Scottish Live Music Highlights: September 2025

Local artists make up the bulk of our gig recommendations for September. At the top of the month, singer-songwriter Rosie H Sullivan is road testing new songs and new merch at The Glad Cafe, with support from the equally talented Grayling (4 Sep). If louder sounds are more your bag, on the same night catch PAWS at McChuills on the first of their trio of Scottish dates, before they play Edinburgh’s Leith Cricket Club (5 Sep) and Stirling’s Tolbooth (6 Sep). Following the release of singles Copycat and DUMMY, Glasgow rapper Rosé Chrissy returns this month, playing for Savage x Hip Hop Scotland at The Poetry Club (5 Sep). On 11 September, Lead Sister, featuring former Sons & Daughters singer Adele Bethel, celebrate their new EP War of the Words with a show at The Old Hairdresser’s, while the following night sees Dancer launch More or Less at The Flying Duck (12 Sep).

Later in the month, Lizzie Reid releases her brand new EP, Bodega, with a headline show at The Poetry Club (20 Sep), with Russell Stewart and Anna Shields joining her for the occasion. GAÏA brings her intoxicating blend of R’n’B and neo-soul to The Rum Shack for her debut headline show on the 23rd, while singer-songwriter, and 2024 Sound of Young Scotland nominee, Pippa Blundell throws a party for her debut album common thread at Òran Mór (24 Sep), or join QUAD90 for the launch of their eponymous debut album at The Glad Cafe (26 Sep). Of course, if you failed to get tickets for The Beta Band’s anniversary dates at the Barrowlands (25 & 26 Sep), do what you can to snag some.

In Edinburgh, pick between a night curated and headlined by Day Sleeper at Sneaky Pete’s featuring support from Goodnight Louisa and Deep Sea Creature, and a double bill of beauty at Voodoo Rooms from Chrysanths and Djana Gabrielle, both on the 9th. Also at Voodoo Rooms, Alt Milk bring a trio of local talent – Post Coal Prom Queen, Penny Black and Valenstein – to the venue's Speakeasy. There’s a lot to shout about at The Queen’s Hall this month: AMPLIFI returns for its first autumn outing with Bell Lungs, Kevin Leomo and Lucian Fletcher (15 Sep), James Yorkston and The Cardigans’ Nina Persson celebrate their latest record together (16 Sep), and the latest Malin Lewis-curated night featuring Kim Carnie and Heal & Harrow takes over on the 18th. On the same night, Zoe Graham brings her debut album Tent to Leith Depot, before Amy Louise’s mini UK tour swings by Sneaky Pete’s (19 Sep), with Brìghde Chaimbeul playing Pleasance Theatre on the 25th. 

For touring artists this month, in Glasgow seek out Blondshell (QMU, 6 Sep), Turnover (Barrowlands, 9 Sep), Sophie Ellis-Bextor (SWG3, 18 Sep), The Beths (SWG3, 21 Sep), Lisa O’Neill (Cottiers, 22 & 23 Sep) and clipping. (Garage, 24 Sep). In Edinburgh, head for And So I Watch You From Afar (La Belle Angele, 11 Sep), Ditz (The Mash House, 12 Sep), Self Esteem (Usher Hall, 16 Sep) and Meryl Streek (Cabaret Voltaire, 19 Sep), while you can catch Nadia Reid in Stirling (Tolbooth, 16 Sep) and Black Country, New Road in Dundee (Duck Slattery’s, 19 Sep). Or, if you want a bit of everything this month, pick from one of the lovingly-curated all-dayers or weekenders happening in autumn – find our expansive festivals roundup in the September issue or at this link.