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1/7 - The lineup for the PRS New Music Stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Fringe Sunday, 10th August has been announced. Edinburgh (?) band We See Lights will be joined by acts for the world over - Australia's Juzzie Smith, Londoners Eliza Wren Payne, Molloy, Tom Hickox, and The Vibrants, and Dundee act Luva Anna are joined by Glasgow-based Dave Arcari and Punch and the Apostles. http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk.

30/6 - Edinburgh electro collective STFU is an open collective of electronic musicians and visual artists. In 2008 there will be events in Heidelberg, Helsinki, Glasgow, Sheffield, Athens, Porto, Marseilles, and on the 3rd and 4th July at Red (soon to be Sneaky Pete's) in Edinburgh's Cowgate they have Unknown Forces of Everyday Life, Dene Road, This Mountain, Telekom, Zanf , I Am Blip as well as a bunch of DJs and the like. Oh, it's free entry! www.stfumusic.org

29/6 - Regular Edinburgh music event Born To Be Wide this Thursday evening sees the colective host a seminar entitled Unveiling The Mind Of A Music Journalist. The seminar which is sponsored the the Musicians Union will see several local and national writers and editors explain precisely why your band got a bad review in the last issue. The event which starts at 7.30, precedes the regular BTBW night which includes guest DJs Broken Records, and takes place at the Voodoo Rooms. Reserve a place by emailing glasgow@musiciansunion.org.uk.

22/6 - Travis are to go back to their 'indie' roots having parted company with label Independiente. Their new single 'J. Smith' will be released on their own Red Telephone Box label, no which they put out their debut 'All I Want To Do Is Rock' in 1996, thanks to a loan from Fran Healy's mother. The EP is in advance of their 6th studio album, Ode to J Smith.

21/6 - Indie legend Mayo Thompson - frontman of Rough Trade stalwarts The Red Crayola - is among several acts to play at Edinburgh's impressive St Cecilia's Hall in a weekend of unamplified music on July 5th and 6th, alongside Richard Youngs, Keith Rowe, Tattie Toes, Rude Pravo and Correcto. www.threeblows.co.uk

19/6 - The Tennent's Mutual are now seeking unsigned talent to play alongside emerging acts and headline stars at the first-ever Tennent’s Mutual live shows in October / November 2008. Artists will be selected from The Tennent’s Mutual unsigned Top 40, which will run through July. T in the Park favourites Muse and Flaming Lips are apparently the two acts in the lead of the public 'vote' at present www.tennentsmutual.com.

17/6 - The Department of Music at the University of Glasgow is holding an Open Evening to present its M.Litt in Popular Music Studies programme. This will be held at the City Halls in Glasgow on the evening of 3 July.

13/6 - The Edge festival - DF Concerts’ continuation of the sponsorless T on the Fringe - has announced its lineup for this August. Paul Haig, Pendulum, Kristin Hersh, Digitalism, Michael Franti, Maximo Park, Shed 7, Dizzee Rascal and Broken Records all appear in a variety of venues - full details at http://www.theedgefestival.co.uk

12/6 - Glasgow art student James Houston has sparked an internet phenomonon by remixing Radiohead’s track ‘Nude’, utilising ancient computer hardware and making a video of it ‘perform’. ‘Big Ideas (Don’t Get Any)’, which shows an Epson dot-matrix printer, a HP scanner and a ZX Spectrum, creating a backing of whirrs and blips for the disembodied vocals of Thom Yorke. The Glasgow School of Art student has since been offered a recording contract (despite not actually being a musician) and Colin Greenwood from the band has described the video as “brilliant” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmfHHLfbjNQ

11/6 - Bob Dylan is to show his diverse talents in Scotland, with an exhibition of paintings and sketches made in the late 1980s and early 90s. Visitors will be abe to buy the works, starting at £1000 per print or the whole collection of 29 for £35,000. The exhibition can be seen at Glasgow’s Princes Square Gallery, and at Breeze Gallery in Peebles. www.breeze-gallery.co.uk

7/6 - Edwyn Collins has enlisted a shedload of big names - artists, actors, authors and musicians - to design the sleeve for his new single 'Home Again' which is out on June 23rd. Irvine Welsh, Franz Ferdinand, Nicky Wire, Harry Hill, Norman Blake, Jarvis Cocker, Bernard Butler, Graham Coxon, Paul Cook, Richard Hawley, Pam Hogg, Billy Childish, Pete Shelley, Andrew Weatherall, Tim Burgess and Tracey Thorn are among the 25 artists whose designs will each adorn 60 sleeves each, making a total of 1500 ultra-collectible singles. http://www.emirecords.co.uk/edwyncollins/gallerytest.html

6/6 -Inverness based act Calamateur are to be immortalised in the city in stone. Lyrics from debut single ‘Inhabit- which along with ‘White Light Unknown’ received several plays from John Peel on its release in 2000 - will be one of 30 stenciled quotes to appear, sandblasted, into the city’s street, later this year. www.calamateur.com

5/6 - Attic Lights' new single ‘Bring You Down’ is set for release on 30th June, and the band have enlisted various showbiz chums to help out in providing additional material for the range of singles, in CD, vinyl and digital versions. These will feature various remixes from Camera Obscura, Mogwai, Jim Noir, Found (Ziggy Campbell) and Portland, Oregon techno DJ Let's Go Outside.
The band have also got one more 'mix' up their sleeves which the band and labels hope to get cleared for release. It’s by David Gest, ex-husband of Liza Minelli, who contributes a rap /monologue to one version of the song following his meeting producer John McLaughlin on a plane flight in Glasgow. “I never knew a woman could be so cold" is part of the lyric Gest put together while in Glasgow DJing at the Back to the 80s retro fest.
(Gest-less Attic Lights video )

5/6 - King Creosote will return to his homeland of Fife and to his folk roots for The Big Tent Festival - “Scotland’s Festival of Stewardship” - which takes place in Falkland, Fife over the weekend of 26th and 27th July. KC and his Fence Collective pals will be joined by indie, folk and roots from Scotland and the world, the lineup also including The Peatbog Faeries,Grassroots Zimbabwe, Voces del Sur Frank & Walters, Sorren McLean, Abdou (Carter USM) and Moishe’s Bagel. www.bigtentfestival.co.uk

4/6 - Make Model have suffered a hiccup as they prepare to launch their recently recorded debut album - lead singer Lewis Gordon has quit the band. The now-5-piece have stated their determination to go on however, saying “We are NOT splitting up - Make Model lives on.”

4/6 -The Inn at Dalwhinnie hosts Lochstock, on the 20th and 21st of June. The intimate 400 capacity event hasadded a night and an outdoor stage for the minifestival which includes headliners Dreadzone , Steve Mason’s Black Affair, Southpaw, OnTheFly, Luxury Car, Elligitimate and Cameron Gillespie, plus Dj sets from Joystick Disco, Eddie Cointreau and Belle and Sebastian's Richard Colburn. More details can be found on the Lochstock myspace site www.myspace.com/lochstock07 and on their website www.lochstock.com

3/6 - Glasgow’s West End Festival, which takes place in (duh) the city’s West End between now and the end of June, has announced several big-name musical eventrs. Ross Clark on Friday 14th, Orkestra Del Sol. Teenage Fanclub play Oran Mor for 3 nights from the 14th - the gigs described as ‘Electric Chestnuts’, ‘Acoustic Chestnuts’ and ‘Live Obscurities’. BenTD, Jim McAteer and Tom Stearn play 'Blues For Birds' (a RSBO fundraiser) on the 16th, while Melt Banana visit on the 18th. Wake The President, The State Broadcasters & How To Swim play at an Electric Honey night on the 19th. King Creosote gigs on the on the 24th and 25th, while Ally Kerr and Cineplex on the 25th. Full details here: http://www.westendfestival.co.uk

3/6 - The 16 T Break bands selected to play at Balado this 11th, 12th and 13th July are: Be A Familiar; Come On Gang; Departures; Ex Wives; Haight-Ashbury; Isosceles; Jocasta Sleeps; Joe Acheson Quartet; No Kilter; Running With Horses; State Of Affairs; The Down And Outs; The Fire And I; The King Hats; We See Lights; & Zoey Van Goey

2/6 - British Sea Power are to appear at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Thursday 19th June. The band will will show examples of their own films and videos and then perform a specially composed live soundtrack to a feature film. http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/

1/6 - Biffy Clyro have allowed label Beggars Banquet, to release a collection of singles from the band's early days , entitled 'Singles 2001-2005' on Monday 7th July. '27', 'Justboy' and '57' among the more obscure pre-megastardom offerings gathered together for the first time.

1/6 - The Inn at Lathones, St Andrews, is to open as a music venue. With a maximum of 50 seats available, the town's oldest coaching inn takes its lead from the Bein Inn at Glenfarg, one of Scotland's most distinctive venues, and owners Muldell Music have employed former Bein Inn owner as their Music Manager. And like the Perthshire venue, it will base its booking around big names from the past playing in a very intimate setting. Booked are Andy Fairweather Low, and the Monkees (fronted by Peter Tork), former Small Faces and Faces-Ian McLagan, Dean Friedman, and Dr Hook vocalist Dennis Locorriere. www.theinn.co.uk .

30/5 - Following their foray into music in Scotland with a DJ tent at the 2007 Connect festival, Swedish cider maker Kopparberg has announced several more moves into the scene. They are set to release 3 split 7" singles in June, July and August, featuring The Ads / The Moth and The Mirror, Kobai / Juno, and Injuns / Dbass. The brand will also, again have a presence at this year's Connect. www.kopparberguk.com.

28/5 - Edinburgh's Cabaret Voltaire has again launched its Duty Free selection of (yes) free gigs this summer. Errors, Jesus H Foxx, Y'all is Fantasy Island, and Theatre Fall are among the acts who will play 10 shows in June and July. www.myspace.com/dutyfree2008.

