Scottish Gig Highlights: 31 Jan – 6 Feb
This week's best live music in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as Celtic Connections comes to an end and a member of Arcade Fire arrives in Edinburgh
Live music in Glasgow
Loyle Carner @ Garage, 3 Feb
The South London MC (and part-time food educator) returns with tracks from his new album Yesterday's Gone. Expect an evening of confessional hip-hop from one of the UK's best rising talents.
Anna Meredith @ CCA, 4 Feb
The Scottish Album of the Year winner brings the wild, avant-garde and surprisingly noisy compositions of Varmints to the CCA for a special gig as part of this year's Celtic Connections – read our interview with Meredith from August 2016 on making the successful leap from classical to pop.
Also at Celtic Connections...
It's the final few days of this year's festival, so catch Martha Wainwright & Ed Harcourt holding court at the O2 ABC (3 Feb), see Glasgow indie-poppers Randolph's Leap bring some serious jauntiness to Broadcast (5 Feb), and get up to speed with the returning Meursault at The Hug & Pint (3 Feb).
Live Music in Edinburgh
Sarah Neufeld @ Summerhall, 3 Feb
Perhaps best known for her role as the violinist in Arcade Fire, Neufeld's talents and influence stretch beyond the bounds of Montreal's finest. An exciting composer in her own right, Neufeld presents her latest solo album The Ridge, a record which "paints a crisp scenery that feels like the fresh stillness of early morning one moment, and a jagged storm the next." Support comes from Ian Humberstone's Tissø Lake project – get down early to hear tracks from Paths to the Foss, our December album of the month.
Boxed In @ Electric Circus, 4 Feb
Oli Bayston and co present the krautrock-meets-tropical house sound of their new album Melt in the intimate confines of Electric Circus (also at Broadcast, Glasgow, 3 Feb).
Big Thief @ Mash House, 5 Feb
Atmospheric indie rock that'll suit fans of Angel Olsen and Sharon van Etten down to the ground, the Brooklyn four-piece hit the capital with tracks from their 2016 debut record Masterpiece.
Pick of the Week
Pronto Mama / The Vegan Leather @ Òran Mór, Glasgow, 3 Feb
As Celtic Connections nears the finish line, Glasgow’s Pronto Mama celebrate the occasion with the launch of their new single, Arabesque. The show should be a good indicator of what we can expect from their upcoming debut album Any Joy due for release this May. And Paisley art-pop quartet The Vegan Leather promise to get things off to a triumphant start with their LCD Soundsystem-influenced dance music. Winner.