Scottish Live Music Highlights: July 2022

TRNSMT, Doune the Rabbit Hole and Edinburgh Jazz Festival are joined by local showcases at Hug & Pint, King Tut's, Sneaky Pete's and Broadcast

Preview by Tallah Brash | 06 Jul 2022
  • Self Esteem

TRNSMT takes centre stage from 8-10 July in Glasgow Green with Paolo Nutini, Niles Rodgers & Chic, Beabadoobee and Kitti playing on Friday, The Strokes, Foals, Wet Leg and Self Esteem on Saturday, and Lewis Capaldi, Wolf Alice, Sigrid and Rianne Downey on Sunday. The following weekend Doune the Rabbit Hole returns to the Cardross Estate in Stirlingshire (14-17 Jul) with a more alternative-leaning lineup featuring the inimitable Patti Smith, sleazy disco punks Warmduscher, art-rock tree worshippers Snapped Ankles and disco legends Boney M, as well as a whole host of extraordinary Scottish talent like Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura, Teenage Fanclub, Sacred Paws, Honeyblood, Poster Paints and Stanley Odd.

In the capital, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival runs from 15-24 July with our top picks including Mercury Prize-nominated jazz quartet Dinosaur (17 Jul), Graham Costello’s STRATA (18 Jul), Georgia Cécile (19 Jul), Kitti (21 Jul), Nubya Garcia (21 Jul), Nathan Somevi Trio (22 Jul) and MDNMTH + AiiTee (22 Jul). Also in the capital this month, concerts are back at Edinburgh Castle with some stalwarts of the Scottish scene – Deacon Blue and Texas – taking over its esplanade on 9 and 14 July respectively.

There are some big shows in Glasgow this month too, with LA sister trio Haim playing the OVO Hydro (14 Jul), while fellow west coasters Modest Mouse float on to the Barrowlands on the 20th. At the cosier end of the spectrum, in Edinburgh Courtney Marie Andrews plays Voodoo Rooms (5 Jul), Richard Dawson & Circle play Summerhall (13 Jul) and New York rapper Wiki, formerly of hip-hop group Ratking, plays Sneaky Pete’s (27 Jul), the night after playing Glasgow’s Broadcast. 

Elsewhere, Green Door Studios celebrate their 15th birthday with a party at The Old Hairdresser’s (9 Jul), while The Wife Guys of Reddit launch their new EP at the same venue the following week (16 Jul). And keep your eyes peeled for some of the country's most beloved small venues who have a bigger than usual emphasis on local bands this month. King Tut’s Summer Nights runs from 14 July to 27 August, with Dundee synthpoppers Echo Machine (23 Jul), an early highlight. Meanwhile The Hug & Pint offer up Endless Summer where you can catch Magpie Blue (10 Jul) and Lemon Drink (31 Jul), while Sneaky Pete’s and Broadcast bring back Central Belters; catch Constant Follower at both venues (20 and 21 Jul), and Swiss Portrait at Broadcast (23 Jul).