Scottish Gig Highlights – June 2015
June arrives and with it comes the promise of a marginal amount of sun, the official beginning of festival season and a helluva lot of potentially outstanding gigs in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Whatever your scene, whatever the weather, we’ve got your back.
The month kicks off in scuzzy, post-punk fashion with tireless Leeds outfit Eagulls delivering the next installment of Summerhall's Nothing Ever Happens Here series, with which programmer Jamie Sutherland (also of Broken Records) endeavours to disprove the misconception of a mundane Edinburgh music scene. As one of the last British bands to tear it up on Letterman, there is no doubt that this raucous five-piece are up to the challenge (3 Jun).
LA-based Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt, aka Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, guarantees a night of explicit content in Glasgow’s O2 ABC (8 Jun). Earl’s second studio album IDLSIDGO (I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside, in case you're asking) is a raw, honest, and dare we say mature addition to the latter-day hip-hop canon. A clear progression from the mysogynistic undertones of 2013's Doris, his new LP marks a shift from angry teenager to the earned confidence and aggression of a man coming to terms with his past.
From LA hip-hop to reformed Britpop, the next night is a big ‘un at Glasgow’s Barrowlands (9 June) with Blur promising a show of epic proportions. Albarn and co. will be playing material from their understated return LP The Magic Whip, as well as the anthems that helped shape a generation. Along the road, NYC's Godmother of punk Patti Smith will be playing Horses, the record that kicked off her career as a musical libertine, in the Royal Concert Hall.
Meanwhile in Edinburgh, the poetry scene continues to flourish and Neu! Reekie! present one of their biggest shows yet, featuring SAY and Mercury-winning hip-hop trio Young Fathers, resurgent Edinburgh dance collective Finitribe and a set from legendary techno ace Andrew Weatherall. With the usual spoken word to boot, #untitledlive will provide a considerable five and a half hours of entertainment (Central Hall, 9 Jun).
Have yourself a couple nights off before the vowel-averse Bdy_Prts promise to fill Stereo’s dark basement with alt-pop that packs an electro punch (12 Jun). A follow up to last year’s IDLU – produced by Julian Corrie of Miaoux Miaoux – new single Cold Shoulder just recently surfaced and if the shimmering synths are a sign of the album to come, it’s officially time to sit up and take notice.
If you prefer your guitars thick with feedback then an apointment with Crocodiles awaits at Broadcast (14 Jun) to see the San Diego garage duo thrash out some reverb soaked gold. They swagger over to the capital to play Sneaky Pete’s the following night (15 Jun).
June’s comeback game is strong; and this one may be the most highly anticipated of them all. On 14 Jun alt-metal legends Faith No More will undoubtedly smash the O2 Academy, Glasgow, in an appearance that falls slap bang in the middle of an extensive world tour. Sol Invictus, the San Franciscans' first new album in 18 years, is an absolute beast of varied textures. Mike Patton’s inimitable larynx acrobatics (the biggest range in rock: fact) are as astounding as ever. This will be a loud one.
If all this explicit content, psych-rock and metal is wearing you out, seek respite in Stereo with the wonderful Katie Crutchfield aka Waxachatchee the following night (15 Jun). Her sincere, introspective songwriting and sparse instrumental landscapes are all the pampering yer lug holes need.
Nutzoid supergroup FFS appropriately kick off their European tour at Glasgow’s Art School (16 Jun) after tickets sold faster than we could say ‘so it's Franz Ferdinand and Sparks, together?’ The Glasgow legends will be warmly welcomed back to the circuit in their first ever collaborative live gig with the American quirk-rockers. Ten years in the pipeline, the debut LP (released 8 Jun) showcases the Mael brothers' acerbic lyrics and Franz’s jaunty energy. Expect a theatrical performance.
2015 marks the 20th anniversary of Mogwai. In June 1995 the young band members gathered in the living room of Stuart Braithwaite’s parents to rehearse for the first time. You’d think that two decades in, they might start to get a bit complacent – far from it, as last year’s Rave Tapes has gone to show. Playing two nights (20, 21 Jun) on their home soil at the Barrowlands, we have a legendary band in a legendary venue. Post-rock perfection.
Rounding off the month with a double-dunter of celebrations. Four of Glasgow’s brightest, Poor Things, Pinact, Sharptooth and Halfrican are releasing their split 7” EP on 22 Jun – and they are very excited about it. Choose Edinburgh’s Banshee Labyrinth (26 Jun) or The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow (27 June) for a serious party. In fact bugger it; just do both.
Do Not Miss: West End Festival All Dayer, Òran Mór, 21 JunE
Now a staple of Glasgow’s West End Festival, this year’s Òran Mór all-dayer presents another discerning afternoon (and evening) of quality music from all corners of your record shelf. Why wouldn't you catch the genre-bending Phantom Band, politically focused alternative hip-hoppers Stanley Odd, the aggressively melodic Tuff Love and the wonderfully reflective jazz-speckled wisdom of Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat, all in one day, in one venue, for a mere fifteen of your hard-earned pounds? Then there's a rare live outing for De Rosa, sprawling instrumental star-gazers Remember Remember, The Dirty Beggars , SAY 2013 winner RM Hubbert, and SAY 2015 nominee Kathryn Joseph. If this doesn’t peel you off the couch, we don’t know what will.