[2] Unlike other music festivals, The Edge did not take place at one location, with performers instead playing numerous venues across the city during the month.

Over the years the event has seen performances by the likes of Pixies, Muse, Morrissey, Nancy Sinatra, Franz Ferdinand and Arcade Fire.

[7] Embrace's performance at the Liquid Room was named "Best Gig of T on the Fringe 2004" by a judging panel consisting of the Sunday Mail, DF Concerts and Tennent's.

[9] The festival's other main draw was two homecoming performances by Franz Ferdinand in Princes Street Gardens on 30–31 August 2005, supported by Arcade Fire.

[15] The festival was marked by the announcement of three large outdoor concerts taking place at Meadowbank Stadium, which had increased in capacity to 25,000 for the event.

[19] Greg Forbes of festival website eFestivals said that Editors' supporting concert at Meadowbank Stadium "blew them away", outperforming headliners Razorlight.

[22] Organisers secured a number of high-profile revival acts, including David Byrne, Magazine and Faith No More, the band's first Scottish performance in over a decade.

As well as this, performers included ex-Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie, The Bluetones, Mumford & Sons,[23] Biffy Clyro, Frightened Rabbit, Andrew Bird, Unicorn Kid and Young Fathers, The Streets, Amanda Palmer, múm, Broken Records and Calvin Harris.

[27] Further acts announced included Mika, Professor Green, Tinchy Stryder, Eels, Modest Mouse, Beirut, The Coral, The Divine Comedy, Doves, Steve Mason and Colin MacIntyre, The Phantom Band, Pearl and the Puppets, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Kassidy, Broken Records, The Low Anthem, Little Feat, General Fiasco, Gomez, Tom Gray, Phoenix, Get Cape.