26/5 - Following some full-on rock Idlewild shows, singer Roddy Woomble returns to his folk-influenced material when he appears - alongside John McCusker and Kris Drever - at the Wizard festival at New Deer, Aberdeenshire, which takes place on August 22 and 23. The event, which is expected to attract around 5,000 people to Craigford Park, also features Supergrass , Alabama 3, The Damned, Dreadzone, Flood of Red, Parka, and, Oasis proteges Proud Mary. www.wizardfestival.com

24/5 - Feughtfest brings the festival season to Banchory on August 30th - The Brand New Heavies, Sandi Thom, Attic Lights, Bad Manners, Popup and The Little Kicks are among the diverse lineup of bands at the King George V Park. www.feughfest.com

23/5 - A competition has been launched to find a DJ to play at Rockness on July 7th and 8th. Sponsor Carling is looking for DJs to submit a mix of up to 15 minutes along with their top ten favourite tunes. Two winners will be selected - one DJ will play a one-hour set in Carling’s Cold Beer Amnesty area at Rockness Festival and the other will play Carling’s Cold Beer Amnesty area at Isle of Wight Festival. Deadline is 1st June, more at carling.com/coldcutsDJ.

21/5 - The RNSO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, like you didn't know) has announced an eclectic lineup for its programme of events in June. Concerto for Turntables (Thursday 19 June) features Gabriel Prokofiev - yes, grandson of the Russian composer -alongside DJ Benni G. On Saturday 21st, the RNSO play with Elvis Costello in a one-off performance. And on the 26th, Video Games Live sees the music of SuperMario, Zelda, Halo, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Warcraft and Sonic the Hedgehog performed by the RSNO and accompanied by exclusive video footage, synchronised lighting and interactive segments. www.myspace.com/rsno.

19/5 - Doubtless taking some inspiration from London's event in Camden, the Sauchiehall Crawl takesplace on Sunday 1st June along, yes, Glasgow'sSauchiehall Street. For £15 music fans can see The Twilight Sad, Make Model, The Phantom Band, How to Swim, Jo Mango, El Padre, We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Ads, De Rosa, Ross Clark and Galchen at Nice N Sleazy, ABC2 and The Beat
Club. More details at www.myspace.com/thesauchiehallcrawl

16/5 - Annual industry fest GoNorth continues to rove around the country, this year coming to rest in Dundee. Among the acts playing showcase gigs on 5th and 6th June are Warped Memories, The Hazey Janes, Jocasta Sleeps, MC Soom T, The Fire & I and Shutter. Full details at www.gonorth.biz

15/5 - Folowing the reformation of The Vaselines, it's emerged that Eugene Kelly has been working with former members of Eugenius - the band he formed folwing that band's split. Briefly known as Captain America (until Marvel Comics intervened) Eugenius were also noted as being favourites of Kurt Cobain. They have been spotted in Edinburgh's Chamber Studio along with legendary producer Jamie Watson.

8/5 - Scots indie legends The Vaselines have announced that they will reform to play Tigerfest in Dunfermline, on Friday 16th May. The duo, backed by a quartet of musicians from Belle and Sebastian, will guest on a bill featuring Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake and Pearlfisher's David Scott (more at www.tigerfest.co.uk).

7/5- 'Urban' festival Hey You get Off My Pavement!, which has graced the courtyard outside Mono for the past 2 years, has announced its lineup for 2008. Moving to Sunday June 29th (presumably due to the disastrous weather last year) the bands appearing will be Camera Obscura, The School of Language (from Field Music’s David Brewis), Foxface, Belle & Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson (and band), avant garde electro-pop guru Felix Kubin (from Hamburg), The Pictish Trail (Fence Records’ Johnny Lynch and band, including King Creosote and James Yorkston) Playdoh, Gummy Stumps, the European Union, Sparkling Shadazz and Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lock Pickers (ex Uncle John and Whitelock). And there are more acts still to be announced. Tickets cost £18.50; free entry for under-14s.

6/5 - Former KLF mainman Bill Drummond has issued a 'pamphlet' in advance of a book, 'The 17', due out in July 2008. Published for "anybody who may be concerned about the future of music", the book was started in 2006 and apart from stating that "All recorded music has run its course", also makes the point that the tome will NOT cover any of the "high-profile" moments of Drummond's life. More at www.the17.org.

25/4 - The Wickerman Festival, which takes place on the Solway Firth on 25th/26th July, has announced headliners to go with its traditionally eclectic lineups - KT Tunstall and The Fall join the likes of Gary Numan, De Rosa, and Dean Freidman.
Tunstall has also announced a warm-up show for her T in the Park show - it will take place just down the road in the new Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline, a 1700-capacity former bingo hall,on July 10th.

23/4 - Monthly Edinburgh musical gathering Born To Be Wide is to host another industry advice session following the recent talk given by former PiL drummer Martin Atkins. On May 1st a Music Management seminar will take place at the Voodoo Rooms. Among those dispensing advice to the audience of budding musicians will be Dee Bahl [Biffy Clyro manager], Bruce Finlay [Aberfeldy and ex Simple Minds boss] and Francis MacDonald [Camera Obscura/Attic Lights manager and Shoeshine Records supremo /Teenage Fanclub drummer]. The event takes place from 7.30 - 9.00 m-to reserve a place email to reserve a seat contact: borntobe_wide@yahoo.com

22/4 - Following a furore in France - the notoriously Anglophobic nation have, bizarrely, selected an English language Eurovision entry - Scots act The Ex-men have offered to step in with their tune 'Cage De Mots' which they are offering to the French nation as an alternative which is at least sung in French. There's even a video already prepared - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWng4G4rs3Y

21/4 - Glasgow art venue Goma - usually best known in musical terms for the hangout of literally thousands of teenage goths - is to host a free music festival on May 2nd. The event will feature a number of bands and artists performing alongside a new exhibition, Forever Changes, by Scottish Turner Prize-nominated artist Jim Lambie. The exhibition has been commissioned by Glasgow Museums in association with the Glasgow International Festival 2008 (GI). The musical acts appearing include Aidan Moffat, Dananananakroyd, plus Foxface who will appear with Glasgow-based artist Torsten Lauschmann.

20/4 - Dogs Die In Hot Cars, who announced their split on Eammon Holmes Sudoku Challenge over a year ago, have finally seen their long-awaited second album surface. Kind of. The band have released individual parts of the songs which should have comprised the album online, allowing anyone who fancies a shot to tinker with them and see what they can come up with- the 'winners' will even get a share in any royalties that come out of it all. Hear for yourself at http://dogsdieinhotcarsalbum2.blogspot.com (Andy Partridge need not aply)

19/4 - Xfm Scotland DJ Jim Gellatly has been awarded the prestigious John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio at the Radio Academy awards in London. Jim was honoured for his 20-year career in which he helped launch some of the UK’s best known talent. Among previous recipeints of the award are Kenny Everett, Steve Lamacq, Paul Gambaccini. Charlie Gillett , Alan Freeman and Bob Harris. Jim said: “It's pretty mind-blowing that I'm to join that illustrious list. It's a huge honour to be associated with anything linked to John Peel, as he was a real inspiration."

In other Xfm Scotland news, the station has been handed a reprieve from closure. After being put up for sale in February by its owners GCap Media, GCap has been bought by Global Radio in a £375million takeover which means that the station won't be sold off (at least not for now)and more importantly, its licence won't be handed back to radio regulator Ofcom.

18/4 - Seminal Scots indie act and one of Kurt Cobain's many 'favourite' bands, The Vaselines are to appear together at a benefit for an Orphan Support project in Malawi. Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee will both perform solo sets as well as reuniting for a few Vaselines classics, at the show at Glasgow's Mono on the 24th. Also on the bill is one Emma Pollock, and there will be readings by Alan Bisett and Hal Duncan. Kickoff is 8pm, door tax a charitable fiver.

17/4 - Big in Falkirk has announced its traditonally eclectic lineup for their Calendar Park free event which takes place on Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 May. The Levellers (Saturday) and 10cc (Sunday) headline while also appearing across the 2 days will be The Complete Stone Roses, Peatbog Faeries, Ross Fairweather, Esther O'Connor, Danse or Die, Kissmet, The Hazey Janes, Kobai, Soft Toy Emergency, Umdumo Wesizwe, 5th and Pontiac, Big Hand and Hungry Ghosts.

16/4 - Following the end of the annual Triptych, sponsors Tennents are to remain connected to the music scene in Scotland by launching a brand new venture: The Tennent's Mutual. The brewer will basically hand over £150,000 which in theory will allow music fans collectively programme a series of live shows in October / November 2008. Anyone who signs up as a 'founder member' will have a say in dictating which bands are booked, where they play, and in which venues used-and crucially, ticket prices, to which no booking fees will be applied and indeed the whole operation is slated as being 'not for profit', and intended to continue and become self-sufficient so that the programme can continue into 2009 and beyond. Various industry figures have been invited on board to advise fans on all aspects of live music
programming - including Rolling Stones svengali Andrew Loog Oldham, Babyshambles manager Adrian Hunter, Optimo's Keith McIvor (aka JD Twitch) plus bosses of Scottish indie labels Chemikal Underground, The Fence Collective and Creeping Bent. (www.tennentsmutual.com)

10/4 - Following the 'debranding' of T on the Fringe, DF Concerts have announced that this year's festival will be called The Edge. Running for the same Festival period as TotF, it's all shrouded in mystery at present but a newsletter can be subscribed to, at the website http://theedgefestival.com.
Also being launched this week, a networking site which will keep Tennents in the music business despite rumours that the Scottish Government will completely ban alcohol sponsorship of music events - reports which Nicola Storgeon has denied. , Tennents Mutual - www.tennentsmutual.com launches onTtuesday 15th April, and quite how much control it gives fans over ticket pricing, locations and bands who actually play at live events, will become clearer then.

9/4 - Connect Festival - which has itself announced a non-alcoholic sponsor, Scottish Hydro Electric - has made public its lineup for the 2-day event which runs at Inverary Castle from 29th - 31st August. Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, Paolo Nutini, Amy MacDonald, Goldfrapp, Grunderman, Manic Street Preachers and The Coral are among the acts announced.
In slightly related news, it seems certain that the Indian Summer boutique festival which ran in Glasgow's Victoria Park for the past 2 years, is unlikely to go ahead.

