The Underground Lectures: Sex Sells: The Dirty History of Musical Instrument Advertising
Sex sells, or so the saying goes, but when did it start selling musical instruments? Join Dr Sarah Deters for this lecture on 6th August!
About The Underground Lectures: Sex Sells: The Dirty History of Musical Instrument Advertising
Sex Sells: The Dirty History of Musical Instrument Advertising
Dr Sarah Deters, Curator, St Cecilia’s Hall
Sex sells, or so the saying goes, but when did it start selling musical instruments? The use of beautiful women, suggestive product placement and sexual undertones have long been used in advertising. Musical instruments, with their sensuous shapes, ‘dangerous curves’ and association with pop culture, are no strangers when it comes to using this marketing technique. From the demure housewife to the scantily clad guitar ‘girl’, images collected from advertisements, articles and trade publications from the 19th century to today reflect these trends in marketing and the wider influences of societal change.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Sponsored Links
Other Events at The Royal Scots Club or Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Almost Impossible 2.0: Martin Brock
Martin Brock is back at the Fringe with an electrifying, one-of-a-kind spectacle of slick, mind-bending magic, laugh-out-loud comedy, cutting-edge video production and astonishing illusions!
READ MORE
Jonno: Here Comes Mr Funny
Cards on the table, it's Jonno writing this blurb. I'm doing a stand up show that's mostly daft stuff; songs are a big bit of it (almost half, I think) and then I tell some lies for about 10 minutes!
READ MORE
Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All
Dan Tiernan returns to the Fringe armed with an amethyst, a bucketful of sage and a rose quartz the size of his impossibly large head!
READ MORE
3D2D West End Fair
The 3D2D West End Fair returns between Monday 3rd and Sunday 30th August at St John's Episcopal Church with over 120 carefully curated and talented artists and artisan makers presenting their work!
READ MORE
Susie McCabe: Coming Of Rage
It's been some 12 months for Susie McCabe, but she is still standing and determined to have her say in Coming of Rage... don't miss her live at Assembly George Square as part of the Edinburgh Fringe!
READ MORE
Baby Wants Candy
Baby Wants Candy, one of the world's most celebrated improv shows EVER, heads back to the Fringe with a brand new and as-yet unknown run of original, hilarious and unpredictable one-off musicals!
READ MORE
Married At Fringe Sight
Married At Fringe Sight is an exciting crowd-work show where the audience have to decide who gets married today... by the end of the show!
READ MORE
John Robertson’s The Dark Room
Comedian John Robertson's The Dark Room is a gut-busting rock n' roll experience for everyone who buys a ticket! Don't miss it when it returns to the Edinburgh Fringe!
READ MORE
Best of the Queer Fringe
Don't miss a mixed-bill line-up of the best LGBTQ+ stand-up comedians from across the Fringe from the UK's first LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy club, The Queer Comedy Club.
READ MORE
Shotgunned
Equal parts hilarious and heart-breaking, Matt Anderson's Shotgunned is a relatable and intimate piece of theatre about how the people we lose can shape who we become.
READ MORE
ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show
Using his language and their overactive imaginations, ShakeItUp create a brand new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with big laughs, high drama, and plenty of Bard-based Bedlam!
READ MORE
Hypnotist Matt Hale: Funbelievable! 90s Rewind
The unmissable smash-hit comedy hypnotist Matt Hale returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with his 90s party hypnoshow!
READ MORE
Elliot Bibby: Abracadada
Get ready for a hilarious, high-energy mix of mind-blowing magic and parenting mayhem as Elliot Bibby brings his brilliant, all-ages show Abracadada to the Edinburgh Fringe!
READ MORE
Locomotive For Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit
Five-star, sell-out Fringe favourites, Pinch Punch, welcome you aboard Locomotive for Murder – The Improvised Whodunnit, where killing the cast and cracking the case is in your hands!
READ MORE
Tartan Tabletop: A Dungeons & Dragons Comedy
Calling all Dungeons & Dragons fans... Tartan Tabletop are back this August after their biggest ever year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
READ MORE
Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas
Back by popular demand to this year's Fringe is the much-loved Gilded Balloon co-production Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas... it will leave you with a feel-good glow!
READ MORE
Christopher Hall: Pizazz
Showman, Jester, Attention Chaser, come with Chris Hall on the ultimate hometown night out when he brings his new show, Pizazz, to this year's Edinburgh Fringe!
READ MORE
1 Hour Of Insanity
Back for its second year, 1 Hour of Insanity returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with brand-new performers alongside a couple of favourites from last year!
READ MORE
1 Hour Of Insane Magic
Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey return to Edinburgh Fringe for their fourth year as Insane Magic, bigger and more spectacular than ever before!
READ MORE
Biscuit Barrel: The 69-Sketch Show
Fresh off Hollywood Fringe, Biscuit Barrel return for their seventh Edinburgh run with more slapstick, songs, wordplay, biscuits and even beatboxing!
READ MORE
Aidan Jones: Chopin’s Nocturne
Don't miss Chopin's Nocturne in Eb Major, presented with jokes by a bald, Australian d*ckhead with a beard as part of this years Assembly Festival!
READ MORE
Mythos: Ragnarök
Back for its fifth consecutive year at the Fringe, join Loki, Thor and the Norse Gods in this five-star groundbreaking blend of mythological storytelling and high-octane wrestling!
