Scottish Gig Highlights: June 2019

To help you plan your month in live music, we've pulled together what we think are the most exciting happenings taking place across the country in June; from Nick Cave to Mac DeMarco and Pictish Trail to Lucy Dacus, and a slew of music festivals to get your teeth sunk into.

Pip Blom @ The Mash House, Edinburgh, 2 Jun
You’ve probably seen the name Pip Blom on just about every ones to watch in 2019 list and every music festival line-up going. But who/what is Pip Blom you ask? Well, Pip Blom is an Amsterdam-born musician who makes lovely summery indie-pop, as can be heard on debut album Boat, accompanied by her band, which includes her brother Tender Blom (real name, no lie). Support from Sweaty Palms.

Honeyblood @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 3 Jun
Following the release of her third album, the John Congleton-produced In Plain Sight, as Honeyblood, which came out via Marathon Artists on 24 May, catch Stina Tweeddale and her new band of talented ladies as they play tonight at Edinburgh's Summerhall. Support from LUCIA.

ST.MARTiiNS @ Beat Generator Live!, Dundee, 5 Jun
Following the release of their new single Want God, join Dundee's ST.MARTiiNS tonight at Beat Generator Live! where they're throwing a celebratory party. Support comes from Swim School and Lewis Ross.

MIDI Paul EP Launch @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 6 Jun
Edinburgh-based bassist and producer Phil McBride, who performs under the moniker MIDI Paul, is releasing his brand new Old Future EP on 6 June via the new Edinburgh label Precog Records. In celebration, MIDI Paul plays a live set tonight at Sneaky's with guests Katherine Aly, Th!nk from Earthwire and Ben Collard. Get down early for support slots from electro duo Chuchoter and fellow Precog artist Krowne, and, as the Facebook event says: 'expect plenty of bass and hats!'

Eden Festival @ Raehills Meadows, Moffat, 6-9 Jun
Celebrating ten years of running as its own entity and nine years at its current site in Raehills Meadows near Moffat, Eden Festival hosts 13 stages of live music, DJs, comedy, cabaret, and even a circus tent and a drive-in cinema over four days. This year’s line-up includes the likes of Flamingods, Optimo (Espacio), John Cooper Clarke and a DJ set from Irvine Welsh.

Declan Welsh and the Decadent West @ Beat Generator Live!, Dundee, 7 Jun
With a couple of fresh singles – Absurd and Different Strokes – released in April and May respectively, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Declan Welsh and his band The Decadent West have a busy month ahead, which includes their recently announced appearance at Glastonbury where they’re set to play Billy Bragg’s Left Field stage. Catch Welsh and co tonight at Dundee’s Beat Generator Live! They also play The Tunnels, Aberdeen, 5 Jun; Mad Hatters, Inverness, 6 Jun; The Mash House, Edinburgh, 9 Jun.

Sacred Paws @ St Luke's, Glasgow, 7 Jun
Catch our June cover stars Sacred Paws as they hit the road this month in celebration of their second album Run Around the Sun, the follow-up to their 2017 Scottish Album of Year Award-winning debut Strike a Match. Tropical shirts at the ready. They also play Edinburgh's Summerhall the following week on 15 June.

LeithLate x Leith Gala Day @ Leith Links, Edinburgh, 8 Jun
Three cheers for the return of LeithLate, following a break last year due to funding issues – hip hip hooray! We’re teaming up with the festival to assist in curating their afternoon collboration with Leith Gala Day at Leith Links, featuring a line-up of female and female identifying-fronted bands with a connection to Edinburgh and Leith. Catch performances from Tongue Trap, Goodnight Louisa, Super Inuit, Thee Girl Fridays and Roberta Pia of The Banana Sessions.

