Live Music Highlights - May, 2009

Lush, grand, but undeniably pop, A Camp get the month off to a classy start with a gig at Glasgow ABC2 on 2 May. Ostensibly the side project of The Cardigans' Nina Persson, A Camp are a notable force in their own right, and Persson's sublime voice coupled with such strong, melodic songwriting guarantees a great show.

With their live shows already the stuff of legend (think go-go dancers, Lightning Bolt-style crowd invasions and merciless percussive blitzkrieg), it's safe to say that Friendly Fires will be packing them in when they play Edinburgh Picture House on 6 May and Glasgow ABC on 7 May. Supple, euphoric electro, unstoppable dance rhythms and driving pop melodies are their weapons of choice: Scotland, you don't stand a chance!

My Vitriol are back in business and gigging again, and honestly, it's like they've never been away. Still the gorgeous distorted walls of melody; still the unstoppable hooks; still the same palpable passion. By all accounts the new material is sounding spiffy too. Quality band - Aberdeen Tunnels 17 May.

Rapidly amassing a reputation as one of the most unmissable bands in the UK, Future of the Left don't fuck around when they play live. Led by Andy 'Heckle me at your peril' Falkous, this captivating outfit play music that is playful, intelligent and bloody loud. Searing venom never sounded so good. They play Glasgow Stereo on 18 May.

Blimey, The Breeders are in town - for two nights! Fronted by the unfathomably cool Kim Deal, the legendary four-piece will rock Glasgow King Tuts on both the 19th and 20th of May. We'd be glad to see them stay for a whole week, but hey. Good times are all but guaranteed.

Ridiculously talented Fifer James Yorkston hits up Scotland this month for a series of joint shows with Lisa Knapp. Who hell she? Well, aside from the dubious honour of having her debut named as Mojo's folk album of the year, she's paid her dues on the trad-folk scene and emerged with a modern, unique sound that should make these gigs something a bit special. Dundee The Rep Theatre 14 May; Aberdeen Lemon Tree 15 May; Edinburgh Picture House 19 May; Stirling the Tolbooth 21 May; Glasgow ABC2 22 May. Google for even more dates all throughout Scotland in May.

Exciting news for west coast punters: The Stag and Dagger festival will take place on 23 May, and boy, is the line-up a coup. Performing as part of this one-ticket-gives-access-to-all fest are the very best of the current Scottish crop: Dananananaykroyd, The Aliens, The Phantom Band, Twilight Sad... As if that wasn't enough, there'll be an impressive international presence from the likes of Cursive, Black Lips, (Chris) Clark and The Mae Shi amongst others. A big bowl of superb? We think so. See www.staganddagger.com for more info.

Whether you rate the music or not, the new Horrors record is undoubtedly one of the surprises of 2009: finding them transformed overnight from pantomime punks into a serious, substantial band that people everywhere seem to be having long, heated discussions about. And with reports from recent gigs suggesting their live show has undergone a similar metamorphosis, King Tut's is the only place to be in Glasgow on 29 May.