Scottish Music Highlights: 31 Jan - 5 Feb

Our guide to the best of the week's gigs, with more Celtic Connections shows in Glasgow and a host of Independent Venue Week gigs in Edinburgh

Preview by The Skinny | 31 Jan 2018

Gigs in Edinburgh this week

Moon Duo @ La Belle Angèle, 31 Jan
2017 was a busy year for Moon Duo, releasing not one but two albums – Occult Architecture Vol. 1 & 2 –  and touring all over the world. Now, as a new year starts, the Portland, Oregon outfit are already back out on the road and are taking in a show at Edinburgh’s La Belle Angèle tonight. Expect some lovely fuzzed-out and meditative, psychedelic sounds – the perfect way to round off January. For an idea of the bands and artists that have influenced their sound, read the on-the-road playlist they put together for us back in 2012.

Jeff Tweedy @ The Queen's Hall, 31 Jan
The Wilco frontman is on tour in support of new album Together at Last, packed with intimate new versions of tracks by Wilco as well as Tweedy's side projects Loose Fur and Golden Smog. It's fair to expect a deep dive into the Tweedy discography; support comes from James Elkington.

TV ME @ Leith Depot, 1 Feb 
Liverpool’s TV ME are set to release their new EP, A Broadcast From TV ME, this month – a lovely of Montreal-esque four-track record – and they play Leith Depot tonight as part of Independent Venue Week.

The Van T's @ Sneaky Pete's, 1 Feb 
On a busy night in the capital, catch Glasgow power four-piece The Van T’s at another Independent Venue Week show. Support comes from two up-and-coming Edinburgh acts – Sploco, and the fantastically-titled Holy Loaf.

Liima @ Summerhall, 1 Feb
If neither of those IVW shows grab you, catch Danish/Finnish art-rockers Liima at Summerhall. Made up of Finnish percussionist Tatu Rönkkö and Efterklang members Casper Clausen, Mads Christian Brauer and Rasmus Stolberg, they'll be playing tracks from their new album 1982, which was co-produced with Chris Taylor of recent touring buddies Grizzly Bear.

Will Varley @ La Belle Angèle, 2 Feb
Ahead of new album Spirit of Minnie hitting the streets via Xtra Mile (home to Frank Turner and Ducking Punches among others), catch Varley on his biggest tour to date, which hits La Belle Angèle this evening.

WHITE @ Sneaky Pete's, 2 Feb 
Glasgow five-piece WHITE pull together elements of disco, post-punk and guitar pop into an enthralling blend all of their own. They're joined on the bill for this Independent Venue Week show by the atmospheric synth-blues of Callum Easter.


Gig of the week


[Shopping by CJ Monk]

Shopping @ Mono, Glasgow, 1 Feb
Were you gutted to hear Shopping had cancelled their support slot with The Spook School at Stereo at the weekend? Well fret not, for tonight they play Mono to celebrate their own excellent album The Official Body, which was released on 19 Jan via FatCat and produced by none other than Edwyn Collins. Oh, and the band features Sacred Paws’ Rachel Aggs, along with drummer Andrew Milk and bassist Billy Easter. Get to getting!


Gigs in Glasgow this week

Courtney Marie Andrews @ O2 ABC, 31 Jan 
Celtic Connections continues, with this week's picks kicking off at the O2 ABC courtesy of Arizona songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews. Support comes from Adam Holmes.

Beth Orton & Blue Rose Code @ O2 ABC, 2 Feb 
One of folktronica's shining lights, Beth Orton is joined on this Celtic Connections bill by the man behind The Skinny readers' choice for Scottish Album of 2017, Blue Rose Code.

Siobhan Wilson @ The Mackintosh Church, 3 Feb
Wilson's haunting There Are No Saints was one of the best albums to come out of Scotland in 2017, and the Song, by Toad signee is joined by the twin violins and cellos of the Demi Octet for what promises to be a very special Celtic Connections show. Support comes from Broken Records frontman Jamie Sutherland, performing tracks from his new solo record.

Jaye Bartell @ The Hug & Pint, 3 Feb
Poetic yet candid and unafraid, formal but also spontaneous, Jaye Bartell brings his Angel Olsen-featuring new album In a Time of Trouble a Wild Exultation to The Hug & Pint for a Celtic Connections gig. 

Khruangbin @ CCA, 4 Feb
The rip-roaring Thai funk of Khruangbin's new record Con Todo el Mundo is a celebration of the power of shared creativity and influence, and their live shows have drawn lavish praise in the past. Basically, this is one not to be missed. As a side note, be sure to check out the band's new AirKhruang website, which builds a custom Spotify playlist for any hypothetical (or actual) plane journeys you're taking in the future. Technology!

Out Lines @ Saint Lukes, 4 Feb
Out Lines – the supremely atmospheric project from The Twilight Sad's James Graham, SAY Award winner Kathryn Joseph and ace producer and instrumentalist Marcus Mackay – return to Glasgow for another run through their Conflats album. If you're lucky, they'll even bust out their cover of ABBA's Lay All Your Love On Me; they're joined on the night by Hamish Hawk.

PARTYNEXTDOOR @ O2 ABC, 5 Feb 
He was the first ever signing to Drake's OVO Sound imprint, and Jahron Anthony Brathwaite – aka PARTYNEXTDOOR – has collaborated with everyone from Zayn Malik to Rick Ross. Expect a night of slick modern R'n'B under the ABC's giant disco ball.

http://theskinny.co.uk/music