Scottish Gig Highlights: 12-18 Oct

October, as ever, is one of the busiest months on the gigging circuit – we’ve jumped headfirst into what Edinburgh and Glasgow have to offer this week to help make your decisions that wee bit easier.

Wed 12 Oct

The MOBO and Mercury Music Prize nominated Kano touches down at Edinburgh’s Liquid Room, for the first of his two Scottish dates this month. You can also catch him at the Garage in Glasgow on Sun 16 Oct.

Liquid Room, 7pm, £15

Meanwhile in Glasgow, Baby Strange headline the seventh annual Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMAs). They will be joined by Paisley grime MC Shogun, electronic trio Stillhound and alt-rockers The Van T’s.

The Garage, 6:30pm, Tickets from £6.50

Thu 13 Oct

We Were Promised Jetpacks play what will be their last show for a while as they plan to knuckle down and get album number four in the bag. Expect to hear some new songs, mixed in with old favourites, in the beautiful setting of St Luke's in Glasgow's East End.

St Luke’s, 7pm, £12

Fri 14 Oct

Get your pop fix this week by checking out MØ, aka Karen Marie Ørsted. She is currently working on her eagerly anticipated second album – due for release in 2017 – and has just dropped her new single Drum, co-written by Charli XCX and produced by BloodPop. O2 ABC, 7pm, £12.50

Also worth checking out on Thursday are Edinburgh outfit Redolent at Mash House, experimental Californian hip-hop trio Death Grips at SWG3 and London five-piece The Duke Spirit at King Tut’s.

Sat 15 Oct

My Woman by Angel Olsen was our album of the month back in September, so if that’s anything to go by, this should be one hell of a gig. If you're still unconvinced, read our interview with Olsen on the making of the new album. SWG3, 7pm, £13

Also on Saturday, Glasgow and Edinburgh are hosting Oxjam Takeovers. Glasgow is bringing the party for 12 hours across 10 venues – Sea Bass Kid, SUPA & Da Kryptonites and The Twistettes are just some of the bands playing the all dayer.

 In Edinburgh, you can enjoy the merriment for a whole hour longer, across 5 venues, with performances from new electronic pop duo Chuchoter, Numbers Are Futile, Esther Swift and Tongue Trap among others.

Sun 16 Oct

A wonderful way to round off your weekend would be to catch up with Falkirk alt-folk legends Arab Strap, playing the second of their highly-anticipated Glasgow shows. Aidan Moffat revisited some of the key moments from their ten years away in this month's mag – read his thoughts on reunion tours, the state of the music biz, and his favourite Girls Aloud track.

Barrowland Ballroom, 7pm, £22.50

Mon 17 Oct

Oslo-born Jenny Hval tours her latest album, Blood Bitch, playing her only Scottish date of the tour at Glasgow’s Stereo. Her live show has gained her a lot of attention, with recent shows including Hval wearing a wig on a yoga ball, singing karaoke with other performance artists or having a tea party on stage, so who knows what you can expect at this one. Only one way to find out though... 

Stereo, 7pm, £10