It’s a week for legends to come to Scotland in some sort of unintentional pre-T warm-up – (and I’m not talking about Bon Jovi on Wednesday at Hampden… no, the rather more appealing Blondie are at the Usher Hall on Tuesday. Meanwhile, fresh from Glastonbury, Smashing Pumpkins are in Glasgow on Tuesday – at the Carling Academy.

On Wednesday 3rd, Queen of soul (now Aretha’s no longer with is), Candi Staton is at at Ironworks in Inverness. (Having seen her at Wickerman a few years back I can thoroughly recommend this gig).

The Ramisco Maki Maki Rocking Horse are at Ayr’s Basement Coffee House on Thursday 4th – from what I can recall, an offshoot of the Kazoo Funk Orchestra and therefore probably great fun live.

A mini tour from Adam Stafford – he’s launching new album Imaginary Walls Collapse on Song, by Toad, and he plays a couple of shows roughly either side of his birthplace Falkirk. On Thursday he’s at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh while on Friday he’s at the Glad Cafe on Glasgow’s southside. (Check the website, RM Hubbert‘s playing the Edinburgh leg – I think…)

The weekend’s main attraction is probably the Kelburn Garden Party – Conquering Animal Sound, Second Hand Marching Band, The Deadline Shakes, Mr Scruff and Hidden Orchestra are just some of the acts who’ll be near Largs on July 6th and 7th. www.kelburngardenparty.com

Another blast from the past, on Saturday – Scheme play the O2 ABC. In case you’re wondering, they existed from the late 70s, came from Easterhouse (hence their name), played the kind of rock with slight reggae nuances that was popular way back then, and their massive local following made them the only unsigned band to sell out the Glasgow Apollo. (Think that’s fairly accurate…)
Elsewhere in town, The Ukranians (the band formed by former Wedding present member Pete Salowka – are at Sleazy’s.

And in Edinburgh, A Fight You Can’t Win are at the Wee Red Bar

Out of town – everyone’s favourite legal firm Anderson McGinty Webster Ward and Fisher are at are at Falkland Village Hall.

And if you heard Roddy Woomble in session on Vic Galloway’s show on Monday you’d have been struck (we’re quite sure) by the vocal and fiddle talents of Seonaid Aitken. Well, her band Roseroom play at Linlithgow’s Jazz Club on Saturday (more here). It’s kinda gypsy jazz (think Reinhardt / Grappelli) so it’s ok to like it.

Rounding off your week, Euan Currie & Eric Hardiman Duo plus Usurper making appealingly unworldly noises on Sunday 7th at the Rhubaba Gallery and Studios, 25 Arthur Street, Edinburgh – an afternoon show (BYOB) with doors at 1:30pm, wrapped up by 4.

Dinosaur Pile-Up are in Glasgow on Sunday at King Tut’s (read a rather enthusiastic review of their new album if you’re unsure…) while along at Nice’n’Sleazy’s, the equally fabulous Aggi Doom.
And just about next door, Irish musician/producer and sometime Tinderstick, David Kitt, fresh from the Helium festival in his native land, is at Broadcast.