Live Music Highlights - January, 2010

There's a pretty good case to be made for Henry Rollins being the hardest-working man in the music industry. Whether you're talking about his brilliant radio programme, his intelligent TV spots or his relentless activism, Rollins' take-no-prisoners attitude is never less than entertaining. His spoken word shows are where it all comes together though – expect explosive energy, hilarious stories and a lot of good vibes. It doesn't matter if you've never heard of Black Flag, you'll still love it. Glasgow 02 Academy, 13 January.

Celtic Connections 2010 kicks off the day after. Among our predicted highlights comes a Nick Drake tribute courtesy of a jaw-dropping ensemble cast, with players such as Stuart Murdoch, Vashti Bunyan and half your average folk fan's record collection lining up for the occasion (Royal Concert Hall, 20 Jan). Bringing the curtain down will be the Chemikal Underground stable (celebrating its 15th birthday at the ABC), including ex-Delgados Lord Cut-Glass and Emma Pollock, plus Aidan Moffat, Adrian Crowley and the debut performance from The Unwinding Hours (featuring Aereogramme's Craig Beaton and Iain Cook) at the ABC on 31 January. See our listings for the festival's full line up. 

Progressive hardcore/punk types Rolo Tomassi have got so much going on right now it's crazy. Big lairy riffs, mad synth work, super-technical guitars, space-jazz interludes and a wonderfully brutal vocalist in the form of Eva Spence. They are a very, very exciting live band. Get along to Glasgow Nice 'n' Sleazy on 19 January and make sure you're packing a neck brace.

Listening to Brooklyn three-piece Vivian Girls on record you could be forgiven for thinking that they're just a jangle-pop band with a reverb fetish. In the flesh the girls hit a little harder, however – expect some serious distortion to counterpoint Cassie Ramone's sugar-sweet vocal lines. Should go down a treat at Glasgow Captain's Rest on 20 January.

Upcoming locals Fridge Magnets and X-Lion Tamer play at The Mill, Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire on 21 January. Fridge Magnets will deploy the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach with programmed beats, live guitars, big synth leads and a seriously promising vocalist. X-Lion Tamer play the straight-up synth-pop card – expect vocoders, people. Tickets are free from www.themill-live.com.

Post-hardcore veterans Glassjaw will turn up the heat at Glasgow QMU on 26 January. Any band that idolises Bad Brains is alright by us and sure enough these boys have done their bit to evolve the hardcore template, incorporating diverse influences into their sound but never forgetting that the riff comes first. They slay live, by the way.

Whether or not you like the cut of his jib, it's hard not to be impressed by the way Jamie T has developed his own eclectic musical language over the past few years. Whatever style he's appropriating this week, he always puts some skank on it and makes damn sure the audience feels his enthusiasm too. Look lively for tickets at Glasgow Barrowlands on 27 January.

Real Estate's eponymous debut was realeased too late in the year to make the best-of lists but trust us when we say you need to have it in your life. With members who have multiple fingers in the currently delicious US basement-psych pie, Real Estate themselves play disarmingly melodic laid-back surf-pop that will soothe your mind and enchant your senses. Awesome, awesome vibes – please check them out at Glasgow Captain's Rest on 28 January.

The Mill sets up at Glasgow Òran Mór on 28 January and finds appositely baroque folk-rockers The Seventeenth Century sharing the bill with anthemic indie types and fellow weegies There Will Be Fireworks. This shit be so soaring we hear that health and safety are lobbying for a three-mile no-fly zone around the West End. See www.themill-live.com for your ticket to ride.

The Sick Kids Foundation will be the beneficiaries of a rather awesome all-day event happening at Edinburgh GRV on 31 January. It runs from 1pm to 11pm and will see performances from Meursault, Zoey Van Goey, James Yorkston and rakes of other indigenous talent. At £8 per head from Tickets Scotland you'd have to hate children AND music not to want a piece of this all-day action.