The Paper Factory: Venue Launch Party (Saturday edition)

Information

Hidden Door has secured our biggest site yet! The Paper Factory is a 15 acre site occupied by the former Saica paper and cardboard manufacturing facility on the western edge of Edinburgh.

The site features a mix of warehouses, factory floors, offices and outhouses. Bounded by the Edinburgh Gateway tram and rail station, there are excellent transport links to the city centre as well as to Glasgow and the west.

Hidden Door is a registered charity and ALL ticket sales go straight into putting on our events and ensuring all of our creative contributors are fairly paid.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Hidden Door will transform the entire site for a full-scale multi arts festival in spring 2025, with a special venue launch party this November to give audiences a preview of some of the extraordinary spaces within.

Saturday 23 November welcomes Black feminist punk band Big Joanie co-headlining with alt rock trio HotWax, with support from punk-pop trio Brenda and dream-pop duo Sarah/Shaun.

Alongside the live music, audiences can explore some of the huge factory spaces featuring the work of over 20 artists. A diverse range of media and artforms will be presented, including sculpture, performance, installation, painting, printmaking and large-scale works.

Between the live music, look out for pop-up dance and laser shows and an utterly unique light and drumming performance.

Hot street food from Fat Flamingo and Chicken Skoop, coffee by Brew 52 and bars stocked by Bellfield Brewery and Jack Daniels.

Subject to licence. Over 18s only.

TRAVEL INFO

The Paper Factory is well served by a variety of public transport links, with frequent bus, tram and train services all stopping nearby, making it easy to reach us from anywhere in the city. See our website for more travel info. Please note there is no parking on site so please consider public transport if you can.

TIMINGS

15:00 - Doors open (later opening time due to weather)
18:00 - Sarah/Shaun
18:30 - Laser and dance show
19:15 - Brenda (replacing Witch Fever)
19:45 - Laser and dance show
20:30 - HotWax
21:15 - Laser and dance show
21:25 - Light show w/ Sativa Drummers
22:00 - Big Joanie
23:00 - Live music ends
00:00 - Doors close

MORE ABOUT SATURDAY'S LINE UP

Visitors to The Paper Factory are set to enjoy an utterly unique gig experience; a vast industrial space once echoing with the sound of heavy machinery, now reborn with live music, lights and projections.

Big Joanie combines the fury of nineties riot grrrl with synth-heavy post punk.  Their second album Back Home was released in November 2022 and ranked in Rolling Stone’s top albums of the year list, receiving critical acclaim in the Guardian, Wire Magazine and The Quietus.  

Rock trio HotWax return to Edinburgh having graced the stage at Psych Fest in September. It’s been a meteoric rise for the young powerhouse, with their raw brand of post-punk, grunge and alternative rock both unique and familiar. Their debut album Hot Shock lands in 2025, with first single “She’s Got A Problem” released this week, a driving grunge-rock anthem that has become a live favourite during their packed summer tour.

Unfortunately Witch Fever have had to cancel, but in their place we have lined up the brilliant Glasgow trio Brenda. They've created a name for themselves in Glasgow with their energetic sets described as the type that "end up seared onto your brain after a single viewing" with their "impudent, inventive and extremely DIY punk-pop" (The Scotsman). The combination of dreamy synths, witty lyrics and joint vocals is infectious - Brenda could well be your new favourite band after tonight!

Edinburgh-based dream-pop duo Sarah/Shaun released their debut EP It’s True What They Say via Hobbes Music in April. They narrate stories exploring themes of love, hope, family, friends, dreams and sadness - the good that comes with the bad in everyday life.

Hidden Door is supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.