Edinburgh Under Surveillance: April

Let's say for a minute that you're not at all arsed about some diverse mind-blowing festival thundering into your town this month, let us assume for now that you're all about the local vibe, or perhaps you'll want a little bit of respite before and after Aphex encroaches with the cranium cracking beats and squalls.

With a warm buzz gathering momentum behind them, The Common Redstarts and Skinny-featured Thee Comrades throw down at Bannermans with Flatliner in tow on the 1st.

By all accounts, things are coming together quite nicely for newly manifested Lone Pigeon / Beta Band incarnation The Aliens. They debuted with a well received live performance at The Venue last month (see review) with their "Songs in the Key of Fife", expect their first EP Alienoid Starmonica to drop on the 24th (also available right now on I-Tunes), stay tuned, y'hear?

Featuring a well-rounded cast of characters is the Spectrum II festival at The Queen's Hall on the 2nd, it's an all day affair with a blend of DJs and boasting the burgeoning talents of the ubiquitous DoPE, The Very, Amplifico (also playing Henry's Cellar Bar on the 22nd) and FOUND. Serious now, this is a promising benchmark event in terms of where Edinburgh's eclectic landscape of artists are coming from at the moment and will be missed at your peril, sod the bird flu you've had all week, get down there.

Emergenza, as always, continue to put up a good fight in the name of younger talent this month with a series of themed nights at the Liquid Room (see listings) playing from the 3rd until the 9th. From Electro-Pop and Alternative to Hardcore, they have it all.

If you've still got some fuel left in you after the last night of Emergenza, also on the 9th is the latest dose from those late night rock n' rollers at Rise Up as they continue to live like insomniacs at Cab Vol; exhibiting the skills of Denied Sons of Iglesias and the dubiously named Crevis among many more. The Rise Up collective also kick off their most daring prospect to date with Festival 24 at Studio 24. Featuring 24 bands, no less, and an onslaught of rock-oriented grooves to force your noggin into a steady bob, mainstays O.B.E, 96 Tears, Missing Cat, The Low Miffs and a whole host of others look fixed to dominate this ambitious event. What's more, it's only about 24p per band, Brucie bonuses galore.

Not to be outdone, Tigerfest returns later this month as a slew of quality gigs ensues from the 28th onwards and the Babytiger mob celebrate their 4th birthday at the same time. More details on what's in store to follow in next months issue.

Colin MacIntyre (Mull Historical Society) marks the first in a series of three British Red Cross events as he culls some material for an intimate acoustic set at Cabaret Voltaire on the 29th. Also on the bill are Shrinking Violet who are no strangers to playing a worthwhile cause, having recently played a young offenders institution.

The Haftor Medboe Trio offer up some sublime experimental jazz mastery with their residency at The Jam House this month, playing from their recently released album. The 23rd is one such instance to see them tout their wares and a feature on the troupe can be found over at http://www.skinnymag.co.uk.

Dig in, b'christ, we've been spoiled this month brothers and sisters.