Stanley Odd, Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, August 2.

Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall has some of the best programming of anywhere in the Scottish Capital, and not just during the month of August. And before anyone says it, no, I’m not on a retainer for saying that.

Stanley Odd have been around for a few years now, and their profile has risen considerably with the release of their two albums, Oddio and Reject. This is, in fact, their only Edinburgh gig this entire year. A sure sign that you’ve made a serious impression, when you are only doing one gig in the space of a year in your home town.

The thing is, they’re going places because people have woken up to to, frankly, just how sodding great Stanley Odd are. Tonight they’re backed by the Electric String Orchestra, who they played with at Celtioc Connections in Glasgow earlier this year. And when firm favourites like ‘The Numbness’ ‘Killergram’ and ‘Get Out My Headspace’ are bolstered by the ESO, it’s truly something to behold.

So yes, there will be those who can’t see beyond the idea of any Scottish Hip-Hop act being some kind of a novelty. But like fellow city stars Young Fathers, Stanley Odd are keeping it real (no rapping like how they perceive an LA gang member to do), and the only way is up.