When Bon Jovi took to the stage at Murrayfield in front of 60,000 roaring fans this weekend, the band brought a distinctly Scottish touch to their performance. Several band members wore kilts hand-sewn by an Edinburgh apprentice, turning the concert into an unexpected showcase for local craft and talent.
The kilts, made by the young Edinburgh-based apprentice, were worn proudly on stage as the band worked through their set at the iconic Edinburgh stadium. For the apprentice involved, seeing their work displayed in front of tens of thousands of fans must have been quite the moment.
Murrayfield has become one of Scotland’s go-to venues for major international acts, and Bon Jovi’s decision to incorporate traditional Scottish dress into their show went down well with the home crowd. There are few things a Scottish audience appreciates more than visitors making a genuine effort to embrace the culture rather than just passing through.
Kiltmaking is a skilled trade with deep roots in Scotland, and apprenticeships in the craft help keep traditional techniques alive. For a young tradesperson still learning their craft, having their work seen by 60,000 people at one of the biggest gigs of the year is the kind of exposure that money simply cannot buy.
Bon Jovi have been touring extensively and their Edinburgh date was one of the most anticipated shows of the summer calendar. The band’s willingness to wear locally made kilts rather than reaching for something off the shelf says something about how they approach connecting with audiences on the road.
For Edinburgh, it was another reminder that the city punches well above its weight when it comes to attracting global talent, and that local skills and craftsmanship still have a very real place in the modern world.