Former Frightened Rabbit drummer launches cider festival 20 years after band's debut album

• Grant Hutchison is launching a new cider festival in Edinburgh as his former band gets set to mark 20 years since the release of debut album Sing the Greys

• The ex-Frightened Rabbit drummer stepped back from touring in 2018 following the death of his brother and bandmate Scott Hutchison, and later opened Aeble in Anstruther — Scotland’s first dedicated cider shop — with his wife Jaye

• The Ubhal Cider Gathering will take place on March 28 at Custom Lane in Leith, bringing together 15 independent producers from Fife to Herefordshire for two 100-capacity tasting session 

• Couple say the event aims to tackle cider’s “perception problem” and help craft producers get the credit they deserve 

• "Music is precarious and I was always thinking ahead to what I’d do in my 40s", said Grant. "I probably would have opened some sort of cider shop or bar regardless, I just didn’t realise it would happen in quite the way it did.”

Grant Hutchison has played countless festivals during his music career – and now the former Frightened Rabbit drummer is preparing to launch one of his own.

This time, however, the focus will be Scottish cider. 

Five years after opening Scotland’s first dedicated cider shop alongside his wife, Jaye, and 20 years after the release of Frightened Rabbit’s debut album Sing the Greys, the pair are taking their passion to a new crowd by launching the Ubhal Cider Gathering, a festival they hope will push the often overlooked alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples firmly into the spotlight.

The musician stepped away from full-time touring in 2018 following the death of his brother and bandmate, Scott Hutchison. While that marked a profound turning point in his life, his interest in cider had been fermenting for years beforehand.

The 41-year-old said: “When we were touring, especially in places like Bristol, I’d bring cases of cider back up with me because you just couldn’t get the good stuff in Glasgow. 

“I’d see this whole world of small producers making incredible cider and then come home and find none of it on the shelves: it was always just the usual suspects like Strongbow and Bulmers. There was such a gap there. People didn’t know what they were missing. 

“Music is precarious and I was always thinking ahead to what I’d do in my 40s. I probably would have opened some sort of cider shop or bar regardless, I just didn’t realise it would happen in quite the way it did.”

The Hutchisons moved from Glasgow to the East Neuk fishing town of Anstruther during the pandemic. Spotting a vacant shop with a for-rent sign in April 2021, they decided to “take a punt” and open Aeble. Five years later, the pair are experiencing anything but a slower pace of life with two young daughters and a thriving shop and bar which has become a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. 

Before opening Aeble, Hutchison had established a wholesale cider distribution business supplying bars and restaurants in Scotland. But relocating to Fife made servicing the central belt impractical and forced a rethink. 

He continued: “With wholesale you drop the cases off and that’s it. I wasn’t getting to see who was actually drinking it. I love standing in the shop, talking to someone about what they normally drink, guiding them through the different styles and making sure they leave with something they’re going to enjoy.”

Now the couple are launching the Ubhal Cider Gathering on March 28 at Custom Lane in Leith, Edinburgh to “tackle cider’s perception problem”. The event will bring together 15 producers – 10 from Scotland and five from England – across two tasting sessions limited to 100 tickets each. 

Grant said: “People think they know what it is because they drank it when they were 16 in the park. But what we’re talking about is something much closer to natural wine. 

“The UK drinks more cider than anywhere else in the world, but culturally it’s not treated with the same respect as wine or whisky. That feels strange to me because the craftsmanship is absolutely there. It should be one of our national drinks. I hope this is the start of tackling cider’s perception problem.”

Jaye, who previously worked in events and hospitality, has worked to create a “welcoming space” rather than a niche specialist shop, inspired by both her time working in Melbourne and the couple’s 2019 Honeymoon to Japan. 

She said: “You can walk into some wine shops and feel too intimidated to ask a question. We’re the opposite. We talk to every single customer one to one, we explain the different styles and producers, and we make sure it feels open and friendly. 

“We are winning over the locals and get everyone from cider aficionados to people who live round the corner and just want a chat to Frightened Rabbit fans who’ve made the trip especially.

“We love the idea of doing one thing really, really, well. Japan really made it clear in our minds that if you try to be everything to everyone, you’ll be nothing to anyone. Looking back, visiting the Golden Gai district and all its amazing specialist bars, meeting and talking to the owners who cared immensely about what they were doing, was when this idea really began to take shape.”

The event, which is supported by Food and Drink Scotland, is being held in Edinburgh rather than Anstruther to make it easier for people to attend.

Jaye continued: “We want this to grow and become something we can build on year after year, so people need to be able to jump on a train and come for the day.

“Guests will get to try a diverse range of ciders and hear about the blend of art and science that goes into creating a cider. The one thing that connects every cider available on the day is the fact they have all been made with care, patience, and a deep respect for tradition and the customs around the drink. 

“We want to provide a platform for these brilliant makers – from Herefordshire to Fife and Kent to Ayrshire – who care deeply about the land and the process. 

“As people are more environmentally conscious and interested in drinks that are more natural, and lower alcohol, cider’s at a tipping point.” 

The event takes place on March 28 at Custom Lane in Leith,  Edinburgh, with sessions running from 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm. Tickets are limited to 100 per session and are available here. 

ENDS. 

Free to use images by Georgina Beard here

Issued on behalf of Aeble by Story Shop. For more information, or for interview requests, please contact gregor@wearestoryshop.com / 0781 332 0162 

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