Shopping for Music in Edinburgh

 Avalanche 17 West Nicolson St, Tel: 6682374, 63 Cockburn St, Tel: 2253939, and 28 Lady Lawson St, Tel: 2281939. Specializes in new and used vinyl and CDs. The Cockburn St branch is a good place to find out about clubs and gigs. Open daily 1000-1800.

Backbeat 31 East Crosscauseway, Tel: 6682666. Excellent second-hand record shop with a great selection of jazz, blues and soul. Open Mon-Sat 1000-1730.

Blackfriar's Folk Music Shop 49 Blackfriar's St (off the Royal Mile), Tel: 5573090. Wide range of traditional Scottish musical instruments.

FOPP 55 Cockburn St, Tel: 2200133. Another record shop on a street full of them. Good for mainstream, indie and dance music. Open Mon-Sat 0930-1900, Sun 1100-1800.

Coda Music 12 Bank Street, Old Town (622 7246) The shop has a wide collection of Scottish folk music and also stocks various other forms of music. Open Mon-Sat 9300-1730, Sun 1100-1630.

McAkister Matheson Music 1 Grindlay Street, South Edinburgh (228 3827) Known for its collection of classical music and opera. Open- Mon-Fri 9300-1830, Sat 9000-1700. Web-http://www.mmmusic.co.uk

Ripping Music & Tickets 19 South Bridge, Old Town (226 7010) It has a wide collection of rock, pop, dance and indie CDs, but the main attraction here is the gig tickets. From local nights to stadium shows, everything that's available is pinned up in the window display.

Underground Solu'shn 9 Cockburn Street, Old Town (226 2242) The shop has a wide choice of vinyl dance imports, with variety of house,garage,techno and jungle sounds. The place also is known for selling tickets of the forthcoming club nights. Open- Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 1000-1800, Thur 1000-1900, Sun noon-1700. Web- http://www.undergroundsolushn.com