Scottish Gig Highlights – May 2015
Start this summer with a flashback to the space-race in Glasgow, as Public Service Broadcasting bring their special blend of aural collage to the O2 ABC. The duo combine archival soundbites, video footage and roaring guitars for an experience far more involved than your typical live show – and this time they’ve turned their attention to the cosmos.
Then comes Happyness to Sneaky Pete’s on 8 May; the London three-piece proffer fuzzy slacker indie pop that’s guaranteed to put a smile on yer gub. 9 May rings in the first of several major clashes: Over at Glasgow’s Stereo, you’ve rising indie stars Foxygen bringing feel-good weirdo pop and some stellar dance moves. The same night, Dan Willson, aka Withered Hand, will be spinning beautiful yarns at Nice n Sleazy. Meanwhile in Edinburgh, TeenCanteen are hosting 'The Girl Effect' at Summerhall, boasting a line-up of The Vaselines' Eugene Kelly, Broken Records, Stanley Odd's MC Solareye, The Spook School and many many others playing classic tunes from girl-groups past and present – with all proceeds going to the Scottish Women’s Aid.
The clashes continue on 12 May, where you’ve got the choice between a dance party with electronic maestros Hot Chip at Glasgow’s Art School, an evening of bratty rap with Tyler, the Creator and his new album Cherry Bomb at Barrowlands, and a chance to get up close and personal with this year’s hotly tipped prince of disco Shamir at Stereo. Soul pop purveyors Years and Years stride into Edinburgh Liquid Room on 20 May. Slick, shiny and supremely confident, don’t miss this rising trio before they blow up this summer’s festival circuit with their imminent debut album. If you like your indie rock lo-fi and soaked in Madrid sunshine (and don’t we all, eh?) then we’ll see you down the front at Broadcast on 21 May. Spanish band Hinds bring their summer-scented mix of surf rock and concrete grit.
Now, 22 May sees Belle and Sebastian grace The Hydro with the Scottish Festival Orchestra in tow for their largest indoor show at home... ever. Enough said, really. Their January return with Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance showcased the band digging deep into disco, and this gig of the most mammoth proportions is not one you should be sleeping on. That said, the reformed Ride also bring their sublime dream pop to the Barrowlands for the first time since 1992 that same night. Does your Joe Bloggs jumper still fit?
Eccentric piano wizard Nils Frahm takes the reins at the O2 ABC on 23 May. The Berlin-based trailblazer combines the classical and electronic in entirely original ways. If you're after a taster, he's also just released an album for free over on his website, in support of the newly coined Piano Day. For a quick injection of old fashioned rock’n’roll sleaze, The Bohicas are fresh out the gate – this May roadtrip is their first ever headline tour. Expect huge, greasy hooks and boatloads of energy when they hit King Tut's on 27 May. Keeping it filthy, our favourite self-confessed "Stooges rip-off" are back on the road this year –don’t you dare miss iconic Sub Pop flagship band Mudhoney take to the stage at the O2 ABC on 28 May. The definitive Seattle quartet still sound as bitingly muscular as ever, and promise an absolute schooling for any would-be grunge upstarts.
The Glad Cafe on 29-31 May hosts the inaugural three day mini-fest Sucker Punch. Presented in conjunction with Gold Flake Paint in honour of the popular music blog's fifth birthday, the lineup boasts the likes of Babe, Kathryn Joseph, Tuff Love, Rob St John and WOLF amongst a whole host of equally stellar features, before winding down with a screening of recent Elliott Smith documentary Heaven Adores You.
And, finally, 30 May – the Manic Street Preachers perform their 20 year old post-punk masterpiece The Holy Bible at Edinburgh's Usher Hall. A record so important to so many people, played in all its weighty, defiant entirety – an extraordinary way to see out this month.
DO NOT MISS: Live at Glasgow, VARIOUS VENUES (SEE LISTINGS), 3 May
Stag and Dagger or Live at Glasgow? What’s in a name? An absolutely bloody great bill, whatever the title. Musical bargains don’t get any better, and this year’s roster is a genuine cracker. Django Django are back with their brand new album, Sonic Youth hero Thurston Moore is bringing his band to town, and our very own Honeyblood sit tight at the upper end of the line-up, but there’s a glittering array of returning veterans and up-and-coming names from all across the globe to explore.
To give you just a faint idea of what you’re in for: Try Dutch Uncles, Childhood, Amber Run, Black Honey, Spring King… There’s Scandinavian punk hedonists Iceage, the inimitably creative Micah P Hinson, baroque Canadian crooner Tobias Jesso Jr, as well as John o’ Groats-via-Glasgow boys Neon Waltz and soulful sisters The Staves. And electro trio Atom Tree, JP Cooper, C Duncan, Hannah Lou Clark. Really, if there’s not something here that’s piqued your interest, I’ll eat this laptop. As the posters say: ten venues – one wristband. That’s a whole load of bass for your buck with plenty left over for a beer or five.