Gigs in Glasgow and Edinburgh: 4-9 Jul
Justin Timberlake and EELS play Glasgow; Queen, The Killers and CHVRCHES play the final weekend of TRNSMT and Edinburgh's Leith Depot launch their Love Live Music Week festival
Gigs in Edinburgh this week
Zed Penguin @ Sneaky Pete's, 5 Jul
Edinburgh's Zed Penguin released their first full-length album, A Ghost, A Beast, on Song, by Toad back in February. "Mournful and ferocious, the album is a testimony to the power in holding back, only to let rip all the stronger," is what we said then and we stand by it now. Catch them in Sneaky's tonight with support from Glasgow's Long-Distance.
Lunir @ The Safari Lounge, 7 Jul
The Cologne-based soul, R’n’B and pop duo, originally from Edinburgh, are back for a couple of weeks thanks to their recent appearance at Kelburn Garden Party. Making the most of their time here, the duo who describe their sound as “kaleidoscopic future-soul” are bringing their loops and beats, along with the simply stunning vocal of Becky Sikasa, to the intimate surrounds of The Safari Lounge tonight. Support comes from the Edinburgh-based nu-soul band The Onethreeone.
Electric Fields x Sneaky Pete's Pitt Shakedown, 7 Jul
Last year's Electric Fields x Sneaky Pete's takeover of The Pitt was a rip-roaring success so they're back for the 2018 edition. With good weather on the cards, good food and drinks in abundance and good tunes a given, we'll see you there!
Liroy @ The Mash House, 9 Jul
Tonight features not only Canada-based, Irish musician Liroy – who plays tonight as part of her first ever UK tour – but also Edinburgh's The Violet Kind, as well as two singer-songwriters in the form of Jane Blanchard and, Girls Rock School Edinburgh graduate and riot grrrl-indebted, Lou Mclean who's fresh from opening our stage at Kelburn Garden Party last weekend.
Scottish Event of the Week
[The Spook School by Sarah Donley]
Love Live Music Week @ Leith Depot, Edinburgh, 9-15 Jul
Threatened with possible closure earlier this year, Leith Depot is just one of the venues being supported by the Save Leith Walk campaign, petitioning to prevent its demolition. In support of the group, the Depot are hosting Love Live Music Week, a week-long run of gigs with bands including The Spook School and Pictish Trail set to perform. Read more about the week of gigs and Save Leith Walk campaign here.
Gigs in Glasgow this week
EELS @ O2 Academy, 4 Jul
EELS recently released their 12th long player in the form of The Deconstruction, a staggering work of heartbreaking genius. Catch Mark 'E' Everett and band tonight at the O2 Academy; to get you in the mood, read our recent interview with the main man himself here.
Edwin Organ @ Broadcast, 5 Jul
We recently caught Edwin Organ performing as part of Wide Days’ evening showcases back at Edinburgh's Teviot House in April and we absolutely loved what we heard. Their cover of LCD Soundsystem’s I Can Change for a BBC Introducing session last year totally knocked us sideways as well, so be sure to head along to this show at Broadcast tonight as part of the venue’s Broadcast Summer Breakdowns series throughout July. Snack Villain and Egopatterns also play tonight. Oh, and it's free. Lovely stuff.
TRNSMT @ Glasgow Green, 6 & 8 Jul
Don't miss out on the last weekend of Glasgow's TRNSMT 2018 festival, which on Friday will be headlined by Queen featuring Adam Lambert with support from Sharleen Spiteri's Texas, plus more besides, while Sunday is headed up by The Killers with Glasgow synth-pop trio CHVRCHES also on the bill alongside Franz Ferdinand, Friendly Fires, Jessie Ware, Nina Nesbitt, Jane Weaver, LUCIA and more.
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Justin Timberlake @ SSE Hydro, 7 Jul
'Mr JT, what you got for me?' Well, we're not quite sure as he's kind of set on being a man of the woods these days, but we're pretty sure that despite this he'll still be begging us to cry him a river as he attempts to rock our bodies in his suit and tie while bringing sexy back. Yeah!
Darren Hayman @ The Hug & Pint, 7 Jul
As Hefner celebrate 20 years since the release of their debut studio album Breaking God's Heart, lead guitarist and singer Darren Hayman plays the intimate surrounds of Glasgow's Hug & Pint tonight with support from Carla J. Easton.
Trembling Bells @ The Hug & Pint, 8 Jul
Glasgow five-piece Trembling Bells are fresh from releasing their latest "fun psych rock record" Dungeness. Catch them for a hometown headline show tonight at The Hug & Pint.
Spectral Verses @ The Glad Cafe, 9-14 Jul
Spectral Verses is a week of experimental collaborations and performances curated by Modern Studies. The Glad Scratch Choir will perform semi-improvised choral works on 9 July; new collaborative musical performances will take place on 10 and 12 July featuring members of Withered Hand, Kid Canaveral, C Duncan and more besides; 11 July is Film Night with screenings TBC; Synth Night takes place on 13 July featuring performances from WAVNE (Ziggy Campbell) and Professor Simon Kirby, and Party Night on 14 July will feature sets from Adam Stafford and Lomond Campbell among others.