Scottish Music Highlights: 15-21 Aug

Gigs of the week

Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 15 Aug
It’s been a few years since Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains last played in Edinburgh so we’re looking forward to welcoming them back this August. Comprising members of various groups from France and the UK, including Petit Fantôme, Jaune!, Archipel and Glasgow’s Babe, together they make glorious dreamy French indie-pop inflected with African rhythms.

Hinds @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 16 Aug
Slacker-rock quartet Hinds are hitting Edinburgh as part of Nothing Ever Happen's Here's bloody stellar Fringe programme. And, in all honestly, we can't quite contain ourselves. If you're unacquainted, have a listen to their 2016 record Leave Me Alone. You'll be hooked for the summer and sprinting to Summerhall to get your tickets. Edinburgh-based Plastic Animals will be on support duties so be sure to get down early.

Adam Torres @ The Hug & Pint, Glasgow, 17 Aug
The American singer-songwriter tours the UK for the first time since the release of his Pearls to Swine album last September. Since its release, he also put out a follow-up EP – I Came to Sing the Song – in February. Support comes from Katie Malco, and The Great Albatross.

King Eider @ Leith Volcano, Edinburgh, 17 Aug
The Edinburgh-based folk and blues five-piece play the Leith Volcano tonight as part of their impressive festival line-up. Live, King Eider are full of energy so this will be the perfect way to spend your Thursday night. Head back on Friday night to check out the inimitable Neil Pennycook, aka Meursault, along with 2013 Scottish Album of the Year winner, RM Hubbert.

Wolf Alice @ Fat Sam's, Dundee, 18 Aug
Wolf Alice are set to release their sophomore album, Visions of a Life, on 29 Sep. They've a full UK tour coming up in November, but before then you can catch them at Dundee's Fat Sam's. The also play Aberdeen's Garage, 19 Aug. 

Withered Hand / Iklan / Savage Mansion @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 19 Aug
When we first heard about this line-up we were initially rather confused as they're all so wildly different, but it all made sense when we realised it was part of 2017's Made in Scotland series. In collaboration with Nothing Ever Happens Here, enjoy an eclectic night of music in Summerhall's Dissection room featuring Dan Willson's Withered Hand, as a full ensemble; Iklan featuring Law Holt, Young Fathers' co-producer Timothy London and the Leith Congregational Choir; and last but by no means least, recent Lost Map signees Savage Mansion who will kick off the night.

SOUNDING @ Stockbridge Church, 20-22 Aug
This is another show which is part of the Made in Scotland series. Featuring 2017 Scottish Album of the Year longlisters Modern Studies as well as Lomond Campbell, who together will perform their unique brand of pastoral and lyrical pop aided by the Pumpkinseeds, a ten-piece string section. Go to one, two or all three of their nights. It'll be lovely.

Jenny Hval @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 20 Aug
Oslo-born Jenny Hval last graced us with her presence at Glasgow’s Stereo towards the end of 2016 as she toured her excellent sixth studio album, Blood Bitch. Hval is known for her weird and wonderful live performances, so we’re looking forward to seeing what she offers up at Summerhall.

Tricot @ Broadcast, Glasgow, 21 Aug
Japanese all-female alt-rock band Tricot, who have previously opened for the Pixies, play Glasgow's Broadcast tonight in celebration of their latest LP, 3, which came out at the end of May. Support comes from Benjamin Blue and Chartered Trips.

Andy Shauf @ La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, 21 Aug
The soft-spoken Saskatchewan singer-songwriter stops by Edinburgh's La Belle Angèle tonight and it's the only Scottish date on his tour, so don't be a ninny and miss it. If you're not familiar with Shauf, you can read our interview with him from back in February where we chatted to him about his latest album, The Party. Also, you can win tickets for this too – enter here.

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Event of the Week

Doune the Rabbit Hole, Cardross Estate, Stirlingshire, 18-20 Aug
Doune the Rabbit Hole is a small but perfectly formed, family friendly festival set in the stunning Stirlingshire countryside, just an hour’s drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Expect an eclectic mix of talent – with Australian-American genre-hopping Liars heading up Friday's bill; Malian heroes Songhoy Blues on Saturday and further down the bill you'll find Idlewild's Roddy Woomble, party-duo Happy Meals, abrasive hip-hop act Ho99o9, singer-songwriter Martha Ffion and Canadian electronica from Holy Fuck. 2017’s adventure down the rabbit hole is likely to be one of the best yet. [photo: Inma Varandela]

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Clubbing highlights

Drugstore Glamour @ Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow, 17 Aug
Monthly night Drugstore Glamour is back in the comforting surrounds of Nice N Sleazy for its August instalment. If you're sick of the "shite weather" we've been having, then so are they and they promise to help fix those summer blues with their usual mix of "grade A delicious trash". Yum.

Optimo @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 18 Aug
Fresh from celebrating their two-decade anniversary of throwing parties with their massive Optimo 20 event at the start of the month in Glasgow, JD Twitch and JG Wilkes bring their eclectic record box over to Edinburgh for a Nothing Ever Happens Here festival party. Prepare to dance your socks off at this night where, musically, anything goes.

Thunder Disco: Leon Vynehall @ Sub Club, Glasgow, 18 Aug
The Brighton-based Vynehall makes a welcome return to Subbie this month. As a producer he crafts house music that roams from bright and effervescent to lush, atmospheric and sample-based, so expect plenty of eclectic dancefloor selections.

Nightvision On The Fringe feat. Mr Scruff @ La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, 18 & 19 Aug
The king of trouser jazz is a real favourite on the Edinburgh music scene and he's back this August to keep things real for not one night, but two. Expect an eclectic mix of soul, funk, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, latin, African, ska, disco, house and funk across ten hours over the course of the two nights. Pre-parties are happening both nights at Bar Soba featuring Rebecca Vasmant on 18 Aug and Lel Palfrey on 19 Aug, and free buses will be provided to get you from the New Town to the Old. Bingo.

Subliminal presents Illyus & Barrientos @ Fubar, Stirling, 19 Aug
Fubar continues to prove that top club nights can be found in Scotland’s smaller cities, this time with the booking of Glasgow duo Illyus & Barrientos. The pair are building up a strong following thanks to their European festival performances and some solid releases on the likes of Defected Records and Guesthouse Music. You can also catch them in Edinburgh on 17 Aug at the 99 Hanover Street Festival Party.

Wasabi Disco presents Ari Goldman @ Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh, 19 Aug
"Mutant disco and robo sex beats spun 'til late in a trashy boozer," is how Wasabi Disco describe themselves online and we reckon that's actually a pretty accurate description. For their 5am festival party they've invited eclectic selector Ari Goldman to make his Edinburgh debut. Famed for his unique style, expect everything from blunted disco boogie right through to pin-sharp electronics and poly-rhythmic house grooves.