Live Music Highlights - Jan, 2007

Edinburgh

Feisty Glaswegian rockers The Hedrons (pictured) kick things off with a gig at Cabaret Voltaire on 11 Jan. Laser-guided riffing, sweet pop melodies and furious rhythms all add up to an exciting live proposition. This band has a real urgency about them - enjoy.

If "the system is in collapse" as Thom Yorke claims, then it will mostly likely be a band like Amen that final topple it. Pure black hatred for the music industry and the corporations that control it is what fuels the one-man creative whirlwind known as Casey Chaos. See him self-destruct at The Exchange on 21 Jan.

If skin-flaying punk fury isn't exactly your thing then you may want to get hold of tickets to see Ray Lamontagne at the Usher Hall on 24 Jan. His soulful, smoky voice made him famous, and his recent material has seen his songwriting take a quantum leap, so all accounts point towards this evening being an occasion.

American folk legend Joan Baez plays the Usher Hall on 1 Feb. A champion of human rights and a tireless activist in many areas, Baez is known for her soprano voice and unique reinterpretations of songs by artists such as The Beatles and Stevie Wonder. A cunning concoction.

Glasgow

Edinburgh based power-pop trio The Dials hit up King Tut's on 5 Jan. This band deal in high-adrenaline thrills, solid, chugging riffs and emotive vocals. Check them out if you're the sort who can't get enough feel-good, fist pumping gig action.

Like The Smiths? Like jangly guitar pop? Well then, you might just enjoy Nightmare of You, who play King Tut's on 21 Jan. It's not screamingly original, but if swaggering, confessional odes about illicit sexual situations push your buttons you'll have a ball.

The critically lauded Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly crash into the QMU on 21 Jan, and they'll no doubt be bringing their fiery stash of folktronica (cringe) with them. Compared to the likes of Billy Bragg and the Clash, acoustic social invectives are what Sam Duckworth and his posse are all about. Love it or hate it.

Without a doubt the gig of the month belongs to Sweden's Radio Dept. who will play Nice 'N' Sleazy on 28 Jan. Woozy, enveloping melodies, fuzzy, heartwarming soulfulness - their charms are hard to describe, so I suggest you buy a ticket and experience them for yourself. Majestic, life affirming stuff.