Right, this gig guide is a little all over the place for various reasons, but read on, do…

first things first, a few shows that are on NOW (or yesterday, or last week, dependent on when you’re reading this… look, if it’s Monday, put this down and get your coat…)

Crazy-assed sample king Matthew Herbert brings his farmyard animal-themed show to Bogbain Farm in Inverness on Monday – he’s also at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh on Thursday and Dunfermline’s Carnegie on the Friday.

Noisy Leicester post-rockers Maybeshewill play Aberdeen Tunnels on Monday 5th, and Glasgow’s O2 ABC on the 6th.

On Tuesday, experimental folkies Lau are at Edinburgh Queen’s Hall … same night, Rozi Plain launches her album for Fence at the Electric Circus.

Jer Reid, who will forever be known as a former member of Dawson, continues his new lease of life with a couple of Glasgow shows this week – firstly at Stereo on Tuesday 6th November he’s with Dougal Marwick, doing an improv-ish set utilising harmonium, synths & distortion. Also on the bill, Hungarian act Ireneland who make experimental/punk/traditional and dancey sounds.
And on the bill, one Alasdair Roberts, playing old Scots folk songs, solo.
http://www.facebook.com/events/358717664217620/?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/events/102172053278058/

And across the road on Friday/Saturday starting at midnight at The Old Hairdressers Fred Nipi will play for 24 hours continuously. Yikes. Jer will be providing harmonium and voice at 6am (see earlier comment). Other stuff going on.
This reminds me of Jer’s Winter Cycle two years ago, where he played a show a day for all of December 9less intense but at least Fred gets it over with in one day). Anyway, the recordings featuring the likes of Hubby and, er, will be available and there will be another round-up in December.

Jo Mango continues to plug her forthcoming album on Olive Grove at the Lemon Tree on the Wed 7th.

The Wedding Present celebrate another classic album 25 years on – this time it’s the Steve Albini-produced (sorry, ‘engineered’) Seamonsters, at Edinburgh’s Liquid Room on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former Stereolab chanteuse – we have to say it in French, you see… er, where were we? Ah yes, Laetita Sadier is at Sneaky Pete’s in a kind of unfortunate clash of dates for people of a certain age/vintage/indie-schmindie leaning. However, she also plays at Broadcast in Glasgow on the Tuesday. Appropriately enough, as I once saw Stereolab supported by Broadcast. True story. Unfortunately, that clashes with Julian Cope at Mono, and for people of a certain age etc…
(Note: Mr Cope will be talking rather than doing a full band set of The Teardrop Explodes’ hits)

Also on Wednesday, Animal Collective are at the O2 ABC.

And from Wednesday – Honningbarna – Norway’s “most exciting new band” (not our words, but not theirs either, to be fair) return to Scotland following shows in Edinburgh and Inverness earlier this year. From the 7th-10th November the five piece will play Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Thurso, as part of a month-long tour of the UK and Ireland.

Their Scottish shows are:
Wednesday 7: Glasgow, Detour Scotland Presents, Bar Bloc
Thursday 8: Edinburgh, Vic Galloway Presents… Electric Circus
Friday 9: Inverness, Mad Hatters
Saturday 10 Thurso, Newmarket Bar

Carter USM are at King Tut’s on Thursday, with The Frank and Walters in support. It’s a charity show, and it’s sold out, So why am I telling you this? Just so I can make the point that you can always go see Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti instead – they’re at Stereo.

Next February (1st – 3rd) sees the third edition of the Wee Dub festival, and the organisers officially launch it with a party on Friday 9th November. at Edinburgh’s Wee Red Bar. Running from 11pm, the lineup includes Riddim Tuffa Sound, Quoob ft. Papa Zeb, Astroboy (Dub Set), and Nem. It’s £3 in before midnight, £5 later.
The actual main event (i.e. NOT this weekend!) will feature the likes of Zion Train, Prince Fatty, Mungo’s Hi-Fi, Mezzanine Allstars and yes, many more.

And Meursault visit Dundee on Friday with a show at Beat Generator Live.

On Saturday it’s erstwhile Paul Haig collaborator The Cathode Ray at the Citrus Club.
Trapped Mice launch their album Winter Sun – on good old Armellodie records – at Henry’s in Edinburgh on Saturday 10th – with guests The Scottish Enlightenment and Simon Herron. we’ve heard the album and it’s really very good, so you should probably go along. Ok?

In the west on Saturday, Irish rockers -hey, that makes them sound like Horslips or Thin Lizzy or something – So I Watch You From Afar are at Glasgow O2. And Bon Inver at the SECC – he’s come a long way.

Hyperbole aside, I think this could be the greatest musical event in Cupar, ever. Which may say something about Cupar, but plenty about a charity gig set up by Manicpopthrills.
The lineup is TV21, Kid Canaveral, Martin John Henry (solo set), The Bad Books, Cancel the Astronauts, and Sam Barber & The Outcasts.
So, that’s Sunday 11th, at Watt’s in Cupar – it’s a family-friendly show running from 2-9pm. And it’s for charity to boot, Kingdom Kids being the beneficiaries. How could you refuse?

Finally, in Perth, on Sunday, Deacon Blue !