Scottish Live Music Highlights: August 2026
It's a month of festivals big and small, from a host of gigs at the Fringe to a batch of all-dayers in Glasgow, via the return of Fringe By The Sea and Interesting Things
In the spirit of the Fringe, we're kicking this month's column off in the capital on day dot at the Bruntsfield Pianodrome, where singer-songwriter Eve Simpson hosts an International Songwriters’ Round (7 Aug). On the 8th, Molly Sellors and Charlotte Devlin host the first of two 7am Oboe Raves at Santu Coffee's Roastery Hall (the second is on 22 Aug), while Lost Map Records bring a run of Howlin' Fringe shows to Leith FAB Cricket Club. While Pictish Trail (19 Aug) and Free Love (26 Aug) play later in the month, it's the opening Suckle and Sulka show (co-hosted by Play Nice Presents) on the 12th that will pique the interest of comedy enthusiasts: FFO Frankie Monroe iykyk [eye ball emoji here if poss pls Phoebe]
Made In Scotland returns with some forward-thinking music offerings. Seek out Fiona Soe Paing’s Sand, Silt, Flint (Greenside, George St, 7-22 Aug), Siobhan Wilson’s FLOWERCORE (Basement at The Gilded Saloon, 17-22 Aug) and Brian Molley’s Tùs/Origin (The Jazz Bar, 18-20 Aug), while the now annual Wide Days Made In Scotland Showcases return (17 Aug) to La Belle Angele, Bannermans and Sneaky Pete’s, featuring Azamiah, Bikini Body, Fright Years, Haiver, Dara Dubh and more. At the Edinburgh International Festival, catch Sean Shibe (The Queen’s Hall, 13 Aug), corto.alto (The Hub, 18 Aug), Scottish Ensemble & Brìghde Chaimbeul (The Queen’s Hall, 23 Aug) and RÓIS (The Hub, 28 Aug).
Big Nights at La Belle is back too, with a glut of dates for your diary that include Mary Lattimore (7 Aug), Theon Cross (12 Aug), Pigs x7 (20 Aug), Horsegirl (23 Aug), Just Mustard (24 Aug), Antony Szmierek (26 Aug) and Getdown Services (30 & 31 Aug). Meanwhile, out at the Royal Highland Showgrounds, Summer Sessions return with Biffy Clyro (21 Aug), The Cure (23 Aug), Florence + the Machine (24 Aug), Lorde (25 Aug), Deftones (27 Aug) and The Prodigy (29 Aug).
It’s not just in Edinburgh where you’ll find big festival energy this month. If you fancy a spot of coastal escapism, Pittenweem Arts Festival brings Kathryn Joseph and Dovetailed (6 Aug) and Free Love (7 Aug) to the East Neuk, while Fringe by the Sea bring Belle and Sebastian (6 Aug), Maribou State with Sarah/Shaun (8 Aug) and Drexler (9 Aug) to North Berwick, where you’ll also find sound installation work from Erland Cooper and daily immersive Plants Can Dance workshops from Brian d’Souza (until 9 Aug). At the top of the mainland, Lyth Arts Centre bring Alice Faye (7 Aug), Sacred Paws (8 Aug) and Rachel Sermanni to (9 Aug) to Wick for their Summer Sessions. And in Stirling, Interesting Things returns to the Tolbooth with Lord of the Isles, Lullahush, Isa Gordon & Tony Morris, Taupe, R.AGGS, Simone Seales and more on the bill.
In Glasgow, Love Punk Hate Racism celebrates the 50th anniversary of Rock Against Racism with Raj Against the Machine leading the charge at The Rum Shack (7 Aug). Towards the end of the month Mogwai’s Big City brings Spiritualized, Super Furry Animals, The Twilight Sad and more to Queen’s Park Recreation Ground (29 Aug), M4 Festival brings Bemz, Iso Yso and Salam Kitty to The Poetry Club (29 Aug), new kid on the block Tomorrow’s Harvest takes over the QMU (28 & 29 Aug) with Working Men’s Club, Maruja, San Jose, Sex Mask, Pleasure Trail and Tina Sandwich, while Forever Is a Long Time celebrates 15 years of Night School Records with Cucina Povera, Gichard, Lady Neptune, Free Love, Molly Nilsson, Susannah Stark and more set to play the Fairfield Social Club (29 & 30 Aug).
For yet more escapism, Glasgow's Lucia & The Best Boys take Picking Petals on the road for a stripped back tour with dates in Barra (6 Aug), Moidart (7 Aug), Skye (11 Aug) and Aviemore (12 Aug), while at Eden Court in Inverness, Under Canvas runs throughout the month with Iona Zajac and NATI. (5 Aug), Niamh Corkey and Scott C. Park (20 Aug), Adam Ross and Rachel Sermanni (23 Aug) and Alice Faye and Birdvox (27 Aug).
You’ll also find Scott C. Park in the Central Belt at The Hug & Pint (21 Aug) and Leith Depot (22 Aug), while Nani Porenta launches their latest EP Like Clockwork at Leith Depot on the 4th. Other shows worth seeking out in the capital include Day Sleeper (Sneaky Pete’s, 9 Aug), What a Beautiful Place to Fall Over (Leith Dockers Club, 14 Aug) Hens Bens and Amelia Snack (that's comedian Amelia Bayler's band btw) (Sneaky Pete’s, 15 Aug) and Sociograss (The Pitt, 21 Aug).
In Glasgow, catch Isabella Strange at The Glad Cafe (8 Aug), join The Great Pleasure for their massive album launch alongside DOSS, Kai Reesu and An Dannsa Dub at GUU (22 Aug) and celebrate inWaves with Selkie at The Glad Cafe (25 Aug). Meanwhile, the King Tut’s Summer Nights series continues with Clay Rings (9 Aug), Puppy Teeth (23 Aug) and Roller Disco Death Party (28 Aug), The Hug & Pint’s endless summer series continues with Radhika (24 Aug) and Aldous (25 Aug), and Summer Nights at the Bandstand continues too, with John Grant singing the songs of Patsy Cline with Richard Hawley and his band (10 Aug) and Idlewild (13 Aug).
You'll also find tours passing through Glasgow from Haley Heynderickx (Mackintosh Queens Cross Church, 24 Aug), Ata Kak (Stereo, 24 Aug), Wednesday (SWG3, 24 Aug), Earl Sweatshirt + Mike (O2 Academy, 25 Aug) and Geese (Barrowlands, 25 & 26 Aug).