Scottish New Music Round-up: October 2026

Bowing out for a month at probably the busiest time in the annual calendar for releases and live shows was, as Maz and the Phantasms so eloquently pointed out to me via an Instagram DM, ‘almost criminal’. A lot of time is spent planning the monthly new music column and with not as much time to write this and more music than ever to celebrate in October, this mini issue’s admittedly much bigger column looks slightly different than usual as we try to highlight some (not all) of the albums and EPs coming out this month. Hopefully it’s at least informative and you find something new to fall in love with this autumn. Happy listening x

walt disco
walt disco
[EMI North, 2 Oct]
At the start of the month, Glasgow alt-rock outfit walt disco released their third album. Having almost abandoned their name entirely, they instead came full circle, opting to self-title the album; a powerful move, it symbolises the band’s growth and evolution, both on a personal and togetherness level.

Garefowl
Things That Vanish
[AD 93, 2 Oct]
Influenced by the traditional folk music of St Kilda and the threatened seabirds that reside on the archipelago, experimental trad outfit Garefowl released Things That Vanish, with strings and electronics, samples, field recordings and hydrophone recordings collected on the island making up its nine tracks.

Puppy Teeth
Teething
[self-released, 2 Oct]
Recorded at Pocket Sounds in Granton, Edinburgh ‘bubblegrunge’ five-piece Puppy Teeth also released their debut EP at the top of the month. Drawing from influences like Men I Trust, Jeff Buckley, Mary In the Junkyard and Sorry, Teething shows great promise from a band at the start of their journey.

Teenage Fanclub
Do Not Dare to Dream
[Merge Records, 9 Oct]
Recorded at Black Bay Studio on the Isle of Lewis, Do Not Dare to Dream is the thirteenth studio album from Teenage Fanclub. Inspired by the remote location and studio offerings, across its ten tracks you’ll hear a Domus church organ and synths adding to their warm, melodic oeuvre of Scottish pop.

Tanzana
Etched In
[SO Recordings/Hideous Mink, 9 Oct]
Glasgow outfit Tanzana have been on a rapid rise this past year, joining Madra Salach on tour and playing shows with Bleech 9:3 and Lucia & The Best Boys. This month, the five-piece, fronted by Freya Talbot, release their debut EP, Etched In, chock full of drama and theatricality.

Andrew Wasylyk & Tommy Perman
House With a Curse
[Clay Pipe Music, 16 Oct]
Commissioned last year by horror fest Dundead to write a new score for Rupert Julian's 1925 film The Phantom of the Opera, this month sees Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman release said score, with House With a Curse reimagining the traits of the traditional horror soundtrack.

merrowfolk
Understory
[Iffy Folk Records, 15 Oct]
Following their debut single in July, this month merrowfolk release their debut album. Combining indie, folk, rock, gothic noir and theatricality, songwriter Clare McBrien says: “It’s a love letter to those who feel misunderstood, left out, forgotten in an increasingly competitive, capitalistic world."

Joe Hearty
Down
[Slow Learner, 16 Oct]
Formerly of Stonehaven outfit Copy Haho, this month sees Joe Hearty release his melody-driven debut solo record. Written between Stonehaven, London and Athens, Down was largely composed on the move, its emotional lyrics informed by grief, joy, memory and queer adulthood.

Matt Carmichael
Held In the Dark
[Porthole Music, 16 Oct]
Written during a period spent supporting a loved one, award-winning Matt Carmichael releases his most personal record date. Joined by regular collaborators including Fergus McCreadie and Ali Watson, guitar from Chris Amer and James Mackay adds a whole new dynamic to his work.

KILIMANJARO
THE ASCENSION (INKAWAMI)
[Capitol/Polydor, 16 Oct]
On his latest EP, London-based, Zambian/Scottish DJ and producer KILIMANJARO explores themes around identity, purpose and self-reclamation. With collaboration at the heart of the record, its nine tracks are packed with guest turns from the likes of Tiggs Da Author, Kojey Radical, Aluna and Tony Ann.

