Live Music Highlights – August 2010

Formed off the back of a rural songwriting retreat some three and a half years ago, The Burns Unit are a Scottish-Canadian all-star collective that boasts Emma Pollock, Karine Polwart, King Creosote and MC Soom T among their number. Despite acting as a stylistic melting pot, their sound is nevertheless held together with a grandiose folk-rock vibe, serious musicianship and a real sense of playfulness. See them at Glasgow O2 ABC on 4 Aug and Edinburgh Queen's Hall on 9 Aug.

The Edge Fest is a dominant force in Auld Reekie this month, providing much of the capital's gigging action (and a little respite from Fringe comedy carnage) across many of its staple venues. Villagers' Becoming a Jackal is one of the standout debuts of 2010 so far – elegant, odd and imaginative – and so bagging tickets to see Conor J. O'Brien's troupe play Edinburgh Sneaky Pete's on 6 Aug should be a priority for anyone who wants to catch a terrific band that's going places.

Liars are a fascinating group. Their music is experimental, psychedelic, noisy – yet it’s informed by a deep knowledge of pop, rock and dance music that makes them accessible to music fans of almost any stripe. Their live shows are never predictable but the one constant is usually Angus Andrew's wonderful vocal performances. Great frontman; great band – Glasgow Stereo on 9 Aug is where it happens.

Scary Manc bastards Kong trade in hard, brassy riffage (think an even more pissed-off sounding Shellac), psychotic vocals and ridiculous volume. They won't try and please you (in fact, I'm pretty sure they hate you) but they are very good at what they do. Glasgow Captain's Rest on 12 Aug, if you've got the stones.

Pantha du Prince turned some serious heads early in 2010 when he dropped his Black Noise LP – a gorgeous, melodic techno oddssey – so anyone who wants to see this expert knob-twiddler at work should get along to Glasgow Captain's Rest on 13 Aug or Edinburgh Sneaky Pete's on 14 Aug. His sets at Homegame and the Bongo Club earlier in the year were mesmerising, so this comes highly recommended.

As part of NEU! and Harmonia Michael Rother created some of the most timeless music ever made and inspired countless subsequent recording artists. This year he has teamed up with friends including Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley and Secret Machines' Ben Curtis to revisit music from his catalogue, create new sounds and otherwise explore tone, rhythm and frequency under the name Hallogallo 2010. Sounds pretty special: grab tickets for Edinburgh Picture House on 17 Aug while you can.

Having released an affecting, stripped-down solo album earlier this year, former Beta Band man Steve Mason swings by Edinburgh's recently reopened Liquid Room on 18 Aug to deliver a set of intimate, heartfelt songs that are peppered with quality hooks and pretty melodies. Make it happen.

A lot of bands struggle with a lack of stage presence – but that's never been a problem for Beirut, aka Zach Condon and his posse of multi-instrumentalists. Incorporating everything from Flugel Horns to ukuleles, this band will delight anyone suffering from guitar fatigue. Of course it helps that Condon writes charming songs that borrow from Balkan brass and French chanson without feeling heavy handed. Edinburgh Picture House 22 Aug should be a hell of a show.

Sunderland four-piece Field Music aren't your average rock band. Their carefully orchestrated and imaginatively structured songs are wonderfully nuanced – and you lucky people have the chance to see just how they put it together when they play Edinburgh Sneaky Pete's on 23 Aug.

You really shouldn't need us to keep reminding you by now, but The Phantom Band are one of the best bands to ever (yes, we just took it that far) come out of Scotland and if you’re lucky they’ll maybe treat you to a few jams from their forthcoming new album at Edinburgh’s Electric Circus on 24 Aug. Be hypnotised by their grooves, just bloody be there.