Edinburgh Under Surveillance: December

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Auld Reekie, gigs they were stirring, and a few were damn freaky. Nororious backstage Quo antics aside, Club Ego finally kick off their live music programme with The Sadies appearing at the top of the month on the first.

Next up to bat and taking over on the 8th, Rock Against Racism at the Cougar Lounge denotes a worthy cause with a stellar bill featuring the likes of Glasgow-based Tori Amos / Ani DiFranco influenced chanteuse Adriana. A fter the faultless ruckus of their performance at our birthday ho down at The Liquid Room in October, the unstoppable touring machine that is OBE support Mark Morriss of The Bluetones at Henry's on the 9th. A guaranteed highlight of the month.

Not to be outdone by the shedloads of dodgy office parties taking place across the land in December, venues, labels and promoters prove they are no exceptions to lure of the Christmas bash. Bannerman's ring in the festive season with their Degrassi/Electric Sound Conspiracy/Broken Records combo moving some boards on the 14th, whereas the usual alliance of Babytiger (settling in nicely to their new abode at the Cafe Royal) and Is This Music? join forces to put on an evening of lo-fi and rock n' roll with Le Reno Amps and Pilotcan at Café Royal on the 16th. Also, the focus of our label feature this month, SL Records, return with the annual flaunting of their talented stable at the Bongo Club the following evening. Featuring a superb mixture, from the desert rock/surf punk sounds of Lords of Bastard to the sublime charms of Dawn of the Replicants, this presents itself as an excellent opportunity to investigate the fine wares of this mainstay capital label.