The Roots, Carling Academy, Glasgow, Dec 17

Widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop acts around, if not one of the best live acts period, The Roots are undoubtedly one of the most influential artists of their time and genre. With three albums in the last four years they are clearly not short of inspiration, and with a grand total of seven LPs under their collective belts the set lists are always diverse. Complementing this back catalogue is their live act, which unlike many other hip-hop groups, is genuinely live, with a full band behind the rappers rather than a lone DJ. Despite several line-up changes the group still includes founding members and schoolmates Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter and Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson, who have together produced some of the most memorable hip hop of the last decade on the albums 'Things Fall Apart' and 'Phrenology'. Coming to Glasgow's Carling Academy as part of their 'Game Theory' album tour, this is a live experience not to be missed. [Peter Walker]