8/4 - Guide To Glasgow Music is the English-language title of a book written by a Japanese chap, Saturo, who spent some time in Scotland interviewing bands, labels and even websites and magazines (ahem). It's all in Japanese, but apart from providing a handy guide for music tourists coming to Scotland from the Far East, it will also be useful for Jockrock's many Japanese-speaking readers. Really. More at http://jp.myspace.com/guidetoglasgow

7/4 - DF Concerts, the Scottish promoter behind T in the Park and King Tuts (where Oasis were discovered) has made public the news that they are now 67% owned by Los Angeles-based promoter Live Nation, who have teamed up with Irish millionaire Denis Desmond's Gaiety Investments to control 67 per cent of Dance Factory. Livenation own Download and Wireless as well as being involved in the production of Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds via their stake in Festival Republic. While fears for the Scottishness of the company have been expressed, DF claim that the move will strengthen T in the Park.

7/4 -Doing It For The Kids - a mammoth 65-track charity compilation album whose title mirrors a Creation records release of 20 years ago - is to be launched at a gig at Glasgow's Classic Grand on 10th April. The album is the brainchild of Sandy Fife and is literally 'for the kids', being in aid of Yorkhill Childrens’ Foundation. The download will be available from www.resonancestore.com/yorkhillproject, but there will also be 266 (one for each bed in the hospital) numbered CDs available - these are to be auctioned off over the coming months. The launch gig includes 8 short sets from artists featured on the album including Kidd, Lynnie Carson, Mitchell Museum, The Dead Beat Club, Miyagi, The Hermit Crabs, The Orchids and Alex Lowe and Garage Flowers. Among the artists also featured on the album are : Ed Harcourt, ballboy, Ally Kerr, Popup, Ed Ball and De Rosa. More at www.myspace.com/yorkhillproject.

2/4 - Manda Rin has announced her debut solo album- she will release 'My DNA' on This Is Fake DIY Records this summer. Tracklisting for the former bis star's debut (she seems to have reverted back to her stage name following a spell as Amanda McKinnon during her time in Data Panik / The Kitchen) - is: DNA / Typeface / Bad Thing Happen To Bad People / Guilty Pleasure / Do the Static / The Word Out / Break-up/Breakdown / Love To Hate You / No Language / Less Than Zero / Black Book / Bruises .

30/3 - Edinburgh's regular music industry gathering Born To Be Wide welcomes one of the background heroes of the UK music scene - Martin Atkins, former member in Public Image Ltd and drummer with Killing Joke and Nine Inch Nails, will present a talk and advice seminar on touring and the music industry in general. Also appearing at the Voodoo Rooms (BTBW's new home) are guest DJs from Our Lunar Activities, and Skinny magazine.

28/3 - Scottish and US artists are to combine for New York's Tartan Week celebrations, which commence this week.
Glasgow performers Louise Cairns, Keith Warwick and Simone Welsh will appear alongside NYC acts Ben Arthur, Nom de Plume, and Ben Godwin at Googies on 2nd April, and the actual Tartan Day celebrations in Central Park on the 6th will be followed up with a show in London on 21st April at the Bush Hall.
The 3 Scots acts then play a set along with Nom De Plume, in Glasgow, at the Universal on April 23rd.

25/3 - Soma Record's regular Soma Skool event is to return to Glasgow this April (25th) after successful events in Aberdeen, Falkirk and Dundee in recent years. Sharing their wealth of knowledge this year at The Arches will be Dave Clarke, DJ Sneak, Anja Schneider, Dee Bahl (Biffy Clyro Manager), Vic Galloway, John Williamson (Belle & Sebastian Manager), various Soma artists and many more TBC. More at www.somaskool.com

14/3 - The LAST EVER Triptych festival will take place in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen from April 25–27 and sports a lineup including The RZA, Candi Staton, Mogwai, Dirty Projectors, Malcolm Middleton, Clinic, Frightened Rabbit, Andrew Bird, Magik Markers, The Fence Collective, Derrick May and many more... more at www.triptychfestival.com
What happens next year is unclear, but there seem to be plans afoot to set up the mysterious Tennents Mutual (www.tennentsmutual.com)

6/3- Following a successful release in the USA of album Deluge Songs, Glasgow act Terra Diablo are tying in the UK release with a video competition which could see anyone buying the download of the album ($10) win a $5000 prize. The winner simply (!) has to make a video of the track of their choice, upload it to YouTube, and the winner nets the prize. More at www.myspace.com/terradiablo, where you can also hear some of the tracks .Closing date for the comp is 16th April.

3/3 - The lineup for this year's Tigerfest - which runs in Dunfermline but with 'satellite' shows across Scotland - has been announced. Added to an initial bill which saw Josef K legend Paul Haig supported by FANGS, the roster now includes Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake, Idlewild, The Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit and Foxface, with more shows including a brace in Edinurgh, soon to be finalised.

2/3 - Aberdeen’s Foyer runs another in their successful series of Music Industry seminars on Saturday 8th march - from 3-6pm, various representatives from the industry including record label execs, MCPS, local venues and merch people will be answering questions form the attendees - more at www.foyerlive.com

1/3 - Entry is now open for Tbreak2008, which will give 48 bands the chance to play the heats for T in the Park’s T Break stage at Balado. All entrants should visit www.tbreak.co.uk for full details on how to submit their work. All submissions will be heard by the T Break judging panel, made up of representatives from our partners at DF concerts, Radio 1, PRS, HMV and Sunday Herald.
The best 48 will then be invited to play the T Break Showcases which take place at Edinburgh’s Liquidroom from 4-7 May and Glasgow’s King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut between 11th and 14th May where the panel will expand to include A&R representatives and other key music industry members. 16 bands will then be invited to play on the T Break Stage at T in the Park on July 11,12 & 13th.

25/2 - Biffy Clyro, Malcolm Middleton and King Creosote were among the big wnners in the annual Jockrock poll. See the full results here.

17/2 - The fifth annual Fence Homegame Festival will take place over March 28th, 29th and 30th, in the Collective's hometown of Anstruther. This year's event will be smaller, as the preferred choice of main hall has reduced its official capacity by almost two-thirds. The festival will still however feature all your Fence faves, in smaller halls / venues around the town. The 200 tickets go on sale at mid-day on Monday, 18th February - priced at £40.00 each - and are limited to two per order. www.fencerecords.com

16/2 - The memory of maverick Scottish musician and composer Martyn Bennett will be celebrated in style on this year's Arts Council-sponsored TuneUp tour. Performances from Mr McFall’s Chamber, Tom Bancroft, Frasier Fifield and James Mackintosh will perform pieces based and inspired upon the work of Bennet, the piper, fiddle player and creative genius who combined classical and jazz elements with Scottish traditional music and the beats of the 90s rave and dance scenes, and who died tragically early at the age of thirty-three in 2005. The tour, in March, takes in 9 venues from Wick to Peebles - full details at www.tuneup.org.uk.

16/2 - Musicians and others keen to get into the music business can get advice from some of Scotland's top names, including Emma Pollock (Delgados/Chemikal Underground), Gareth Russell (Idlewild) and Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub). The Q&A sessions at Stirling's Tollbooth on the afternoon of Saturday 23rd February also include expert input from Belle and Sebastian, Biffy Clyro, and Camera Obscura's management, plus PR and promotions and record label reps and a DJ workshop. The event costs £3, and is rounded off in the evening by a set from The Twilight Sad (that's £6 entry). More at www.myspace.com/reloadedstirling

15/2 - T in the Park celebrates its 15th anniversary by stepping back in time, with a lineup including many acts who have graced the Balado stage over the years - and includes Rage Against The Machine, who performed at the first T, at Strathclyde Park. Also on the bill are The Verve, REM, Stereophonics, Prodigy and Chemical Brothers, and more current heroes like The Fratellis, Kaiser Chiefs, and Glastonbury headliners Kings of Leon. All 40,000 additional tickets have, sadly, already sold out (and thus are not available at www.tinthepark.com)

11/2 - GCap Media, owner of Xfm Scotland, is to sell off the station along with its other non-London licences, in an attempt to increase profits to £12M per year via cost-cutting. This involves selling off all but the Xfm London station, as well as theJazz and Planet Rock. They have until March 28th to find a buyer, or else hand the licence back to regulator Ofcom.
Xfm Scotland has been slowly increasing its RAJAR figures since its rebranding to an indie rock station following several years as Beat106, and many format changes and tinkerings have been part of this - but clearly to no avail as far as the owners are concerned. However, they are also ditching their digital licences despite these being more profitable than other areas of their core FM business. The company rejected a £300M takeover bid from Global Radio only last month.
Plans for Xfm Scotland are at present unclear.

11/2 - Scottish post-punk legend Paul Haig is to return to the stage for the first time in 20 years with a small set of dates - he'll play Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms on Sun 13th April, London's Borderline on Sat 19th, and King Tus in Glasgow on the 4th May. He'll then perform a set at Tigerfest in Dunfermline's Carnegie Hall, the venue/festival where he guested with Nouvelle Vague on his classic 'Sorry For Laughing' last May.

10/2 - This year's Wickerman Festival has announced some of its initial acts to perform in the Solway Firth festival this July. De Rosa, Fangs, Zoey Van Goey, Broken Records and Beatnic Prestige will appear in one of the many stages at Dundrennan on the 25th and 26th.

8/2 - The much-awaited list (by some) of Scottish bands playing at Austin's SXSW festival in March has been announced. Among the performers in Austin from 12 - 16th are Aberfeldy, The Dykeenies, Frightened Rabbit, Jyrojets, The Law, Make Model, Our Lunar Activities, Popup, Sons & Daughters & Freddie Stevenson.

