affordable and accessible to everyone - people who have never organised events before, musicians who have never played outside their own bedroom, artists who have never exhibited before. It aims to be a space where creativity brings the community together, without money being an obstacle. Everything in the space is donation-based. If you want a cup of tea or coffee, you can help yourself and leave a small donation. If you want to bring your own alcohol, just leave a donation for corkage. If you want to organise your own event, it's free to book, we just ask for a donation from each person who comes in. If you are interested in booking the space for your own event, workshop, meet-up or rehearsal, send us a message! You can also book online through our website:
https://sites.google.com/view/sketchy-beats/home

If you've not picked up a pencil since school, come and surprise yourself. If you already knit, stitch, sketch or paint ...
02/06/2026

If you've not picked up a pencil since school, come and surprise yourself. If you already knit, stitch, sketch or paint at home, come and do it in good company. Or if you're just looking for a friendly, unhurried space to be creative, you can find it here.

We're also on the look out for people with a creative skill or practice they'd like to share. No formal teaching experience needed and all art forms are welcome. It's about inspiring others, sharing ideas and helping people explore their creativity in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

To join our mailing list or find out about leading a session, just send us a message!

25/05/2026
20/05/2026
15/05/2026

The Final line up for Sketchy Beats Cafe Fundraiser. This will be insane troops 👏
Please get involved to what will be the talk of the toooown 😉😎 come supports your local business 🙏With some of Edinburghs finest performers 🤟💯

Line up
The Smoking Jeffreys
Dennis Kennedy DelBhoy
Calum Anderson
Lester Williams
Rich Gordon - Bagpipes, Saxophone and Guitar
Bayes
Kenny
Reekie Rich
💜


See you at Kelburn this summer!This year we’re collaborating with  and  for a full Friday takeover of the Plaisance stag...
13/05/2026

See you at Kelburn this summer!

This year we’re collaborating with and for a full Friday takeover of the Plaisance stage (3pm–3am).

We promise to keep your body moving and your brain melting, with experimental jams and genre bending performances.

Hidden beyond the Landing Stage, inside the Castle’s walled gardens, the Plaisance is a sanctuary of rare plants and ancient trees (including two incredible 1,500-year-old yews).

Skye and her team will be running a sober bar, serving freshly made mocktails and more, to keep you feeling on top form.

We'll also be bringing a selection of art materials, for anyone wanting to get creative. Whatever shape your expression takes, it's welcome here!

FRIDAY AT THE PLAISANCE

15:00 — Sad Song Club (Open Mic)
16:00 — Open Jams
17:00 — Game Show
17:30 — Anoraq: Inside Voices
18:15 — Open Jams
20:15 — SPECULUM BUNNY
21:00 — SLY DIG
21:45 — allmyfriendsaresynths
22:45 — GLITCH GIRL
23:30 — Sketchy Beats House Jam
00:15 — PORTAVIBE DJs

See you in the garden!

Artwork by .boombeca

Upcoming Art Classes & Workshops:🎨 Traditional Drawing & Painting with Graeme & Eddie (Wed 20 May, 7pm)https://www.event...
13/05/2026

Upcoming Art Classes & Workshops:

🎨 Traditional Drawing & Painting with Graeme & Eddie (Wed 20 May, 7pm)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/traditional-drawing-painting-with-graeme-eddie-tickets-1988310038850

🪡 Japanese Sashiko Stitching / Visible Mending Workshop (Wed 3 Jun, 7pm)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/japanese-sashiko-stitching-visible-mending-workshop-tickets-1989368075466

👕 Screen Printing Workshop (Sun 7 Jun, 7pm)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/screen-printing-workshop-tickets-1989368136649

🎥 Collage Animation Workshop (Thu 11 Jun, 7pm)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collage-animation-workshop-tickets-1989368353297

🪡 Japanese Sashiko Stitching / Visible Mending Workshop (Thu 25 Jun, 7pm)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/japanese-sashiko-stitching-visible-mending-workshop-tickets-1989368099538

👕 Screen Printing Workshop (Sun 28 Jun, 7pm)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/screen-printing-workshop-tickets-1989368320198

Donation-based tickets available for all classes!

We welcome people of levels of experience to come to Graeme's monthly art classes for adults!

Next Sunday!
12/05/2026

Next Sunday!

Giving Back to the Space That Built Us 🎨🥁

We’ve been a bit quiet on here lately, but for a very good reason. Last year, we dived headfirst into the wedding circuit, and honestly? It’s been an incredible ride. But while we’ve been celebrating, one of our favorite spots has been struggling.

Sketchy Beats has had a tough year, and we couldn't sit back and watch. It’s time to give back to the venue that supports local artists day in and day out.

We’re throwing an intimate fundraiser set to help them get back on their feet. This isn't just a gig; it’s a celebration of Edinburgh’s creative community featuring some of the city’s top performers.

The Vibe: Intimate, raw, and high-energy.

The Details: BYOB. SUNDAY 24th May
Doors Open - 6.30pm

Tickets £7: Limited capacity. Available on the door only—so get down early.

Lineup
The Smoking Jeffreys
Dennis Kennedy DelBhoy
REDSHANK
Calum Anderson
Ri Go (Rich Gordon)
Lester Williams
DJ Reekie Rich
Plus more TBA

We’re also buzzing to announce that we’re officially heading back into the studio to record new music. Come catch a preview before we lock ourselves away

Coming soon 🦋
12/05/2026

Coming soon 🦋

Address

208 Great Junction Street
Edinburgh
EH65LW

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