Scottish Live Music Highlights: July 2024

Straight out the gate is Kelburn Garden Party (4-8 Jul) at Kelburn Castle on the west coast, just outside of Largs. The big hitters on this year’s lineup include Erol Alkan, HAAi, James Holden and Nubiyan Twist, while on The Skinny-curated Pyramid Stage you’ll find headliners in the form of LVRA, rEDOLENT and Bikini Body. We are very excited; come hang out!

The following weekend, TRNSMT (12-14 Jul) returns to Glasgow Green with Calvin Harris, Garbage, Sugababes, The Last Dinner Party, and CMAT, while the end of the month brings the 20th edition of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (25-27 Jul) to Kiltarlity, with Deacon Blue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Teenage Fanclub and Hamish Hawk. On the same weekend in the capital, Moonwake launch Lunarpalooza (26-28 Jul) for a weekend of music in the Leith brewery, with Pictish Trail, Callum Easter, Maranta, Bikini Body and Alice Faye.

There's also the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (12-21 Jul) this month, with highlights including Nathan Somevi, kitti, Soweto Kinch Trio and Fergus McCreadie, while Pop Mutations (18-21 Jul) returns to Glasgow with Apostille, LYLO and R.AGGS and more. The Hug & Pint’s endless summer (1 Jul-30 Aug) series returns this month with shows from EYVE (28 Jul), neverfine (30 Jul) and Possibly Jamie (31 Jul), while King Tut’s Summer Nights (18 Jul-31 Aug) are also back with Grace & The Flat Boys playing on the 25th. 

Red Vanilla. Image: Mark Sharp.

There’s loads more local talent playing across the Central Belt in July. On the 5th, Susan Bear launches their latest album, Algorithmic Mood Music, at Nice N Sleazy, while in Dundee, catch Echo Machine at Church, fairly fresh from releasing Accidental Euphoria. The following night, ones to watch, Red Vanilla celebrate their debut EP, Days of Grey, at Beat Generator Live! Back in Glasgow, lo-fi bedroom pop gem sarya plays Broadcast (11 Jul), while a day later in Edinburgh, East Lothian trio racecar launch single Got You Into It at The Caves.

Good news for record lovers as Good Vibes in Leith reopens on 10 July, with a big party on the 13th featuring Both Hands and Susan Bear. The next week, Off the Record returns with a showcase at Sneaky Pete’s (18 Jul) featuring Carsick Charlie, DARA DUBH, Joshua Grant and Liv Dawn. Staying in Edinburgh, at the end of the month The Twistettes launch their Tory Cunts single at Wee Red Bar (27 Jul), while All Hands sees Other Other Music and Supper Club join forces (see: hands) with Both Hands to bring some summer fun to the Leith FAB Cricket Club. Both Hands play live alongside Thundermoon, El Ghoul and Faith Eliott, with Supper Club DJs until late (26 Jun).

Finally, a glut of touring artists swing by Edinburgh and Glasgow this month. Catch Soccer Mommy at Summerhall (2 Jul), Megan Thee Stallion at OVO Hydro (4 Jul), Nils Frahm at Usher Hall (9 Jul), The National at Edinburgh Castle (11 Jul), Garbage at Usher Hall (14 Jul), DFA 1979 at SWG3 (17 Jul) and Waxahatchee at QMU (30 Jul).