Scottish Live Music Highlights: July 2025

With festival season in full swing, the biggest date for the diary this month is Kelburn Garden Party (3-7 Jul). Set in the idyllic grounds of the Kelburn Castle Estate on the west coast near Largs, Kelburn is oodles of fun with a vibe that's always off the charts. Enjoy art installations in the Neverending Glen, dance until the wee small hours in the trees at the Viewpoint Stage, partake in a ceilidh at the Square Stage, dance like nobody’s watching at The Landing Stage and find your new favourite Scottish artists at The Skinny-curated Pyramid Stage. TAAHLIAH, Man Of Moon and Dancer headline for us this year, with KuleeAngee, R.AGGS, Intibint, Roller Disco Death Party, Water Machine and loads more also on the bill.

In Glasgow, mega city fest TRNSMT returns from 11 to 13 July. Across the weekend at Glasgow Green, avoid the main stage headliners and take a deep dive into the lineup that includes Wet Leg, Confidence Man, Fontaines D.C., Brooke Combe, HotWax, Nxdia and Chloe Qisha, with loads of local talent like Bemz, Fourth Daughter and rEDOLENT to be found on the BBC Introducing Stage. Gutted that Kneecap were axed from the bill? Us too! Do what you can to snag a ticket for their O2 Academy show on the 8th.

In the capital, the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival returns from 11 to 20 July. Highlights include Mercury-nominated and recently signed to Ninja Tune Glasgow outfit corto.alto, who plays The Queen’s Hall on the 19th, as well as Unoma Okudo Quintet and Azamiah at St Bride’s Centre (12 Jul), Tenement Jazz Band with Nanna Carling at the Spiegeltent (13 Jul), Nathan Somevi: Future Afro Jazz at The Jazz Bar (15 Jul) and the Jazz Party at The Pitt (20 Jul) with ESINAM, Kai Reesu, Nimbus Sextet and DJ Astrojazz.

corto.alto. Image: James Pearson Howes

In Inverness, Under Canvas returns for its seventh series with shows at Eden Court from 2 July to 23 August. With shows taking place every Wednesday through Sunday, this month's highlights including Miwa Nagato-Apthorp (5 Jul), Kathryn Joseph (12 Jul) and Simone Seales (16 Jul). As well as a packed series in Inverness, Glasgow is also packing this month with The Hug & Pint’s Endless Summer and King Tut’s Summer Nights series showcasing a wealth of up and coming Scottish talent throughout July and August. On 24 July, pick between avant pop artist Gurry Wurry at the Hug or genre agnostic pop star in the making Lamaya at Tut’s.

Series aside, M. John Henry (De Rosa; Jewel Scheme) celebrates his solo album Strange Is the Way at The Old Hairdresser’s (5 Jul) and Leith Depot (6 Jul), while Carsick Charlie launches C2: Metamism at The Alchemy Experiment (3 Jul) alongside a collaborative exhibition focusing on the aftermath of love, loss and alien abductions that will remain open until 6 July. In Edinburgh, Andrew Wasylyk brings his six-piece to the Leith FAB Cricket Club (11 Jul), while Morgan Szymanski and Tommy Perman celebrate Songs for the Mist Forest at Voodoo Rooms (13 Jul). In Stirling, C Duncan celebrates ten years of his award-nominated album Architect at the Tolbooth (10 Jul), while Her Picture take their debut EP, Feed Me Hope, to Galashiels' MacArts.

For more big shows in Glasgow, Billie Eilish comes to the Hydro for back to back nights (7 & 8 Jul), while Kendrick Lamar and SZA take over Hampden Park on the 8th. There are also some Big Nights Out to be had at Queen’s Park with Arab Strap (4 Jul), Warmduscher (5 Jul), Yard Act (18 Jul) and Geordie Greep (19 Jul) all set to play, while Summer Nights at the Bandstand kicks into gear at the end of the month – catch Teenage Fanclub on the 31st.