7/2 - Big In Falkirk has announced its annual competition for bands to play a main stage which always includes world-famous acts ranging from Bob Geldof to Orson to the Human League and Amy Macdonald. With a closing date of February 20th, bands can also win equipment and recording time to go with their appearance on the main stage at Callendar Park on May 3rd - 4th. More at www.biginfalkirk.com

2/2 - Glasgow-based techno producer Alex Smoke has composed a piece to be performed by The Scottish Ensemble as part of the Designs for Life project (www.designsforlifeproject.co.uk). Smoke, as well as being a Soma recording artist, is a classically-trained cellist. The event also sees artist Paul Harrison and dancer/choreographer Rachel Smith creating pieces tying in with the theme. The premiere takes place at the Bonar Hall, Dundee on Weds 13 February, tickets are £5.

31/1 - Tennent’s Lager and DF Concerts have announced the end of their T on the Fringe partnership, after 7 years. The festival was set up by DF and Tennent’s in 2000 and has taken place annually throughout the month of August in various venues across Edinburgh. The split does appear to be amicable, and there are plans for the festival to continue with a new sponsor a the usual timeslot during the Edinburgh Festival.

24/1 - The first Scottish festival of the year (ok, if you don't count Celtic Connections) has been announced - the regular WinterFest BIG Weekender takes place in Prestwick (at The Space Place) from Friday - Sunday, 8th - 10th February. The 21 acts over 3 days include Drive By Argument, Azriel, Yashin, Civilised, The Ghosties, This Familiar Smile, By My Hands & This July. More at www.myspace.com/thespaceplace

23/1- Following its liquidation last year, it seems that popular Aberdeen venue The Lemon Tree is set to reopen. Aberdeen City Council’s resources management committee has agreed to allow Aberdeen Performing Arts to run the venue - the charitible trust runs all major arts venues in the city including the Music Hall and His Majesty’s Theatre.

22/1 -The Rockness festival is the first to name its lineup for 2008, with the event taking place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June. Headliners include Fatboy Slim, Editors, CSS and Razorlight, with a supporting cast that features The Cribs, Felix Da Housecat, 2manyDJs, Digitalism, The Cuban Brothers, Hadouken!, David Guetta, Roisin Murphy & Simian Mobile Disco.
And, the first Scots act on the bill is The View, though they will be joined later by a host of upcoming local talent (we hope) via the GoNORTH Xposure stage. Tickets are on sale now - more at www.rockness.co.uk

21/2 - GoNorth itself will take place on 5th and 6th June this year. Applications for the Rockness stage should be open any time now - at the GoNorth website.

20/1 - And, though they don't yet have an announced lineup, the Belladrum Tartan Heart festival has also put tickets for its weekend on sale. That's not until 8th / 9th August (with the Craic it Open Ceilidh on the 7th) - more at www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

19/1 - Rapal Tbh, BBC Scotland's Gaelic music programme, returns to our screens on Thursday evenings on BBC2 from 6.45- 7.15pm, for an eight week run. (In fact, its first edition was last week, 17th, but it featured Amy Macdonald and it somehow slipped our attention... you can view again anyway, online, at www.bbc.co.uk/rapal). Bands featured in the coming weeks include Drive-By Argument, Jyrojets, The Boy Who Trapped the Sun, The Hussy’s, Radio Luxembourg, and Prince Edward Island

17/1- Glasgow 5-piece The Tracks (www.myspace.com/tracksweb) are to perform live in front of The First Minister for Scotland, Alex Salmond. The unusual gig is a launch event for a new heritage/cultural centre, Barclay House, in Kilmarnock. The band were commissioned to write a song about the event’s theme of regeneration and they came up with ‘Lead The Way’. The song will be available to download from 11am on the day of the event.

16/1 - Instal, Scotland’s leading experimental music festival, returns, from 15th - 17th Feb at Glasgow’s Arches. There’s also the introduction of a late-night Instal Club, just up the road, at Stereo. Among the artists appearing over the 3 days are Rhodri Davies, Mark Bain & John Bain, Incapacitants, Kenneth Goldsmith, David Keenan, Richard Youngs, Kazuo Imai, Aileen Campbell + Neil Davidson, Yasushi Ozawa (bass player in Fushitsusha), Nackt Insecten, Dylan Nyoukis + Karen Constance, Kylie Minoise, and Usurper. More details at www.arika.org.uk

12/1 - Glasgow label CreepingBent is setting up a ditital imprint, named Black Label. Artists confirmed to record over the first 3 months include Damn Shames, Bricolage, How To Swim, Stinky Munchkins, Isosocles, & Wake the President. The label lanches at the opening night of CB's new monthly happening at Glasgow School of Art, kicking off on Saturday 2nd Feb at 8pm. Named New Breed (in honour of Bent director Paul Turnbull's first single as part of C86ers Mackenzies), the first show will include Damn Shames, Stinky Munchkins & Port Sulphur. The £5 door tax includes entry to Divine at 11pm.

11/1 - The Retrosexuals, Glasgow synth-art exponents, have provided the title music ('Too Many People') for a new Asian TV series, The Expat. In case you're not in that TV reception area, you can see more here.

10/1 - Edinburgh’s Cabaret Voltaire is running its regular Duty Free nights during January. The shows, which (naturally) are free entry and boast a few drinks promos, are as follows: Chutes/ Levy / We See Lights; Wednesday 16th of January has The Parlotones & Luva Anna on Monday 21st, and Lou Hickey / The Felt Tips / Yellow Bentines on Friday 25th

14/12- The battle for the UK Xmas #1 has come down to a straight fight between Whitburn and Falkirk, following the surprise win of West Lothian teen-crooner Leon's victory ITV's X-factor, who beat comedy Welsh albino opera singer Iridium into second place. It's a long-standing festive tradition that the UK public flock to purchase any Simon Cowell-endorsed release (even if they've not heard it) but the campaign for sanity will, we hope, see the Falkirk lad (that's Malcolm Middleton, keep up) win the race. (watch the video at is this music's myspace)
And, of course, you can buy the single - here - Middleton said at his ABC show that he'd buy the audience a pint if he made #1, so from the profits makes from the downnload sales, we will buy Malcolm a pint to make up for this rash pledge.

10/12 - The annual Jockrock reader poll is now available for your franchise exercisement. More here...

7/12 - Aberdeen's Lemon Tree has gone into voluntary liquidation following the arts centre's inabilty to meet its financial liabilities. An offer of a loan from the council was rejected by the board. but a campaign has been launched to raise the £150,000 required to keep the venue afloat, before the liquidators take over on December 18th. More at www.savethelemontree.org

6/12 - Following our previous news on Malcolm Middleton's stab at Xmas #1, the Falkirk singer's odds have decreased from a record 1000-1 to a more likely 12-1, wih among others Radio One's Colin Murray behind the bid (he will perform live on the DJ's show on the single's release day, 17th December). MIddeton offered to bu everyone in the audience at his Glasgow ABC show a drink, and chatted with is this music? recently about the single. You can also keep up to date with the progress of the release at www.wereallgoingtodie.co.uk/

... and coincidentally, former Arab Strap bandmate Aidan Moffat has just launched a mini-site for his debut solo release (well, under his own name) - the album I Can Hear Your Heart boasts a mini-site at www.chemikal.co.uk/icanhearyourheart, a rather nifty Flash-based thing which apart from its cool interface (in the form of a lyric book) also contains free downloads and all the lyrics from the forthcoming CD, due out on January next year.

24/11 - Biffy Clyro, The Law and Franz Ferdinand were among the main winners at the Nordoff-Robbins Tartan Clef awards, the charity event which recognises the major players in the Scottish music industry. A full report with rather neat pictures can be seen at isthismusic.com

17/11 - Mogwai have paid tribute to the Pixies, as part of a new album which also features the likes of British Sea Power, OK Go, They Might Be Giants and Joy Zipper. The Glasgow act contribute a version of 'Gouge Away' to the 150-track album on the American Laundromat label (http://www.alr-music.com).
As well as the CD., there's also a 7-track download-only mini-album which includes,among others, Julie Peel. Who, coincidentally, appears at Get A Room, on Sunday 25th November. The Glasgow charity event (in aid of Children 1st), which takes place over 6 floors of the Brunswick Hotel, also features Terry Hall (the Specials), Bobby Bluebell and the Poems, Isoceles, Wake the President, Correcto, The Gilded Angels & Electric Boy Shock.

10/11 - Malcolm Middleton is set to bring some Christmas cheer to the UK’s festive world which is set to be dominated by (name of Xfactor winner here). He’s doing this by releasing 'We're all Going To Die' as a single for Christmas. While not quite as upbeat as Nizlopi’s ’JCB Song’. The odds are 1000-1, according to William Hills “'the longest ever odds we’ve given on a Christmas number 1! ”
In festive mode, Malcolm states on his website: “Dying is a bit like writing a letter to Santa, unless you’ve been a good boy or girl, you’re fucked.”
‘We’re All Going To Die’ gets a digital only release on 17th December,and Middleton is set to release a new mini-LP ‘A Sleight of Heart’ in February.

9/11 - The Wickerman Festival won the 'Best Grass Roots Festival' category at the UK Festival Awards. Other Scottish winners were the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival in Sutherland (which will be forced to change its name by Yoko Ono next year!)
T in the Park also got a mention, for the slightly bizarre ‘Best Festival Moment’ where Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody coaxed down Spiderman from a lighting gantry. Was this the same Spiderman spotted dancing like a loon at the Wickerman’s Solus Tent?

7/11 - Art School Dance, a film featuring some of the top acts on Edinburgh’s music scene, is showing at Edinburgh’s Cameo Cinema on Fri 16th and Sat 17th at 11pm, and Fri 23rd and Sat 24th
Among the 20 bands filmed at the Art College’s Wee Red Bar, are Paul Vickers & The Leg, Action Group, Sara and the Snakes, Saint Jude’s Infirmary, We Were Promised Jetpacks, TV21, Operator, and The Magnificents. See the review at www.isthismusic.com/art-school-dance - more details on the screenings at www.artschooldance.com

6/11 - Daily Record readers may have been surprised to find news of an album, Independent and Free, which is to promote the fact that ASDA stores in Scotland are to stock the Neon Tetra Records back catalogue. A voucher in the paper entitled the bearer to a sampler CD containing 11 tracks from the likes of The River Detectives, Ally Kerr, Daniel Wylie, The Goldenhour and Green Peppers (feat. Justin Currie), enabling fans to pick up some indie music while firearm shopping (US stores only).

