Scottish Music Highlights: 22-28 Aug

Gigs in Edinburgh this week

Blanck Mass @ Summerhall, 22 Aug
Benjamin John Power was once described by his Fuck Buttons cohort Andrew Hung as the ‘fuck’ to his ‘buttons’, and if you’ve listened to Power’s solo records as Blanck Mass, then you’re likely to agree with that. Power’s face-melting third album as Blanck Mass, World Eater, came out earlier this year and it truly is an assault on the senses: it’s electronic, industrial, challenging and utterly thrilling. Experiencing Blanck Mass live is a must.

Jarvis Cocker & Chilly Gonzales @ King's Theatre, Edinburgh, 22-24 Aug
Inspired by his stay in Room 29 at the Château Marmont Hotel in Hollywood – previous occupants include Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe – Jarvis Cocker wrote a new collection of songs using the room’s baby grand piano. Now with the aid of piano virtuoso Chilly Gonzales, and assisted by the Kaiser Quartett, the stories of Room 29 will be brought to life on stage as part of EIF.

Julie Byrne @ Summerhall, 23 Aug
Perennial traveller Julie Byrne brings her beautifully-constructed modern folk sound to Summerhall as part of the venue's Edinburgh Fringe programme. We caught up with Byrne in this month's magazine to talk spirituality, touring, and her latest album Not Even Happiness – read the interview here. Support comes from former Phantom Band guitarist Duncan Marquiss.

The Pictish Trail & Friends @ Summerhall, 24 Aug
Hot on the heels of this year's Howlin' Fling festival on the Isle of Eigg, Lost Map head honcho Johnny Lynch brings the cosmic indie stylings of The Pictish Trail to Edinburgh for a very special Fringe party, with support coming from labelmates and all-round good eggs Kid Canaveral.

Charlotte Church's Late Night Pop Dungeon @ Summerhall, 25-26 Aug
The Late Night Pop Dungeon offers feel-good pop antidotes to the sheer misery of the daily news cycle and holds just one, holistic goal; to pull people to the dancefloor. You haven't lived until you've seen the artist previously known as the 'Voice of an Angel' and her band pull off pitch-perfect back-to-back covers of Neutral Milk Hotel and Amerie tracks – we recommend bagging a ticket however you can.

Gigs in Glasgow this week

Conor Oberst & Big Thief @ O2 ABC, 22 Aug
The Bright Eyes frontman hits the ABC as part of his latest UK tour; support comes from Big Thief, whose drummer James Krivchenia caught up with us this month to talk life on the road.

Pinact @ The Old Hairdresser's, 25 Aug
Grungy Glasgow three-piece Pinact drop their new album The Part That No One Knows this weekend, and the band celebrate with an intimate LP launch show at The Old Hairdresser's.

J Bone feat. Fekky @ SWG3, 26 Aug
South London grime MC Fekky touches down in Glasgow tonight in yet another formidable booking from underground collective J Bone. On the supports you'll have Ransom FA, PAQUE, PAQUE, Valli and GRT WSTRN.

Alvvays @ St. Luke's, 27 Aug
Toronto-based indie-poppers Alvvays (pronounced 'Always', in case you were wondering) are set to release Antisocialites – the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2014 self-titled debut – this September. In the lead up to the album’s release, the four-piece embark on a UK tour this month, taking in St Luke’s tonight. Expect a vibrant mix of old and new tracks, making for a lovely jangly way to round off a busy month.

FRAUEN @ Stereo, 27 Aug
Glasgow punk trio FRAUEN play what is likely their final show at Stereo on Sunday, and they're joined on the bill by Manchester four-piece Grotbags, the "emotive lo-fi nonsense" of Lovers Turn to Monsters, and local newcomers Freddie Quell.

Parquet Courts @ The Art School, 28 Aug
The New York art-rock four-piece are back in Scotland this week, still riding the wave of last April's Human Performance LP which made our top ten of 2016. 

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Event of the Week

XFRMR @ Leith Volcano, Edinburgh, 22-26 Aug
In 1891, Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla tamed lightning with his Tesla coil, a device which makes electricity visible; now Glasgow-based artist Robbie Thomson has harnessed the coil’s sonic capabilities to create XFRMR. Part of the Made in Scotland showcase series, XFRMR will also feature audio-reactive projections, so we are 100 percent sold. [Photo: Culture Station]

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Clubbing highlights

Nightvision presents Dixon @ La Belle Angèle, 26 Aug
One of the world's top techno DJs, Innervisions label co-founder Dixon plays a three-hour set at La Belle Angèle in his first Edinburgh appearance in over ten years. There's a 5am licence, and Nightvision promise extra light and sound installations to make things really pop.

Sub Club Soundsystem @ BAaD, Glasgow, 26 & 27 Aug
The Subbie's annual two-day bash returns with an epic line-up at the Barras Art and Design Centre. The Subculture crew lead the charge on the Saturday with help from Dixon and Peggy Gou, while Sensu are joined by Maceo Plex and Floorplan on the Sunday. Tickets are sold out for Saturday's festivities and running low for Sunday, but keen clubbers can catch a host of the weekend's DJs at the SCSS after-parties back at Sub Club each night.

Jackhammer @ The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 27 Aug
The Liquid Room's really leaning into that 5am Fringe licence tonight with a blazer of a night courtesy of Jackhammer, who'll be bringing in an army of techno-appreciating party starters into the booth. Duo Paranoid London will be leading affairs, along with Gary Beck, Steve Bicknell, Harbingers Drum Crew, Keyte and WolfJazz.

Black Coffee Edinburgh Fringe Closing Party @ Bourbon, Edinburgh, 27 Aug
blk29, Hector's House and Bourbon proudly present their annual Edinburgh Fringe Closing Party, with an Edinburgh debut from South Africa’s most revered DJ, Black Coffee. Further guests are still to be announced.