It’s an extremely busy week in gigs and it’s all about the wee diddy towns this week (er, and the smaller cities of course).
Though first things first – Paul Weller (!). At Glasgow’s Barras. But with Trembling Bells (fresh from a show with Mike Heron at Eastern Promise on Friday) as support. Odd choice, wonder if the Modfather endorsed it?)

Tuesday sees LA’s alt.punk act No Age at Broadcast in Glasgow, Smiths’ legend Johnny Marr at Edinburgh’s Picturehouse, and one-time Mercurys nominee Kathryn Williams arrives in Scotland for a show at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree, with Alex Cornish in support. And Paul Weller and Trembling Bells are at the Caird Hall in Dundee.

On Wednesday it’s Aberdeen’s turn to host Johnny Marr as he plays at The Garage, and the tour moves to Dundee’s Fat Sam’s on Thursday night.

Also on Thursday, the first of two shows by flavour of the month Chvrches, at Glasgow’s O2. Elsewhere in town, Merge Records’ alt.folkies Mountain Goats are at The Arches, while Shambles Miller (possibly not an alt.folkie) plays at Mono.

On Friday it’s Seth Lakeman – is he alt.folk as well? Anyway, he’s at Oran Mor, while death metal troubadour The Pictish Trail swaps a caravan on Eigg for a (Spiegel)tent in Paisley as part of the Spree in Paisley, with chums Adam Ross (Randolph’s Leap), David MacGregor (Kid Canaveral), and Ziggy Campbell (Found). Good to see the word ‘spree’ being used in the same sentence as ‘Paisley’ without any less musical connotations.
And ska comes to Fife (why does that just sound right?) as Bombskare , Big Fat Panda, Roots System and Joe Viterdo are at the Windsor Hotel in Kirkcaldy.
Oop north, Ed Muirhead plays Downstairs in Aberdeen (not just any old downstairs, that is the name of a new (to us) venue. And another unfamiliar live location, Dundee’s Gardyne Theatre, which hosts alt.folkie (surely) Roddy Woomble, also on Friday. And In Inverness, Iain Mclaughlin & the Outsiders are at Inverness Ironworks.
The Spook School celebrate their forthcoming flurry of releases on legendary indie label Fortuna Pop, with a show at Henry’s Cellar in Edinburgh. Martha and Plastic Animals guest.
The previously-reported Pleasance Sessions kick off in Edinburgh, John Knox Sex Club and Over The Wall play a Gerry Loves showcase for their new split single at the eponymous Pleasance Theatre. Also on the bill, The Meanest Creature Ever Known (though not to us).
Elsewhere in the capital (in fact, everywhere else in the capital) Haddowfest reaches its fourth year on Friday / Saturday with We Were Promised Jetpacksat the HMV Picturehouse) the pick of a bill which also features the likes of The Birthday Suit, Casual Sex and Hector Bizerk as well as headliners Dry The River and The Rifles in an all-you-can-eat ticket deal.

On Saturday, the Hydro in Glasgow finally opens properly following the Fleetwood Mac show of last week (to paraphrase Tam Cowan, they should really burn it down (again) to cleanse it). Anyway, The Proclaimers headline with Glasvegas and Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire in tow.
On Saturday, the finest female Ramones tribute act not to incorporate some Abba into their set – at Dundee Beat Generator Live, The Ramonas.
Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo are supported by former Magoo bassist and AA Milne’s unofficlal musical director Chris T-T, with shows in Aberdeen on Thursday 10th, Ullapool on Friday 11th and on Saturday at Glasgow’s Oran Mor (note the vagueness of detail here, check www.emily-barker.com as I’m not going to do it for you.

On Sunday: folktronica (but not alt.folk) ensemble Tunng join and Danish oddballs Pinkunoizu are at Glasgow’s Broadcast.
And following their canceled show at Edinburgh’s July Mela, The Orb will be in the rather more windproof (and more intimate) environs of 20 Rocks in Dundee, on Sunday.
Finally (phew!) Geordie indie rockers Lanterns on the Lake come to Edinburgh’s Electric Circus