5/11 - The winners of The Gathering, Burnsong’s national songwriting competition, will perform their winning songs on Friday 30th November at the BBC’s new studios at Pacific Quay at 7.30pm. Burnsong’s 2007 Festival at The Queen’s Hall will feature newly written songs and performances from some of Scotland’s top songwriters such as Midge Ure, Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble, Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake and Dumb Instrument.
Saturday 1st December will have free songwriting workshops from Steven Severin of Siousxie and The Banshees and Martin Metcalfe of Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, followed by a Best of The Songhouse gig including Sophie Bancroft, Aberfeldy’s Riley Briggs, Boo Hewerdine, Geoff Martyn, Davie Scott & MC Soom T.
And on Sunday 2nd December there’s a free workshop on Digital Distribution, and in the evening a gig with Midge Ure, Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, Found’s Ziggy Campbell, Louise Quinn, Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble and others. (Both shows will be followed by a Burnsong Open Mic Club in association with Out of the Bedroom.)

4/11 - Glasgow-based digital distribution service Emubands has teamed up with events management company AltSound to create ‘The Music Room’ which will take place on Monday 26th November at The Classic Grand in Glasgow. The event features industry advice panels (on self-releasing and running a label, music publishing, legal issues and music production, stalls (manned by PR companies, merchandise manufacturers and music education representatives). An A&R panel will also take place, featuring talent scouts from major record companies, and attending bands are invited to bring their demos. The day will end with a gig between 7pm and 10pm, with performances from Odeon Beatclub, Futuro and Arcadian.
The event is open to anyone aged 14 or over (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult) and tickets cost £7 for an all-day ticket from Tickets Scotland or direct from the organisers via the event’s MySpace page – myspace.com/themusicroomuk.

2/11 - Glasgow Film festival 98 is looking for a song or tune to soundtrack their trailers to the festival next year. ‘Soundtrack for 08’ allows for any unsigned artist/band to submit one song into the competition, in the music style of their choice - "rock, techno….you decide! "
The soundtrack will be used for a 20 and 60 second trailer which will appear on premier/community screens around Glasgow and as a sting before all films during the GFF- the advert will celebrate Glasgow’s DIY and grass roots culture with a comical nod to the iconic but clichéd HOLLYWOOD hills lettering. More details from info@glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk (closing date: 19 November 2007.)

29/10 - In a cheap opportunity for websites such as this one to use a photo of Doctor Who with the results of a bizarre cloning experiment, actor David Tennant has declared his favourite band in the world to be The Proclaimers. Currently filming a Dr Who series in Cardiff, Tennant brought a posse down from the Dr Who show to catch the twins on their current UK tour when they played at Cardiff St David's Hall last weekend. David described it as a "great, great, great and truly brilliant night."

27/10 - Glasgow act Brady Cole are to open for Foo Fighters on their UK arena tour. As well as shows in Manchester and London, there’s a homecoming support slot at Glasgow’s SECC on November 9th.

26/10 - Edwyn Collins is to play a gig, his first since rehabilitation following brain surgery, at London's Dingwall's venue on October 28, as part of the BBC Electric Proms season of concerts

25/10 - Winter’s Love is a mini-festival in aid of Xmas relief for The Falkirk's Women's Refuge, which sees 15 of Scotland’s top indie acts take over The SPK Polish Club ( Arnot St.) on Friday December the 14th. The bill includes Y'all is Fantasy Island, Broken Records Action Group, St. Judes Infirmary,Zoe Van Goey, Sixpeopleaway and Billy Bates.
The night will be compared by author Alan Bissett and Leith FM DJ John-Paul Mason.

23/10 - Celtic Connections 2008 is to feature a bigger and wider-ranging lineup than ever before. The festival, which takes place in Glasgow from Wednesday 16th January – Sunday 3rd February, includes a decided Scottish indie strand, with The Twilight Sad, Shutter, Teenage Fanclub, King Creosote, Emma Pollock, and Mull Historical Society’s Colin McIntyre all lined up to play.
Common Ground - a concert to celebrate the festival’s 15th birthday. Fiddler John McCusker will assume the role of Common Ground’s Musical Director, and will be joined on-stage by the likes of Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Sharon Shannon, Luka Bloom, Damien Dempsey, Michael McGoldrick, Mike Scott, & Julie Fowlis.
There’s a host of international acts too - including Bert Jansch, Steve Earle, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, k. d. lang, and Baaba Maal. It all opens up with Common Ground - a concert to celebrate the festival’s 15th birthday. Fiddler John McCusker will direct Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart, Sharon Shannon, Mike Scott and Julie Fowlis, among many more.

22/10 - Edinburgh propmoter Newfoundsound are to attempt to kickstart the city’s fragmented live scene by putting on regular shows on Fridays and Saturdays, something not seen in the capital since Baby Tiger went into hibernation.
The first gig at Po Na Na on Frederick Street is on Friday 2nd November with:
Action Group , Meursault & Q Without U. The night after welcomes Roys Iron DNA and subsequent nights are lined up including We Were Promised Jetpacks , The Scottish Enlightenment, How To Swim, Sixpeopleaway, Little Doses, Technophobes, Broken Records, Y’all Is Fantasy Island, Record Playerz , The Vivians, Dead Or American and Theatre Fall.
All shows are early i.e. 7-10pm though the entry fee allows entry to the club afterwards. More at www.newfoundsound.co.uk / www.ponana.com

8/10 - Burnsong has chosen the finalists for The Gathering 2007, which will see 8 songwriters perform their songs live at the BBC's new home at Pacific Quay on Friday 30th November and receive a week-long residency in songwriting. Among the tracks is Dumb Instrument's 'Reverse The Hearse', written by the band's Tom Murray. Andi Neate's track 'Home' also features, as do contributions from David Ferrard, Amy Duncan, Lisa Paton, Rodget Lyall, Lori Watson, The Sensational Mary Barclay Band, Paraig MacNeil, Steven Palmer, and folk duo The Cast.

5/10 - Edinburgh promoters Tracer Trails celebrate a year of bringing quality shows ot the music-starved capital, with an impressive lineup at Old St Paul's Church Hall on Jeffrey Street on Friday October 12th. Alasdair Roberts and Pumajaw will perform and there will be a variety of birthday happenings, including a goody-bag for the first 50 through the door. More at www.myspace.com/tracertrails

1/10 - Edinburgh band Saint Jude's Infirmary have turned to the world of literature for their second album, which they will begin work on at Chem19 Studios this month. Ian Rankin, fresh from penning his final Rebus book, has written and will narrate lyrics for the album closer "Foot o' the walk". And Jack Vettriano, inspired by the single ‘Goodbye, Jack Vettriano’ (to be re-released on October 8th), has painted a self portrait, his first in 14 years, which will be used exclusively as the album cover. The artist will also be narrating a number of sections written for him by the band's lyricist Grant Campbell.

30/9 - STFU, described as "a 3 day aural extravaganza of electronic music" takes place in Edinburgh @ The Forest Cafe from 5th - 7th October,and features a diverse range of acts from across Europe including Das Wesen and DJ Twist from Germany, England's Autistici and Quip, and local acts such as Unknown Forces of Everyday Life and Raincloud. More here: stfu.regicide.org/edinburgh/

21/9 - Sons and Daughters have announced a tour which precedes their second full-length album, The Gift, which is due in the new year. The 28 UK dates start on November 1st and reach Scotland for their climax in December - with Edinburgh (2nd), Dundee (3rd) and Aberdeen (4th) leading the band home to Glasgow on the 6th. They also launch a single, 'Gilt Complex', on the 29th October, which also feaures their cover of Adamski’s 'Killer' on the B-side.

20/9 - Glasgow act Terra Diablo have re-emerged following a couple of years of self-imposed exile - the band having spent their time in the USA working on album Deluge Songs.
Recorded partly at John Fishenbach’s Piety Studios in New Orleans and partly at Chem 19 with Paul Savage last year, the album has already charted at #7 on the FMQB alternative airplay charts. (Savage is best known for working with the likes of The Delgados and Aereogramme, while Fishenbach recorded Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key Of Life!) The band have also a new manager, Jez out of Swervedriver. The album's UK release date is set for November 17th on Empathy Records.

19/9 - Following their ‘hits’ package ‘Scottish Fiction’ Idlewild release a companion album‘A Distant History: Rarities 1997-2007’ which apart from many unreleased tracks and b-sides, also sees early singles missing from the best of, such as debut 'Queen of the Troubled Teens' which came out on Edinburgh indie Human Condition in 1997. There are also other hard-to-find efforts, such as Fierce Panda single 'Chandalier' (originally limited to 1000 copies), and their version of the Gang of Four track ‘I Found That Essence Rare’, which was originally released in October 2002 as a b-side.

