Scottish Gig Highlights: March 2020
Our round-up of March's best live music, including gigs from Jon Hopkins, Michael Kiwanuka, Squid, JPEGMAFIA, Spinning Coin and Ladytron
For the first Wednesday of the month, 4 March is punching well above its weight with shows in Glasgow from Georgia (at King Tut’s), Moses Boyd (Nice N Sleazy) and JPEGMAFIA (SWG3), whilst in Edinburgh Jon Hopkins brings the first night of his Polarity Tour to the Usher Hall, which will see him play grand piano for parts of the show.
Just a few days later Hopkins’ pal King Creosote brings his From Scotland With Love tour to the same venue (7 Mar) before taking it on the road around Scotland, ending his run at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (12 Mar). Like KC, Edinburgh venue Summerhall also has a busy month ahead with shows from noise tyrant Blanck Mass (12 Mar), houseplant obsessives Squid (22 Mar), and masters of folk, jazz and Indian classical fusion Yorkston/Thorne/Khan (22 Mar). Elsewhere in Edinburgh, Ladytron play La Belle Angele (7 Mar), Future Get Down bring the party to Sneaky Pete’s (14 Mar) and Callum Easter plays alongside recent Lost Map signing Clémentine March at Gilded Balloon Basement (19 Mar).
After 4 March, in Glasgow the rest of the month is just as busy. On 6 March, MALKA – who also plays Galashiels’ MacArts on 12 March – launches her latest record I’m Not Your Soldier at Stereo, while a ten-minute walk away Tenement TV celebrate International Women’s Day, albeit a couple of days early, with two Edinburgh bands you’re likely to hear a lot from in 2020 – Medicine Cabinet and Swim School. On 10 March you’ll find BBC Sound of 2020 nominee Arlo Parks at King Tut’s, while a duo of BBC Sound of winners – Michael Kiwanuka and Celeste – play Barrowlands on 14 March.
Now split between Glasgow and Berlin, Spinning Coin bring their latest album Hyacinth to Edinburgh (Sneaky Pete’s, 12 Mar), Dundee (Beat Generator Live!, 13 Mar) and Glasgow (CCA, 15 Mar). But if jazz-rock fusion is more your thing, Animal Society at The Hug & Pint (26 Mar) is the show for you. And be sure to end your month with a visit to The Glad Cafe on 29 March for Porridge Radio. Fresh from releasing their hopeful new record Every Bad(read about it in the March issue, out now), this show is a must.