Machine Orchid International Women's Day 2025

Information

Evening Performance
7-10pm

Machine Orchid is a trio from Edinburgh blending harp, guitar, and violin with lush harmonies, electronic fizzles, and a deep connection to the natural world. Their sound weaves acoustic and classical elements with folktronica and a strong electronic twist, creating a unique, immersive experience that is both organic and futuristic.

The band’s music is driven by a focus on the female voice, using harmonies to evoke themes of nature, change, and environmental awareness. With a distinctive mix of delicate arrangements and heavy electronic textures, Machine Orchid explores the balance between tradition and innovation, offering a sound that echoes the past whilst looking to the future.

Curlew (Gill Higgins) is a folk-pop multi-instrumentalist. Incorporating acoustic string, wind and percussive instruments, field recordings, synthesisers and loop pedals, she explores the interaction of nature and machine and how music can unite strangers.

Kirsty Law is an innovative Scots songmaker and singer based in Edinburgh. Working primarily in Scots language, Law pairs bold contemporary narratives and sounds with traditional material, with a special interest in expressing that which previously in the tradition has gone unsung - sensitive stories of queer love, unashamed female sexuality - and continuing that which she feels the tradition does best - salving some of life's darkest subjects, providing a voice for the voiceless.

Esther Swift*

Esther Swift explores ritual, connection, isolation, and the natural world in her performance with pedal harp and voice.

A prolific, boldly innovative harpist, composer and singer, Esther works across genres as diverse as classical chamber music and free improvisation, and writes for ensembles large and small.

The gig is open to everyone including children and young people. The bar will be open. Everyone working to bring this event together will be paid. Any profits will be made as a donation to Womens Aid.

International Women’s Day singing workshop

3-5pm

Join Machine Orchid for a dynamic and empowering singing workshop that explores what it means to be a woman in 2025. Through songs addressing themes like women’s safety and the impact of the Trump era on women’s rights, this two-hour afternoon session aims to inspire, uplift, and unite. While the topics are thought-provoking, the workshop is designed to be fun, filled with camaraderie, empowerment, and plenty of laughs. Participants will also have the chance to join Machine Orchid as part of their evening performance if they’re staying for the show.
Come ready to sing, connect, and explore how music can fuel activism and community.

The workshop is open to all women (trans, intersex and cis) and nonbinary, agender and gender variant people. The content is designed for adults but supervised children and young people are welcome.

Accessibility:
Leith Arches has flat floor access and an accessible toilet. Please contact us to discuss other access needs.

Pricing
We have devised a pricing structure to make this gig as accessible as possible:

Standard: Set price
Supporter: For those who feel like they can pay more
Lower Cost: We don’t want cost to be a barrier so this is a self-determined unwaged / concession rate.

*** Limited amount of early bird tickets available - use code ORCHID at checkout for 10% discount off any ticket

Workshop Only
Standard £16.50
Supporter £21.50
Lower Cost £13.50

Gig Only
Standard £12
Supporter £15
Lower Cost £10

Gig and Workshop Deal
Standard £21.50
Supporter £26.50
Lower Cost £18.50

Everyone working to bring this event together will be paid. Any profits will be made as a donation to Womens Aid.