18/9 - Postcard Records are among the themes for the variety of Oxjam shows which will take place this October. The month-long festival, which is UK-wide and features the equivalent of 500 hours of continuous music, aims to raise £1M for Oxfam. The Scottish events start on Sept 30th with the Ashton Lane Folk festival (and a DJ set from Justin Currie to follow), and extend across Scotland during the next 30 or so days with events as far flung as Aberdeen, Dunoon, Linlithgow, Galashields, Perth and Dunkeld.
The night celebrating Alan Horne’s groundbreaking 80s label takes place at Glasgow's Mono the 7th with sets from BMX Bandits, The Poems & Wake The President as well as "guest DJs and other surprises”. More at www.oxjam.org.uk

16/9- A wealth of folk and world musicians are scheduled to come to Glasgow this autumn followoing the announcement of the Royal Concert Hall’s autumn programme. Heading the bill is The Richard Thompson Band with guest Diana Jones on Mon 15th October. There are also a load of gigs at the Fruitmarket including Salsa Celtica and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, plus country legends Don McLean and John Prine. Full details at www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

14/9 - For anyone who attended the TrocaBrahma shows recently (or, more I suppose for those who didn’t) there are a series of 6 podasts from the shows, which included Gruff Rhys, Diplo, Four Tet, Radioclit, Bonde do Role and Os Mutantes, and will feature among other delights, a shopping trip with CSS, King Creosote navigating Sao Paulo’s markets, and Giles Peterson looking at the history of Brazilian music in the UK . Subscribe at www.trocabrahma.net

12/9 - The Darvel Music Festival is almost upon us with tickets now on sale for the 10-day-long Ayrshire extravaganza. Richmond Fontaine, Hue and Cry, Capercaillie, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain are among the wide-ranging headliners, with a variety of new Scottish acts also billed, including The Hedrons, Endrick Brothers, Dean Owens, Hazey Janes, The Fortunate Sons, Roddy Hart and Crash My Model Car. All that, plus an exclusive Scottish show from The Bluetones - more at www.darvelmusicfestival.org

11/9 - Edinburgh minimal dronemeisters Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo are taking their series of gigs on the islands of the Firth of Forth to Inchcolm Abbey. The 'gig' on Sun. September 23rd, is set in the chapter house of the mediaeval ruin on Inchcolm Island. The show is free and launches a CD recorded previously at another island, Inchkeith. Getting to Inchcolm is done via the Maid of the Forth, which provides a 40-minute scenic trip there and back - the round trip costing £13.50. More at www.buffalobuffalobuffalo.net

10/9 - Those keeping up-to-date with T on the Fringe at www.isthismusic.com might be interested to know that their ’media partners’ Xfm Scotland have compiled a minisite with the best of the reviews at - www.xfmscotland.co.uk/tonthefringe - which also features also exclusive audio, visual content and blogs.

9/9 - Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake has undertaken some extra-curricular work, following the the departure of 1990s bassist Jamie McMorrow, who has announced his departure on the eve of a massive world tour. His final blog, apart from various thankyous, simply states "I'm off to do something else."
The TFC singer/guitarist is standing in with the band for half-a-dozen dates on the German leg of the tour - who will fill in on the rest of the shows is as yet unconfirmed.

7/9- BBC Scotland is celebrating its much-awaited move to new premises at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, with a series of live shows in the foyer of the new buildng. Indie is represented in Vic Galloway's Monday evening show which features live sets from Emma Pollock and The Royal We, while Ian Andedrson's 10pm slot has performances all week from the likes of String Driven Thing, Steven Lindsay, Roddy Hart, Michael Marra, Dougie McLean and Ricky Ross. Ticket details can be found here.

1/9 - Dundee’s music, arts and dance festival The Ultimate Chill takes place for the eight year running, at the Caird Hall Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th September,
Included in the weekend are Dundonians The Hazey Janes alongside The Hedrons, both just back from touring the USA - both play on the Saturday evening, alongside the Rocktalk-sponsored Best Band Finale. www.theultimatechill.com

1/9 - Franz Ferdinand are to make their only festival appearance of 2007 (if you don't count the unannounced guest slot at Mono in Glasgow last month) - at Loopallu on September 21st / 22nd. Also on the Ullapool bill: The Saw Doctors, The Bees, Dreadzone, The Tiny Dancers, The Vatersay Boys, Pull Tiger Tail, Sergeant, and Alex Kapranos' old muckers, The Amphetameanies.

30/8 - Alan Bissett, author of novels The Incredible Adam Spark and Boyracers, is to team up with fellow Falkirkers Y'all is Fantasy Island in a one-off show at Henrys in Edinburgh on Friday Sept. 7th. The show, which is backed by is this music?, is a spoken-word collaboration which repreises an earlier set of shows which saw the 2 team up as SuperPunyHumans. Bisset also worked with Malcolm Middleton on the Ballads of the Book album.
Also on the bill is Davie Lawson,and indeed the main event, Ross Clark, who launches his new EP.

26/8 - Franz Ferdinand have been forced into a climbdown following a mysterious "technical" person posting a message on their blog. A BBC album is set for release in the autumn featuring covers of songs throughout the 40 years of Radio One and sees, apart from Franz's cover of David Bowie's 'Sound and Vision', covers from The Fratellis, Robbie Williams, KT Tunstall, and Kylie doing Roxy Musics 'Love is The Drug'. However, the blog at www.franzferdinand.co.uk stated "the whole shabang doesn't appear to be for charity, so point your browsers towards Limewire soon, kiddies".
Alex Kapranos later stated on the band's myspace site that "It wasn't anyone in the band", describing the bulletin as "embarrassing".
Remarkably, the official band website is still down with the simple message "Not yet" on the front page.

24/8 - Glasgow band The Dykeenies are to play a show at Apple's new Glasgow shop in the computer company's attempts to strengthen their links to the music industry. The band, signed by DF Concerts/King Tuts' label and whose debut is out in September, play the Buchanan Street store on the evening of Tues 28th. Although it seems unlikely that any Macs will be used in their performance, the set will be uploaded to iTunes for fans to download.

20/8 - Idlewild release a ‘Best-of’ on October 1st - ‘Scottish Fiction 1997 - 2007’ celebrates 10 years of releasing records (though sadly debut ‘Queen of the Troubled Teens’ isn’t present, the compilation covering their major label career). The 17 track CD will come packaged with a 3 hour DVD featuring a live concert filmed this year at the Aberdeen Music Hall, all the band’s videos and over an hour of unseen documentary footage filmed over the last twelve years.
Idlewild set out on a UK tour in September and October following their appearance at Connect Festival at Inverary on August 31st.
The album track listing is: You Held The World In Your Arms ~ No Emotion ~ Roseability ~ When I Argue I See Shapes~ Love Steals Us From Loneliness ~ American English ~ These Wooden Ideas ~ El Capitan ~ A Modern Way Of Letting Go ~ Let Me Sleep (Next To The Mirror) ~ I’m A Message ~ In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction ~ I Understand It ~ Little Discourage ~
As If I Hadn’t Slept ~ Live In A Hiding Place – Make Another World

18/8 - Errors are to embark on their first UK tour, whichstarts in Southampton on 8th October at Guildhall and finished with 3 dates in London on 17th, 18th and 19th October. Included on the trek is the gig at Glasgow’s Academy on the 13th.
Prior to these dates the band will be involved in a special one-off show as part of the Becks/ICA Fusions event at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket on September 29th alongside Calvin Harris (part of a UK tour of art and music fusions- more at www.becksfusions.com.).
The band are busy with their Rock Action Mogwai’s label album out early 2008, and even a club night Black Tent at Nice’n’Sleazys. See www.myspace.com/weareerrors

16/8 - Daniel Patrick Quinn, who released 2 albums on his own Suliven label between 2003 and 2005, has a new release on Glasgow label Wee Black Skelf which compiles the best tracks from the Suilven days entitled West To The Irish Sea. (Readers of is this music? and listeners to radiomagnetic.com, among other places, may recall his Lancastrian-accented travelogue-like rambles set to an atmospheric backing.)
Quinn is now based in London and working with One More Grain (www.myspace.com/onemoregrain), whose 2nd album is out on November 5th on White Heat Records.

15/8 - Paisley joins the Rock festival calendar, with an all-day festival on 25th August comprising mainly local bands. There’s a stage at the Piazza shopping centre featuring Shine, Unit 13 and Marvel Heights, as well as The Cuts who recenty graced the PRS stage on Edinburgh’s Fringe Sunday. There are also afternoon events at Reid Kerr College (The Oco, Maeatae, and Drew Bungalow and Stevie Bar, the latter which we feel may be DJs), while the Redds Stage sees Defiant Pose, P45s, Collette Mckendrick and Jockrock favourites Collar Up. There’s also an evening event at the Lagoon Leisure Centre with the Loud'n’Proud School of Rock (?) and there are a series of other events all week leading up to Saturday with instrument seminars and youth rock nights at the Wynd Centre, and the Bungalow Bar Revival at the Crow Bar) has gigs all week including The Valor and Vivamelodica - www.myspace.com/bungalowbarpromotion

14/8 - A Fire Engines retrospective release entitled Hungry Beat is coming out in October n New York label Acute Records, which acts as a replacement for the hard-too-get compilation Fond. A definitive history of the Engines Pop
Aural output (singles & Lubricate Your Living Room EP) it doesn’t include the Peel session tracks, but does boast full liner notes as well as remastered versions of the likes of ‘Big Gold Dream’.

11/8 - Tony Wilson, perhaps best known as founder of Factory Records and the In The City conference, has died, of kidney cancer, at the age of 57. Wilson started his career as a news reporter, quickly moving to TV presenter on Granada TV in Manchester. He presented So It Goes, a show best known for giving the Sex Pistols their first TV appearance. He then founded Factory Records, which apart from early releasing from James and Orchestral Manoeuvres, pioneered 'post-punk', with Joy Division and New Order stemming from the label, followed by Happy Mondays. The foundation of the Hacienda nightclub (FAC51) saw the rise of the Madchester scene which fused the indie and dance scenes. Wilson also established the In The City music conference which will undoubtedly live on after his passing as a showcase for major new talent. His connections with Scotland are slight, his name being almost synonymous with his home city - although In The City did visit Glasgow once and a couple of Scots bands, The Wake and The Wendys, signed to Factory - but what is clear is that the world over, his influence in bringing forward new innovative music is unrivaled.

