A busy week of music ahead, and it starts any minute now – if you’re reading this on Monday 10th anyway – as Husker Du legend Bob Mould is at The Garage in Glasgow.

On Tuesday 11th, and with a new album, ‘The Glowing Man’, Swans are at Glasgow’s Oran Mor.

Tuesday also sees Steve Mason visit Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree – and former Beta Band frontman is also at Glasgow Art School on Wednesday.

In competition for your affections on Wednesday 12th, Neil Hannon and The Divine Comedy arrive at the Royal Concert Hall, to punt new album ‘Foreverland’ at you. Meanwhile, and publicising their own current long-player ‘Scheherazade’, Kentucky alt.country ensemble Freakwater are at Broadcast.

Also on Wednesday, the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMAs) take place at Glasgow’s Garage. Hosted by Jim Gellatly, Baby Strange headline, with Paisley grime MC Shogun, Stillhound, and The Van T’s also on the bill for the main awards night at the Garage Glasgow on Wednesday 12th October.

It’s showtime from Thursday when Classic Rock faves The Urban Voodoo Machine – all 12 of them – bring their gypsy blues / burlesque hybrid to Scotland as part of their Lucky 13 tour. It starts on Thursday 13th at St Lukes in Glasgow before taking in Krakatoa in Aberdeen on Friday, Inverness Eden Court on Saturday 15th, and Edinburgh’s Caves on Sunday.

And in Glasgow on Thursday, We Were Promised Jetpacks return, to St Luke’s.

Also in Glasgow on Thursday 13th, the top pick from this week’s series of events for the Scottish Association for Mental Health. At the CCA, Borderline – a 1939 filent film with an improvised live score – is directed by Scottish filmmaker Kenneth Macpherson, it stars poet HD (aka Hilda Doolittle) and Paul Robeson. The live soundtrack is provided by Rick Anthony and Duncan Marquiss out of The Phantom Band.

A quick flythrough the rest of the shows – on Friday, electronic pioneer Jean Michel-Jarre is at the Glasgow Hydro, and by way of contrast The Filthy Tongues play Cumbernauld Weavers. In Glasgow, Louise Connell – aka Reverieme is on Glasgow’s southside, with album ‘Straw Woman’ to plug, at the Glad Cafe. And The Pictish Trail is at Aberdeen Tunnels.

In Inverness on Friday 14th, punk pioneers the Buzzcocks are at Ironworks – and they’re also at Glasgow O2 ABC on the Saturday.

Saturday sees the first of the double-header from the reformed Arab Strap – two nights at Glasgow Barrowland on Sat 15 / Sun 16.

Thomas Truax brings his Rockin’ Inventions – some friends for Sister Spinster and the Hornicator perhaps? with shows at Inverness Market Bar on Monday 10th, then Wednesday 12th at Glasgow’s Hug and Pint, and East Kilbride Village Inn on Thursday 13th, and then to Edinburgh’s Voodoo Room on Friday 14th.

It’s Oxjam season and the Edinburgh Takeover is on Saturday 15th – Numbers Are Futile, Cuttings, Michael Timmons, Tongue Trap and Black International all on a bill that’s across five venues – tickets here, audio playlist there … vvv
And in Glasgow, a ten-venue-one-wristband event, with The Twistettes, Michael Cassidy, Sonny Marvello, The Ronains, Dogtooth… the list goes on

Finally, if you have any energy left, on Sunday Billy Talent play Glasgow’s O2 ABC.