Katherine Aly
222.2
[self-released, 22 Oct]
With every song on Katherine Aly’s latest EP 222.2 clocking in at two minutes and 22 seconds, across its four tracks, the Greek artist who splits her time between Edinburgh and London explores “themes of power, desire, and the quiet violence of modern love” through an electronic pop and hyperpop lens.

Moni Jitchell
Aware
[self-released, 23 Oct]
If noisy post-hardcore is what you're after, seek out Moni Jitchell’s Aware. Leaning more confidently into the live iteration of the band – vocal mic, 12-string guitar, backing tracks and electronics, lyrically it draws influence from psychologist Jean Piaget as the pair explore the human condition.

Gurry Wurry
Glue
[self-released, 30 Oct]
Edinburgh-based Gurry Wurry has been drip-feeding us his third album for the past year, even releasing the album physically back in the spring. At the end of this month, this album of sticky, wonky pop, produced by Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan, will be available wherever you stream your music.

The Snuts
Joy In Short Moments
[Happy Artist Records, 23 Oct]
Excitement for West Lothian outfit The Snuts’ fourth studio album started with the release of Summer Rain back in January. Following a handful of releases throughout the year, the wait is almost over, with a string of UK tour dates and in-stores kicking off at the end of the month and into November.

Jewel Scheme
Write > Protect > Release
[self-released, 30 Oct]
This month also sees the return of electronic outfit Jewel Scheme as they release sophomore album Write > Protect > Release. Their first to be enjoyed as in a gapless playback form, across its 11 tracks and 31-minute runtime, the focus here is on repetition as tracks evolve and blend into one another.

Emma Dunlop
Somebody Call The Alliance
[Last Night From Glasgow, 30 Oct]
North Lanarkshire alt-electronic artist Emma Dunlop also releases her second album this month, with Somebody Call The Alliance arriving via Last Night From Glasgow on the 30th. With the album looking back to move forward, some of its pop-indebted songs were first written over 20 years ago.

Isik Kural
Motorcycles and Cherry Wind
[RVNG Intl., 30 Oct]
Glasgow-based composer Isik Kural’s latest album arrives this month too. Due via iconic indie label RVNG Intl., alongside nine other musicians, including Loris S. Sarid, Motorcycles and Cherry Wind acts as a “sonic travelogue” delicately stitching together different geographies and cultures.

IPSA Collective
Germinal
[TNW Music, 30 Oct]
Featuring soprano Stephanie Lamprea, violinist Feargus Heatherington, flautist Richard Craig, percussionist Darren Gallacher and dance and multidisciplinary artist Anne Kjaer, if experimental chamber works pique your interest, seek out Glasgow-based IPSA Collective.

Auld Reekie Nocturne
The Stone Tape Confessions
[Shadowrunner Recordings, 31 Oct]
Finally, soundtrack the spookiest day of the year with Natasha Kitty Katt's Auld Reekie Nocturne as she explores Edinburgh's darker side – witch trials, plague-stricken closes, the murders of Burke and Hare etc etc – all set to a backdrop of gothic techno and darkwave electronica.

As well as all that, ICYMI, we've done a mega update of our Music Now: New Scottish Music playlist on Spotify and YouTube. Updating it every Friday with ten new tracks, following our sudden closure, it has lain dormant for weeks with the incredible Sin Clair on the cover. In a bid to get back on track, we’ve wiped the whole thing and refreshed it with 30 brand new tracks from *takes deep breath* redolent, Katie Gregson-Macleod, Isik Kural, The Yummy Fur, Hector Shaw, merrowfolk, Bikini Body, Possibly Jamie, La La, Starsky Rae, Hound, walt disco, CHVRCHES, The Micro Band, Count Florida, Cowboy Hunters, Sally Stenning, Mogwai (ft. Iggy Pop), Kozyeli, Garefowl, CUZINO & Nwanneka, Peter Cat, Hamish Hawk, Joesef, Anna Meredith, Admiral Fallow, Speeding, waverley., Tanzana and Tina Sandwich.