READ MORE
Connor Burns: FLOW
Connor Burns' 2025 show sold out 12,000 tickets in Edinburgh alone, toured UK, Australia and packed the Glasgow Kings Theatre 5 times over! Don't miss him when he returns to Edinburgh with FLOW!
READ MORE
5 Mistakes That Changed History
From comedian and historian Paul Coulter comes 5 Mistakes That Changed History, a John Oliver-meets-Horrible Histories tour of five mistakes that impacted our world!
READ MORE
In Pour Taste: A Comedy Wine Tasting Experience
Returning after two sellout Edinburgh Fringe seasons, comedians Sweeney Preston and Ethan Cavanagh and a guest wine expert guide you through five wine tastings and at least five jokes!
READ MORE
Trainspotting Live
Trainspotting Live, the acclaimed immersive adaptation of Irvine Welsh's classic novel, returns to The Pleasance at EICC for their tenth Edinburgh Fringe season!
READ MORE
Wiesenthal
Returning to Edinburgh Fringe following a sell-out 2023 debut, Wiesenthal is the story of an ordinary man who devoted his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice.
READ MORE
CADEL: Lungs on Legs
Returning after a sold-out 2025 premiere, Connor Delves delivers a powerhouse performance with CADEL: Lungs on Legs, pedalling live on the actual bike Evans rode to victory!
READ MORE
FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals
Arthur Hull returns to Edinburgh Fringe with FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals an updated version of his blockbusting musical cabaret celebrating Theatreland's casualties!
READ MORE
The Greatest Magic Show
The multi award-winning, sell-out smash hit The Greatest Magic Show is returning to Edinburgh for its seventh magical year, with whimsical wonders that the whole family will love!
READ MORE
Forth on The Fringe
Forth on the Fringe is the annual one stop shop for all the essential acts you need to see at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Catch it at Edinburgh Playhouse on 7th & 8th August!
READ MORE
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe returns from 7th to 31st August 2026 with artists and performers taking to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows for every taste!
READ MORE
Tom Mcguire And The Brassholes
Catch Tom McGuire & The Brassholes, a colourful, hilarious bunch of wonderfully talented, animated young men, when they play La Belle Angele on August 9th as part of the Edinburgh Fringe!
READ MORE
Monski Mouse’s Baby Cabaret
Join Monski Mouse, and her super talented friends, for a live musical singalong cabaret of nursery classics, songs, puppetry and bonkers fun!
READ MORE
Daniel Sloss: BITTER
Scotland’s international comedy superstar Daniel Sloss unleashes his brilliant and devastatingly hilarious brand-new show 'BITTER' at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Saturday 15th August.
READ MORE
Dean Friedman
Catch legendary singer and songwriter Dean Friedman at Edinburgh New Town Church for an unforgettable evening of funny, poignant, heartfelt stories and songs!
READ MORE
Come From Away
With soaring music and a deeply moving story, Come From Away tells of the spirited locals of Gander and the stranded passengers who unexpectedly came together in the wake of September 11th.
READ MORE
Hot Dub Time Machine Presents House Party: 1970 - 2026
The ultimate Edinburgh Fringe Party is back! Sold-out since 2012, Hot Dub Time Machine returns to the heart of the Fringe for 8 intimate shows at Assembly Hall!
READ MORE
Just Radiohead
Featuring a collective of highly experienced and well-known performers from around the Liverpool and North Wales scenes don't miss Just Radiohead live at La Belle Angele on Friday 21st August!
READ MOREConnor Burns: FLOW
Connor Burns' 2025 show sold out 12,000 tickets in Edinburgh alone, toured UK, Australia and packed the Glasgow Kings Theatre 5 times over! Don't miss him when he returns to Edinburgh with FLOW!
READ MORE
Kenny Thomas
British soul legend and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kenny Thomas has announced a special show at La Belle Angele as part of Edinburgh Fringe, celebrating 35 years of his debut record!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Find Out Fridays
Explore a different theme each week on Friday afternoons, during school term-time, with our Learning team at the National Museum of Scotland.
READ MORE
Beneath the Surface: King’s Gallery Short Talks
Join our team at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for weekly gallery talks as part of the exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance!
READ MORE
Community Connections
Each month in the beautiful and historic Abbey Strand Centre, Community Connections will explore themes from across the Royal Collection and the history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
READ MORE
Tea and Talks
These tea and talk sessions deliver a series of small-scale talks from the RZSS team in the stunning setting of the Mansion House at Edinburgh Zoo.
READ MORE
Guided Looking: An Artwork Audio Described
Join Fiona Johnston, audio describer, as she describes various artwork and objects from the Royal Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse!
READ MORE
Moving Minds presents Simulating The Cosmos: Why The Universe Looks The Way It Does
Moving Minds hosts monthly pub talks with experts and storytellers, join them at Malones Leith on Wednesday 18th February for 'Simulating The Cosmos: Why The Universe Looks The Way It Does'.
READ MORE
Jen Stout: Night Train to Odesa: A Scottish Journalist In Ukraine
Over the last three years of Russia's war against Ukraine, journalist and writer Jen Stout has brought the conflict home to readers in Scotland with her evocative firsthand reporting.
READ MORE
An Evening With Greig Laidlaw
Join former Scotland captain and rugby legend Greig Laidlaw at Bonnie & Wild, as he takes you behind the scenes of his illustrious career!
READ MORE
David Remfry In Conversation
Join Dovecot for the opening day of David Remfry: In Residence, featuring a special conversation between the artist and Dovecot Master Weaver Naomi Robertson.
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links