Lucy Dacus @ Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, 11 Jun
Since releasing her stunning 2018 record Historian, Richmond, Virginia’s Lucy Dacus has been a busy wee bee, with tours, an eponymous EP release as one third of boygenius – alongside Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker – and the launch of a 2019 song series. The series includes covers and originals being released throughout the year on notable dates, the most recent being My Mother & I, which celebrates Taurus season, her and her mum’s birthdays and US Mother’s Day. Catch Dacus in all her splendour at Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms tonight.

SHEARS @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 12 Jun
Who the hell is SHEARS? How does she have over 600k likes on Facebook and over 170k subscribers on YouTube with only one single? Where did she come from and how have we never heard of her? These were the questions we asked when she was announced as one of this year’s showcase artists at Wide Days, where she played her first show as SHEARS. It turns out that in her teens Rebecca Shearing was a bit of a YouTube phenomenon, but more recently has been singing with Stanley Odd. Out on her own now, she plays her first headline show tonight at Sneaks. She's very very good so you should go!

Hop Along @ CCA, Glasgow, 13 Jun
Philadelphia's Hop Along, fronted by Frances Quinlan, are stopping by Glasgow's CCA tonight, just over a year since the release of their fourth album Bark Your Head Off, Dog, which came out last April via Saddle Creek. Get yourself along, you'll have a lovely time.

D Double E @ SWG3, Glasgow, 13 Jun
Widely regarded as the finest grime MC ever, D Double E is still somewhat of an underground success. Having only released his debut solo album, Jackuum!, in August last year, he is best known for his work as one half of grime duo Newham Generals. He makes a long-awaited return to Glasgow tonight, with support from Inkke, K4CIE, Dj Milktray and Yaw.

Super Inuit @ The Safari Lounge, Edinburgh, 14 Jun
Pendulum Man Concerts are delighted to be welcoming Edinburgh electronic duo Super Inuit to the The Safari Lounge tonight. The whole night's free and includes support from Convex Mancave and Le Combat. 

The Hug & Pint 4th Birthday @ The Hug & Pint, Glasgow, 14 Jun
If you didn’t get it from the title, our much beloved Hug & Pint are celebrating four years of bringing some of the most exciting up-and-coming bands to the city, and they've enlisted our pals at Detour to throw a big ol' party. With five excellent bands playing – the line-up is top secret, but we promise you it’s bloody good – and someone you know from this very publication DJing, we guarantee you’ll have a top night out. As well as the music, there’ll be a raffle to raise funds in honour of Scott Hutchison and 20% of all ticket sales will be donated to SAMH. Happy Birthday chaps!

Flying Moon Music & Arts Festival @ The Flying Duck, Glasgow, 15 Jun
A Scottish festival with a 50:50 gender balance? We never thought we’d see the day, but here it is! Following a successful inaugural event (women do sell tickets!) last year, Flying Moon Music & Arts Festival is back with poetry from Leyla Josephine and Imogen Stirling, music from Heir of the Cursed, Lemon Drink, WYLDE, a range of craft stalls and much more.

Tae Sup Wi' a Fifer @ Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, 15 Jun
James Yorkston's Tae Sup Wi' a Fifer night continues in June as he welcomes Josephine Foster, Aidan Crowley and Jenny Lindsay to Kirkcaldy's Adam Smith Theatre.

Foals @ SWG3 Galvanizers Yard, Glasgow, 18 Jun
After a few years away, Foals are really making up for lost time. Since announcing their new two-part album, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, they’ve been on tour up and down country playing a series of intimate warm-up shows. But ahead of the release of the album’s second half, they’re taking to the larger surrounds of SWG3’s Galvanizers Yard for a big summer blow out.

OSHUN @ Broadcast, Glasgow, 19 Jun
Those lucky enought to be in Glasgow on 19 June should step forth into the Oshuniverse as Brooklyn R'n'B and hip-hop duo OSHUN bring their slick beats and flows to Broadcast's basement venue. If you've never heard of OSHUN, then their 2018 album bittersweet vol.1 is well worth getting acquainted with and features a guest turn from Jorja Smith.

