Scottish Live Music Highlights: October 2023

Kicking off October is the opening night of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (4-22 Oct). Featuring a trio of Hen Hoose artists – R.AGGS, Sarah Hayes and SHEARS – we can’t think of anywhere better to be on the 4th. On the 7th, Tenement Trail returns to Glasgow’s Barrowlands and surrounding venues, with Bemz, Lizzie Reid, Swim School, Walt Disco and more. As the month rolls on, Glasgow welcomes Take Me Somewhere (13-20 Oct), Desire Marea playing the opening night at Tramway.

On the 14th, Pop Mutations All-Dayer returns to Renfield Lane with sets from Apostille, Alliyah Enyo, Eyve and chizu nnamdi, amongst others. In Edinburgh, that same weekend Summerhall hosts Lau-Land (14-15 Oct) with shows from Simone Seales, Martin Green, Kris Drever and more. The following weekend, back in Glasgow, Sirens live electronic all-dayer returns (21 Oct) to Broadcast and St Andrews West with live sets from Yunè Pinku, Iglooghost, Babii, KLEO and more, while the 28th brings a Halloween all-dayer to Platform at Easterhouse courtesy of Lost Map Records and PRAH Recordings.

Broken Records. Credit: Solen Collet

October also sees a whole host of local artists touring and celebrating new music. Bee Asha launches Shy Guy at Lost In Leith (6 Oct), Neon Waltz bring Honey Now to The Mash House and Òran Mór (11 & 12 Oct), and cortnë launches Florescence at The Glad Cafe (13 Oct). Peter Johnstone launches his latest single Sad Cowgirl Playlist at Bloc (18 Oct), and Broken Records celebrate The Dreamless Sleep of The 1990s at Voodoo Rooms (19 Oct) with shows in Dundee, Aberdeen and Stirling to follow. corto.alto releases his debut Bad With Names with a huge show at QMU (21 Oct), and Starsky-Rae launches Why Am I So Green? at The Hug & Pint (27 Oct).

Also in Glasgow, at SWG3 catch Lauren Mayberry's debut Scottish solo date (5 Oct), The Japanese House (12 Oct) and Overmono (13 Oct), while The Hug & Pint bring the likes of Shamir (12 Oct), Hand Habits (19 Oct), Mandy, Indiana (27 Oct) and Water From Your Eyes (31 Oct) to the Great Western Road basement. In Edinburgh, The Queen’s Hall welcomes Mitski (7 Oct) and Irish folk singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill (17 Oct) to the capital, while Skinny Pelembe plays Sneaky Pete’s (14 Oct), Other Other Music bring sulka to Leith Depot (20 Oct), The Pharcyde play The Liquid Room (26 Oct) and Young Fathers play Usher Hall (31 Oct).