5/8 - Scottish prog legends String Driven Thing have been confirmed to play this years Belladrum Festival (August 10/11). This date comes 37 years after their last Inverness show, which was alongside Rory Gallagher and Chicken Shack at the first ever Scottish rock festival in 1970. The Tartan Heart festival's lineup is rather bigger, and perhaps more eclectic, with Magic Numbers, Misty in Roots, James, Julian Cope, Kate Nash, Lloyd Cole,1990s and Foxface among the 90 + acts lined up. www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

3/8 - Epic Edinburgh rockers Annie Christian have decided to get on the forthcoming late-90s revival early by reforming. The band, originally signed to V2 and managed by Scottish music biz legend Bruce Findlay, have gone through various personnel changes since splitting, but not as many as their name changes - known variously as Portland, Last Great Wildrness,and When Pilots Eject, they will appear under their old monicker at Bannermans in their hometown on 14th August, before shows on 13th September (Cabaret Voltaire) and venturing to Aberdeen's Tunnels on October 27th.

1/8 - The Martial Arts, who have already attracted more attention in Sweden as well as their native Glasgow, have revealed themselves as slaves to fashion, having had their track 'Murry & Audree' selected as the soundtrack to a feature on Proenza Schouler on Fashion TV which has, improbably for the band,attracted the likes of Victoria Beckham and Ashton Kutchner to their annual fashion show. "Our kind of people" say the band without a hint of irony. (To see the clip follow the rather convoluted method of going to http://www.fashiontelevision.com/videos/default.aspx and typing in 'Proenza Schouler' in the search box at the bottom left... or to see/hear the band's own video, http://myspace.com/themartialarts)

30/7 - HMV have bought the Fopp brand and six stores from administrators Ernst & Young. The six stores, which HMV say they will open as soon as possible subject to landlords' consent, are in Cambridge, Edinburgh (Rose Street, Glasgow (Union Street), London, Manchester and Nottingham. The move will save 70 jobs.

30/7 - Glasgow-based cartoonist David Shrigley is to have his pictures brought to life with a compilation featuring Franz Ferdinand, Hot Chip, Aidan Moffat, Lord CutGlass (former Delgado Alun Woodward), TV On The Radio, Liars, David Byrne and Deerhoof, among the 39 artists taking part. Worried Noodles's songs are based around words written by Macclesfield-born Shrigley, who released the songbook of Worried Noodles 2 years ago. He has also directed the video for Blur's 'Good Song', created 12 different covers for Deerhoof’s album Friend Opportunity, designed the Triptych logo and branding, and contributed artwork to the sleeve for ballboy’s album The Royal Theatre. (see is this music? issue 2)

29/7 - The much-heralded play about the lifs of John Peel is to debut at this year’s Edinburgh festival. Teenage Kicks was written by Paul Hodson and opens on August 3 at the Assembly Universal Arts Theatre.

27/7 - Dumfries techno head Calvin Harris is attempting to set a new world record- for the most house parties happening simultaneously between Bournemouth and his home town. The crawl will take place on August 18th, finishing in an acoustic set (?) at a fan’s house (who will receive compensation of £1500); though the set will not, we’re told, be overseen by Norris McWhirter. Fans can enter at http://www.calvinharris.co.uk/merrymakingatyourplace

25/7 - Following their Grand Old Opry show last month, Franz Ferdinand have announced a further series of low key dates in Scotland this September, previewing material from their forthcoming (well, 2008) album. The shows are as follows: Stirling Fubar (September 9), Inverness Raigmore (10th), Fort William Ba Club (11th), Dundee Fat Sams (18th), Aberdeen Moshulu (19th), Portree Community Centre (21th), Shetland Whiteness & Weisdale Hall (24th)

23/7 - Franz drummer Paul Thompson has found himself a sideline - appearing at Glasgow’s Indian Summer festival, on drums for Glasgow band Correcto, while at least 2 other members of FF watched. The band, led by Danny Summers and featuring members of other acts such as The Royal We, are in a similar vein to Franz in that they have retro art-school influencs, with Wire being a bit of a favourite as far as these ears can tell...

19/7 - Glasgow 4-piece Zoey Van Goey have signed to Say Dirty Records and their debut single, 'Foxtrot Vandals' - recorded by Sci-Fi Steven Clark (Bis) and produced by Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian) will be available on seven-inch vinyl and digital download in October 2007.
http://www.myspace.com/zoeyvangoey

16/7 - And just added to the HYGOMP bill - Rock Action act Part Chimp (www.partchimp.com) Daniel Padden's One Ensemble (www.myspace.com/oneensemble) and Glasgow soon-to-be-legendary 6-piece Dananananaykroyd (www.dananananaykroyd.co.uk)

8/7 - Hey You get Off My Pavement, the all-day live show run on the forecourt of Mono, the cafe/record shop in Glasgow’s King’s Court, has announced the lineup for their second incarnation of their festival. It will include The Aliens, Twilight Sad, Errors, Yo Majesty and many yet-to-be-announced bands, as well as the usual vegan fun and games. www.myspace.com/heyyougetoffmypavement

7/7- Following a weekend of shows in London, Dublin and Balado, Snow Patrol keyboardist Tom Simpson is set to appear in Glasgow on Tuesday - at the Sherrif Court. Simpson was released from police custody just hours before the band were due to headline at the T in the Park festival after being stopped at RAF Northolt in Middlesex as the band propared to board a plane following the Live Earth concert at Wembley stadium. The star was only able to play at T in the Park after he agreed to appear at Glasgow Sheriff court on Tuesday.

5/7 - The View came to blows with audience members at a T in the Park warm-up show at Falkirk’s Martell on July 4th. The crowd began throwing bottles half-way through the band's set, missing singer Kyle Falconer but hitting a soundman in the mouth. The singer declared that the band would never play Falkirk again, with bassist Kieran Webster taking more direct action, leaping at a heckler from a speaker.

2/7 - Fopp is set to announce the future of its workers today (Monday 2nd). This follows the appointment of receivers to the business of the troubled record chain. One reason put forward for its demise has been the general move away from physical CD sales, alongside HMV posting poor results in the same week, but speculation that the company's purchase of doomed rival chain Musiczone's stores may have pushed Fopp over the edge.
Employees may have further reason to be angry with central management following reports that as well as Fopp's suppliers rejecting a rescue package from Virgin, the company's management themselves ignored advice to ditch loss-making stores some months ago and then rejected a rescue package including an overdraft extension from HBOS which could have saved hundreds of jobs.

30/6 - Following a showcase at Go Dundee in March, Orkney based singer songwriter Amber Wilson has been invited to front Morcheeba for their forthcoming European Tour at festivals in England, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Lithuania, Hungary, Switzerland, Spain & Belgium. She will perform tracks like 'The Sea' from their greatest hits album alongside their new single 'Enjoy The Ride' on the main stage.
Wilson has also invited to record at Pete Townsends Eel Pie studios and has been co-writing with Richard Causon (who has collaborated with Tom Petty, Ryan Adams & Alanis Morissette). www.myspace.com/amberacoustic

28/6 - T in the Park is going hi-tech with festival goers being prompted to turn on their Bluetooth at three points across the site. Among other offers at the T Break Stage music fans will be sent info on how to obtain a free copy of the as yet unreleased T Break CD. Campers could also be in with a chance of winning tickets for T in the Park 2008, as well as T in the Park t-shirts.

27/6 - Fans of Scottsh music and indeed downloads may be interested in a new Scottish music blog : The Pop Cop, to be found at thepopcop.blogspot.com.
And for balance, music from all over the shop and indeed the past 30 years - www.thevinylvillain.blogspot.com

26/6 - Paul Haig is to play an exclusive web-cast, on Sunday July 22 at 6pm (GMT).
This unique performance is being staged in Edinburgh, Scotland, with only a small number of guests present. To be kept updated on the event, visit
www.rolinc.co.uk/news.html and then click the button marked ‘web-cast info’.

26/6 - The Fast Camels, who recently released debut album The Magic Optician on Glasgow label Neon Tetra, have been invited to play Monterey International Pop Festival which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love (www.sfsummeroflove.com) on July 28 & 29 in California following North American radio giving the band regular airplay.
They are the only new band from the UK set to share the main stage with performers from the original festival in 1967: Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Jefferson Starship (with Paul Kantner), plus Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek of The Doors.
Unfortunately the only means of financing it is by asking for donations! More including how to donate, at www.camels4monterey.co.uk

25/6 - Edwyn Collins is to release 'Home Again' on September 17 which will be proceeded by the single 'You'll Never Know' a week earlier - it's his first since his recovery from brain surgery in 2004 and since the 2002 release Dr Syntax. You can hear the track on Edwyn's myspace site.

23/6 - Fopp, the record chain which began and was once headquartered in Scotland, is reportedly in financial trouble with its branches across the UK engaged in unscheduled stocktaking and reports of banking freezes and deliveries of empty packing crates abounding with the stores' spokesperson admitting to lengthy negotiations" with their bankers. The chain which recently bought over some of the collapsed rival chain Musiczone has eleven Scottish branches and nearly 40 others throughout the UK. The company also operates an unsigned band CD distribution network, though insiders at the stores have suggested that bands might be best to hold off on parting with any self-released CDs for the time being.

21/6 - Xfm Scotland is to lose its Breakfast show host Dominick Diamond, after the station's London-based paymasters refused to sanction a pay rise demanded following his nomination in the Sony Radio Awards alongside Chris Evans and Jonathan Ross.
Conveniently, Julyan Sinclair, whose afternoon show was recently axed in favour of an automated listener-driven programming system, is available for work and starts on July 7th. He will slot in alongside Diamond's sidekicks Marisa de Andrade and Scott Shaw - who will, presumably, remain part of band The AMs which has recently released its debut single 'Billy The Dancer'.

17/6 - Luke Sutherland, former member of Long Fin Killie and Bows, is to have his first premier of work at the Edinburgh festival. The writer, nominated for a Whitbread Book prize for his debut novel Jelly Roll, sees his third book Venus As A Boy transformed into a stage play by the National Theatre of Scotland, which will visit Hoy, Kirkwall, Stromness and Ullapool at the end of June before a 3-week stint at the Edinburgh Fringe in August and London's Soho theatre in September. Sutherland, who released 3 albums as leader of Long Fin Killie, who may perhaps be best known for reaching #10 in the Peel Festive 50 in 1995 via their collaboration with Mark E Smith, Heads of Dead Surfers. Sutherland spent his early years in Orkney before moving to Perthshire and eventually started his musical career started with Fenn and LFK, via stint as occasional violinist with Mogwai until his literary career began in 1998. He will, however, be performing live as part of the book adaptation.