Patience @ The Poetry Club, Glasgow, 20 Jun
Following the release of her debut solo record as Patience, Dizzy Spells, Veronica Falls’ Roxanne Clifford returns to the UK (she lives in LA these days) for a short string of dates in celebration. Released via Glasgow’s Night School Records, Dizzy Spells is a bright collection of 80s-inspired synth-pop, with tonight set to be a pop party of the highest order. It’ll likely be a while before she plays Scotland again as well, so don’t miss it. Support comes from Romeo Taylor, Lady Neptune and Free Love will be on DJ duties.

Southern Exposure @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 21-22 Jun
Pretty much the Mecca for Scottish music fans, as always, Southern Exposure brings with it a line-up of local talent to Summerhall’s courtyard over two days. Friday’s line-up features Lost Map boss Pictish Trail, pop duo Bossy Love and former TeenCanteen frontwoman Carla J. Easton, while Saturday sees Meursault launch his Crow Hill project, alongside performances from Callum Easter and Savage Mansion, among others. To help get you in the mood, read Pictish Trail's chat with Bossy Love.

Solas Festival @ Errol Park, Perth, 21-23 Jun
Continuing the 10th anniversary for 2019 trend – 2009 was a big year for ideas apparently – Solas Festival are celebrating ten years of running with its usual mix of music, spoken word, theatre, dance and visual art. Kobi Onyame, Niteworks and Martha Ffion are all set to perform, with speakers including Josie Long and Chris McQueer and theatre from Robert Softley Gale.

Double A-Side Records 2nd Birthday @ The Glad Cafe, Glasgow, 22 Jun
Following the release of their Play It Like a Woman compilation, which came out on 8 March to coincide with International Women’s Day, Glasgow indie label Double A-Side are celebrating their second birthday tonight with a top gig at The Glad Cafe. Carla J. Easton, Home Economics and Lemon Drink are all set to play, and Double A-Side have promised cake, party hats and a raffle, with proceeds going to MHF Live. And, while we’ve got your attention, The Glad Cafe have recently launched a crowdfunder as they need to raise £40k to fix their roof.

Conversations with Nick Cave @ Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 22 Jun
Despite spending much of his career shying away from the media and revealing little to nothing about his personal life, Nick Cave will be giving something back to his fans in his Conversations with Nick Cave shows. Fans will be able to ask questions, as well as hear Cave talk openly about his life and perform some of his most beloved songs on piano.

LUNIR + Megan Airlie @ The Hug & Pint, Glasgow, 23 Jun
As part of the Glasgow Jazz Festival, two of our favourite local up-and-coming artists are playing together at The Hug & Pint.

Mac DeMarco @ Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow, 26 Jun
Fresh from ribbing Mitski with the title of his latest album Here Comes the Cowboy, which came out last month via his own label – unsurprisingly called Mac’s Record Label – Mac DeMarco is set to kick off the summer season in style at the beautiful art deco Kelvingrove Bandstand. Throughout the rest of the summer, Kelvingrove Park is also set to host concerts from Teenage Fanclub, Patti Smith, Bloc Party and The National, among others.

Start to End: Vampire Weekend @ Stereo, Glasgow, 27 Jun
The Start to End crew are taking on yet another massive record this month with their live band interpretation of Vampire Weekend's eponymous 2008 debut, featuring hits like Oxford Comma and the explosive A-Punk. Hey hey hey!

Kate Nash @ The Art School, Glasgow, 29 Jun
Just over a year since the release of her fourth studio album Yesterday Was Forever, Kate Nash, who currently stars in Netflix's GLOW, is hitting Glasgow's Art School tonight. Maybe she'll play some of her early bangers from Made of Bricks, or maybe she won't; only one way to find out.

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For more gig news, tune in to our weekly EH-FM radio show on Mondays from 12-2pm where we take a closer look at the week ahead in gigs, festivals and clubs