“The huge challenge of Edfringe is probably a big part of what makes it such an amazing and satisfying experience overall.”
WHO: Michelle McGregor
WHAT: “Tom Waits fans are leaving stunned – and newcomers are finally getting it. Tom Waits War Songs tears open songs by Waits/Brennan and stitches them together into a raw, dark, rock ‘n’ roll experience with live band, original animation and fever-dream storytelling. More than a tribute concert, the show transforms a carefully curated collection of war songs into one theatrical story arc. Gritty, visual and emotionally charged, Tom Waits War Songs is an immersive live performance for the Waits faithful, the curious and the unconvinced.”
WHERE: Just The Tonic at The Subway at Just The Tonic at Subway (Venue 27)
WHEN: 12:30 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This will be our second time as part of Edfringe. We first showed up at Edinburgh in 2014 with our show Manuelita which ran at the Underbelly and won a Three Weeks Editors’ Award. Our memory is a little hazy (blame the obligatory post-show beers) but we certainly remember it as a rollercoaster ride, with plenty of highs and lows. The huge challenge of Edfringe is probably a big part of what makes it such an amazing and satisfying experience overall. That said, we wish it were much more accessible to a wider number of artists (or that we could afford to go every year!) and, for that reason, we are very excited about Edfringe’s recent incorporation of digital shows.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2025 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
You have to ask! You have to ask for what you want. No one is going to support your show, share about your show, or buy your merch unless. you. ask.
It’s tempting to just “put yourself out there” and hope for the best. But that’s not going to get you where you want to go. Especially with the cost of Fringe. We’re a 5 piece band coming from the U.S. I wasn’t going to find the money to fly us all, house us all, and put on a show by just crossing my fingers and hoping it all works out.
There’s a lot of people in LA right now with a Tom Waits War Songs t-shirt because I asked for that kind of support.
The fact that they look fabulous doing it? Well that’s just a great cherry on top 😉
Tell us about your show.
Tom Waits War Songs is a live concert experience featuring songs about war by Tom Waits (and Kathleen Brennan). I (Michelle McGregor) have been a huge Waits fan for decades, and noticed that throughout his career, Waits has a LOT of songs about soldiers and war.
I thought it would make a great show.
We’ve crafted the songs into a loose narrative about a solider leaving for war, being at war, and coming home with PTSD.
It’s a concert, but also a bit theatrical. We perform the songs in front of original animation (all hand drawn by artist Randall Kaplan), and these animations help with the story and the atmosphere.
We had a really successful run in LA and even attracted some attention from folks in the Waits circle. We’ve been encouraged by many to keep going, and we’re hoping that Edinburgh is just the next stop on the journey!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
For Tom Waits fans there’s actually another Waits tribute at the festival! “Glitter and Doom: a Tribute to Tom Waits” is a free show and it’s the 5th year in a row that group has brought it to Fringe. I can’t wait to hear another band doing Waits songs live!
There’s also a show called Dracula: Lucy’s Dream that is all from Lucy’s perspective. I definitely want to see that!
And finally, I’m dying to see Endometriosis: The Musical. I’m so glad this horrible disease is hitting the main stream. I see more and more people talking about it these days, and I’m excited to see it talked about it musical form!
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