Gigs in Glasgow and Edinburgh: 16-22 Oct
Horror maestro John Carpenter, 'space pop' artist Jane Weaver, indie icons Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, electronic producer Jon Hopkins and ex-Talking Heads frontman David Byrne all feature in this week's top gig picks
Gigs in Edinburgh this week
Jane Weaver @ Pleasance, 17 Oct
Taking a break from the full band thing on her new Loops in the Secret Society tour, Jane Weaver will present a solo audiovisual reworking of tracks taken from her latest album, 2017's Modern Kosmology, and her 2014 album The Silver Globe. The tour begins in Edinburgh tonight before heading around the UK.
Cosmo Calling @ Sneaky Pete's, 18 Oct
Meeting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Cosmo Calling are a dual-fronted indie-rock five-piece, with lead vocal duties shared by frontpeople Harry Preen and Phoebe Taylor. Support tonight comes from Edinburgh duo Chuchoter and Johnny Brown.
L.A. Salami @ Sneaky Pete's, 19 Oct
Probably the best acronym-style name ever, Lookman Adekunle Salami makes clever, blues-driven songs under the moniker L.A. Salami – good right? Following a support slot for Lianne La Havas in 2012, Salami caught the attention of Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey, who invited him to open the Burberry Prorsum Menswear Spring/Summer 2014 runway show in Kensington Palace Gardens. He plays the less glamorous surrounds of Sneaky's tonight, with support from local singer-songwriters Faith Eliott and Ciaran McGhee.
GIRLI @ The Mash House, 20 Oct
London’s Milly Toomey, aka GIRLI, is bringing her neon brand of pop, punk, rap and electro to The Mash House tonight, where there's sure to be lots and lots of pink. Toomey recently turned her hand to writing, penning an article for the newly-launched website for the Adwoa Aboah-founded platform Gurls Talk, where she discusses the pressures faced by girls and her own personal struggles with an eating disorder.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ The Caves, 22 Oct
While it may not include The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth in its tracklist, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s landmark second album Some Loud Thunder still bangs. To celebrate its tenth anniversary reissue, Alec Ounsworth and co are out on the road this month and touch down at The Caves tonight for the only Scottish date on their rescheduled tour, where they’ll perform Some Loud Thunder in its entirety.
Scottish Events of the Week
John Carpenter @ Barrowlands, Glasgow, 19 Oct
Having composed the soundtracks for most of his films, the only real surprise regarding John Carpenter's foray into live performing is how long it has taken. Following his first ever live show at Primavera Sound in 2016, Carpenter embarked on an international tour, which saw him stopping at Edinburgh's Usher Hall; this time around though, he'll be taking on Glasgow's iconic Barrowlands.
Carla J. Easton @ Leith Depot, Edinburgh, 20 Oct
Carla J. Easton celebrates her debut solo album Impossible Stuff, produced by former Arcade Fire member Howard Bilerman. Easton will be ably supported by Broken Records frontman Jamie Sutherland – expect to hear songs from his upcoming debut solo record, Bruise.
Gigs in Glasgow this week
Nadine Khouri @ The Hug & Pint, 17 Oct
Beirut-born, London-based singer-songwriter Nadine Khouri recorded her critically-acclaimed debut album The Salted Air with frequent PJ Harvey-collaborator John Parish in his hometown of Bristol. Prepare to be transfixed by Khouri's haunting vocals and gothic leanings.
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks @ SWG3, 18 Oct
Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus hits the road once again with his Jicks in tow, who are close to celebrating 20 years together and now have seven albums to their name, thanks to their most recent release, Sparkle Hard. If you're not that fussed for Malkmus and co, just head along for support slots from Girl Ray and Spinning Coin, then head to the pub.
Jon Hopkins @ SWG3 Galvanizers, 19 Oct
The phrase “good things come to those who wait” has never felt so true than with Jon Hopkins. The English producer made a welcome return back in May with a stunning new collection of blissful ambient techno tracks on his fifth album and his first in five years, Singularity. Supporting him tonight is the equally fantastic Nathan Fake. Do everything in your power to be at this show.
Our Girl @ Garage Attic, 20 Oct
The Brighton-formed trio Our Girl – made up of singer and guitarist Soph Nathan, bassist Josh Tyler and drummer Lauren Wilson – are fresh from releasing their Bill Ryder-Jones-produced debut album Stranger Today in August. As we type this, Our Girl have just wrapped up a string of tour support slots with Ryder-Jones himself, who proclaimed them as his “favourite band in the world right now,” and are back out on the road this month for a headline tour, which stops at Glasgow’s Garage Attic tonight.
Want to receive the best of the Scottish cultural scene in your inbox every week? Sign up to our mailing list!
Superorganism @ SWG3, 20 Oct
London-based oddball collective Superorganism became one of the biggest hype bands of 2017 when their debut single Something For Your M.I.N.D. was picked up by Frank Ocean and Ezra Koenig, who each played the song on their respective Beats 1 radio shows. If you missed them on their tour earlier this year, following the release of their self-titled debut album, then here's a chance to catch them again; and even better, supporting them are the wonderful Japanese all-female punk band CHAI.
Speedy Ortiz @ Stereo, 22 Oct
As champions of safe spaces, in 2015 Speedy Ortiz launched a help hotline that fans can text or email directly if they experience or witness harassment of any form at their shows. Frontwoman Sadie Dupuis followed up the announcement with a series of tweets encouraging more bands to do the same in order to make gigs safer for their fans. The band returned with their third album Twerp Verse in April, so you can expect to hear plenty of songs from that album tonight, as well as their back catalogue, in a lovely, safe environment.
David Byrne @ SSE Hydro, 22 Oct
It's not been long since David Byrne last played in Glasgow, with his American Utopia tour making a stop at the Royal Concert Hall just a few months ago. But he's back going full circle, with more dates in the UK this month and playing an even bigger show at the Hydro tonight, with support from the spellbinding Benjamin Clementine.