16/6 - A 3-day Beatles festival is set to be staged in Durness in Sutherland in September. The tiny town, where John Lennon spent his childhood summer holidays - is set to celebrate the singer's life with an exhibition - which will display artefacts such as new pictures of live shows, memorabilia including unseen photos of Lennon and wife Yoko Ono, and cards signed 'MacLeonnon'. There's also a premier of a Beatles prom conducted by Sir Peter Maxwell Davis, and Julia Fowlis and King Creosote will perform, plus a Peter Howson exhibition is planned.
The Northern Lights festival will be attended by various musicians and writers as well as family members such as his half-sister Julia Baird and cousin Stanley Parkes.

10/6- Oxfam is calling for music fans in Glasgow to get involved with the Oxjam music festival and organise an event in time for October, with the intention of raising more than £1 million for Oxfam. Around 40,000 musicians are expected to perform for an audience of 300,000 in 3,000 music events. Last year, around 20,000 music lovers took part in 1,100 music events, and the festival generated £500,000 for Oxfam.
Musicians from Glasgow taking part in Oxjam in 2007 will also have the opportunity to appear on MTV. Bands can upload videos of their local Oxjam event in October at www.mtv.co.uk/oxjam. The most popular artists as voted for by the public are then filmed by MTV, with an entire MTV show dedicated to the overall winner.
Visit www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam or www.myspace.com/glasgow_oxjam, e-mail oxjamglasgow@gmail.com or call 0870 905 9060.

4/6 - Alan McGee - the man who signed the Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, and, er, Oasis to his Creation label - has announced that he is winding up his most recent venture, Poptones. McGee has reportedly said "I've stopped putting out records because kids would rather steal them via the internet", adding "The best advice I could give to any young band is to do it yourself." The label, which failed to match the success of his previous venture, has existed for 8 years, and has brought us the likes of The Paddingtons, but was probably most noteable for launching the career of The Hives. Other relatively successful acts included ex-Beta Band member Steve Mason's King Biscuit Time, and the Cosmic Rough Riders.

1/6 - In a week where moral outrage has been caused by Gossip singer's Beth Ditto baring all on the lower shelves of the nation's supermarkets (via her nude NME cover), Motherwell band The Plimptons have spoken out against Glasgow Uni's QMU band night 'RAW',following singer MArtin Smith's nude onstage protest caussing the promoters to cut the lights and microphones. The band filled in at short notice and went onstage as the first of the 4 bands owing to them not having sold any tickets - they band say they weren't given any to sell, and the promised fee failed to materialise.
Seeing the single-figures early audience, the singer, according to drummer Rowan Smith, "shed his clothing to lighten the mood of the band and as an amusing way to show our disgruntlement at the management of the gig." The singer was then apparently ejected from the premises and threatened with police action. The band are still smarting as Rowan Smith continues. "It is little wonder that live music in this country is facing so many difficulties - performers have to cope with shady promoters, the smoking ban, residential noise limiting orders and the increase in student poverty already. The Plimptons have always tried to offer something a little different, but without being overtly offensive. A band like Cradle of Filth can make obscene and blasphemous messages on t-shirts and sell them to teenagers, but a supposed bastion of free speech like the QMU won't allow people to perform for 10 minutes in their birthday suits!" (www.theplimptons.co.uk)

27/5 - goNorth, which this year decamps to Inverness, has announced itys full lineup for the festival which takes place on 7th and 8th June. Acts playing hail from the world over, including Norway’s Big Bang, Stefán from Iceland, and Pet Piranha signings Die Die Die, from New Zealand. However, two thirds of the line up will be comprised of home-grown talent - bands from across Scotland include Dumb Instrument, Foxface, Low Miffs, Jack Butler, Kid Canaveral, Action Group, Monica Queen, and Sixpeopleaway. There’s also a dedicated electronica stage with the likes of Ives & Satellite Dub, plus a singer/songwriter stage showcasing acts taking part in a two-day PRS-sponsored workshop.
Plus, 20 acts performing at goNorth will also appear at the event's XFM-sponsored stage at Rock Ness, which takes place on June 9th &
10th.

25/5 - Glasgow band Popup have been selected by a panel of New York University students as the UK unsigned band that they most want to see perform at the Britbus Tour final in New York 15 -19 June- the Britbus is, yes, a British double-decker bus which transports bands acrioss the USA, Summer Holiday-style. www.thebritbustour.co.uk
Popup will also appear at Amsterdam Paradiso as part of the London Calling Goes Glasgow minifestival on 1st June which also features Malcolm Middleton, Bricolage, 1990s, De Rosa, We are The Physics and Mother & the Addicts. www.myspace.com/londoncallingfestival

17/11 - Xfm Scotland have taken the remarkable step of axing all of their daytime presenters, replacing them with a listener-selected playlist.
Listeners will be able to compile their own playlists online via a new microsite called Xu on the Xfm websites.
Parent company GCap are making the changes to their London, Manchester and Scotland stations from May 29th, asking listeners to choose the non-stop tunes - Xfm listeners will be asked to compile their own playlists via SMS, phone and online and vote for the artists and songs they want to hear. The studio production team will then send them straight to air. Shows outwith the 10am-4pm corridor will continue as normal, meaning that only the 10am slot currently occupied by Fraser Thomson, and Julyan Sinclair's early afternoon show would be affected.
Listeners will be able to build playlists, vote for their favourite songs, take part in discussions, and record messages for Xu which can be broadcast. Managing director Nick Davidson has described the changes as “pushing the boundaries”.

15/5 - Glasgow-based act Dananananaykroyd have been forced to cancel their show at music industry event The Great Escape in Brighton - because they can't afford to get there!
The band, whose first 2 singles have sold out, are reportedly being chased by bigger record companies but following being "screwed over" by a promoter in Birmingham, won't be able to play at the Brighton event. "We've got absolutely no money," said guitarist Duncan Robertson. "The Brighton gig would've been a lot of fun, but at £150 for van / driver hire, plus petrol - well over £100 - the £50 fee for going to Brighton would leave us struggling to eat for a little while."
This means that the band's only show in May will be the Tigerfest show also featuring other indie hopefuls Drive-By Argument and We Are The Physics, which takes place at Dunfermline's Carnegie Hall on Thursday 17th.

11/5 - Paul Haig, former singer with seminal art-rock angular guitar act Josef K, is set to make his first Scottish performance in 20 years. French loungecore act Nouvelle Vague have tempted Haig to perform his track 'Sorry For Laughing' exclusively at Tigerfest in Dunfermline's Carnegie Hall on May 19th.
This will be Paul's first appearance on a Scottish stage in almost 20 years, preceded neatly by his appearance a couple of months ago at the London Billy Mackenzie tribute show. This follows on from those other Scottish legends The Fire Engines' roof-raising farewell performance in Dunfermline last May.
TV advert regulars Nouvelle Vague's take on the much covered track appears on their first album as an extra track and is a favourite of Franz Ferdinand, who have covered it live. Haig's own single, ‘Reason’, which last week was Single of the Week on Radcliffe and Maconie's radio 2 show, is out on June 6th.

10/5 - Aereogramme, Scotland's top IM (‘intelligent metal’) act, have sadly decided to call it a day. In their blog they state that the reasons for the split are "multiple and complex... It is however fair to say that the never-ending financial struggle coupled with an almost superhuman ability to dodge the zeitgeist have taken their toll, ensuring that we just don't have any fight left in us." They add that they are " immensely proud of the four albums that we made over the past seven years". The band play their last headline show at Glasgow's QMU on June 16th, and though they also appear at the Connect festival in August, the band advise fans attending this gig that it's more an oportunity to see the Jesus and Mary Chain. Read a review of what will be their last ever headlining show in Edinburgh from last week.

7/5 -The fallout from the Scottish election fiasco rolls on, with the news that the SNP's election poster advert, which listed artists ranging from Sean Connery to Saint Jude's Infirmary as SNP supporters, was subject to some 'spin'. Popup's manager Alex Downie stated that the party had contacted the band asking for their views on their Arts policy - the band replied that they were "we support ANY policy by ANY party that gives more support to Scottish Arts". However, the poster listed the individual members of the band as, in effect, being SNP voters. Bassist Michael Cross confirmed this, noting that the party had spotted their cover of Dougie McLean's ‘Caledonia’ on their myspace site and lifted the individual band member names for the ad. It now seems that a re-run of the election is certain. Popup showed there were no hard feelings by performing ‘Caledonia’, written by confirmed Nationalist McLean, at their Tigerfest show last weekend.

3/5 - With a boutique festival scheduled for every town in Scotland in 2007, the Sunday Herald has taken a look at the current upsurge of outdoor live music in the country:
http://www.sundayherald.com/analysis/analysis/display.var.1379958.0.0.php

28/4 - In the election leadup the SNP have claimed the endorsement of a series of leading music scene figures including Mogwai, Popup, Sandi Thom, Dougie MacLean and Saint Jude's Infirmary as well as a host of industry figures, who names all appear on the party's latest election poster which proclaims the party's support for arts in Scotland.
The Nationalists also have the support of The Proclaimers' Craig Reid. Brother Charlie recently defected from the SNP much to the delight of the Labour-supporting press - though he says that his vote will go to the SSP which of course also supports independence. Fooytage of Saint Judes, Thom and other acts can be seen at the SNP website.

22/4 - Outrage (well, in the Sunday Post at least) as the 1990s, apparently, "rubbished" the good name of Scotland from the stage at New York's Tartan Week show, which was of course set up to encourage American tourists to come to the country. The band have denied the accusations, suggesting that the audience laughed at their comments, the band allegedly saying how much they lopved New York and that locls shouldn't boter coming to Scotla