Hivestock returns to Royal Edinburgh Hospital

Last week, Hivestock took over the grounds of Royal Edinburgh Hospital for an annual outdoor arts festival organised by the wonderful team at The Hive. The event is designed to support patient wellbeing and featured live performances including from our very own guitarist and singer Charlie Gorman, who’s been facilitating jam sessions at The Hive for over ten years. 

Team Leader Julie McPherson explains a bit about the event: “It just gets bigger each year. We now have stalls and wristbands and ice cream for everyone. The patients look forward to it each year, it helps them forget where they are and they can have a great day enjoying music in the sunshine. It puts a smile on everyone’s face.” 

The Hive is a unique community space for patients at Royal Edinburgh Hospital, which supports people with acute mental health problems. The team have been working collaboratively with Music in Hospitals & Care to share the healing power of live music with patients as part of our long-standing partnership with Tonic Arts, NHS Lothian Charity’s arts programme.

Charlie Gorman has been working with us in Scotland since 2013. He explains: “Hivestock has always been one of my favourite music events of the year. The level of organisation that goes into the event from Julie and her team is fantastic, organising the bands from near and far. Over the years I’ve been told by many patients at the hospital how much they get from the music, how much in particular they enjoy the festival and most importantly how beneficial it is to them. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to have been involved with The Hive and Hivestock over the years.”

Len McCaffer, Tonic Arts Manager at NHS Lothian Charity, said: “Events like Hivestock bring joy, connection, and a sense of celebration and community to patients, families, and staff. These experiences are more than entertainment – they’re a really important part of holistic care.” 

Live music plays a powerful role in rehabilitation and recovery. By bringing people together through music, Hivestock not only entertains but also supports emotional wellbeing, creating moments of connection and joy that can make a lasting difference for patients, their families and staff.