WITH every major event, something will go wrong. With some events, everything can go wrong.

Fate can conspire against even the best of intentions – months and months of planning had gone into the return of EH6 Festival to Leith, but in the end it all came undone.

Last year's event was scuppered for obvious reasons and there was already an added determination to make sure 2021 went ahead. But it wasn't long until things began to unravel…

Despite strong ticket sales on the Friday and Saturday, the Sunday was a different story. Organisers took the decision to withdraw the third day to ensure the event was viable.

A few days before it began, Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves had to pull out due to sickness. The West Lothian band were due to perform second last on the Friday.

On the day of the event, a few more cancellations meant it would start a little later.

Then a major storm warning was issued on the Friday morning, with high winds expecting to lash Edinburgh and the surrounding area. Indeed, the alert was spot on with the area around The Biscuit Factory rattled by the elements for most of the day.

After all that, the event was finally underway and it appeared that for organisers the worst was behind them. Until, it really wasn't…

An hour or two into proceedings and the announcement started to filter through. The Saturday headliners The Pigeon Detectives had to cancel their booking due to one member of their touring party testing positive for Covid.

Despite all the obstacles that had been overcome already, it was a devastating blow.

There was less than 24 hours before the doors were to open for the Saturday and the headliners were out. The decision was made to cancel the whole second day and issue refunds.

Apologies came thick and fast from all quarters – and the frustration was widespread.

A statement from the organisers said that the event would not be viable after refunds were issued. There would be no time to book a replacement, and even in that case refunds may still have to honoured. Looking back, EH6 was ill-fated from the get-go.

However, there is another story to tell – and one that might just be forgotten amid the headlines. The bands who took to the stage at EH6 Festival on Friday were outstanding. Indeed, the strength of their performances only makes the loss of the Saturday, as well as the Sunday, all the more tragic.

The bands just wanted to play. And so they did.

Mayah Herlihy kickstarted the entertainment with a truly wonderful performance. She set the tone for the day with her energy, playing the odd cover and catchy original tracks such as Follow the Sunshine.

Picking a highlight for the day is a tricky one but anyone making a shortlist would have Berta Kennedy at the top. This is an act that will be garnering so much attention in 2022 and those who sleep on this one will miss out. She and her band opened the second stage with aplomb, elevating the standard for those to follow.

The day continued at pace with the electric AMA JANE producing a stunning set on the main stage, before Scarlett Randle delivered another tremendous set with her band.

Upstairs, the audience were treated to performances from Katie Mackie, Jamie Coleman, Gavin Kerr and Steph Fraser and Dev Green.

Downstairs, the crowds gathered from all-action display from the incredible Carly Connor, before storming sets from Connor Fyfe and Billy Mitchell.

And, if anyone would wrestle the mantle of best in show from Berta Kennedy, it would have been Dovv. The Kirkcaldy five-piece closed the second stage with a polished performance that underlines their credentials as ones to watch from the Fife scene.

Then, with a full house inside the Biscuit Factory, Callum Beattie brought the curtains down in some style – the crowd eating out of his hand as he and the band went for it.

These performances may well be lost amid the fallout in the coming days. But it's important to remember that when called upon, these bands delivered.