One of my favourite venues in Edinburgh celebrates seven years of survival on Thursday night.

Our city is not renowned for its music venues, but whenever I’ve asked a fellow Edinburgher which spot they think is the best, there’s only ever one response: Sneaky Pete’s.

A shoebox venue that hands out cans of Red Stripe by the armful to the overheated, hard-to-impress punters of the capital standing five abreast, Sneaky Pete’s has provided me with some of the most memorable nights out since I moved up north. One night in particular stands out; a solo drone musician from NYC, who dressed like Doctor Who and sang like a humpback whale, his melodies improvised and set tot he rhythm of a silent animation piece projected behind the stage, showing only his sillhouette like some sort of electro Wizard of Oz. I was one of eight or nine audience members and it felt like I had left my body and exited the timespace continuum.

You can’t manufacture that kind of memory — it’s the sort of thing that can only happen in a sleazy, shadowy place like Sneaky Pete’s. Here’s to seven more years.

Sneaky Pete’s 7th birthday party is on Thursday, including a set by Jacques Greene.