As is often the case, you wait all week for a band, and then a hundred come along at once…

Well, only 60 or so bands at the first event to be fair. Music conference XpoNorth has umpteen showcase gigs over Wednesday and Thursday in Inverness, including Annie Booth, Breakfast Muff, Hamish Hawk and Spring Break to name just four.

Scanner – sampling maestro Robin Rimbaud – has a show in the unusual setting (we think anyway) of show at Waid Academy in Anstruther – you have to wait till Thursday for that.

On the same night, Fatherson play Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh, and in Glasgow, the TRNSMT Festival (their caps) starts. On over three weekends with a break for the Orange walk, Stereophonics, Liam Gallagher, Arctic Monkeys, Queen + Adam Lambert and some other bands will perform .

On Friday, Glasgow venue . The guys from Detour are helping set up a new foundation in the name of Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison’s name – more details at the link.

Also in Glasgow, on Friday, celebrate C86 at Govanhill Baths with Jowe Head, BMX Bandits Duglas T. Stewart and guests at the screening of the Teenage Superstars film.

Aberdeen’s finest (!) The Waterboys play Edinburgh’s Playhouse, and Kiefer Sutherland is at The Queen’s Hall (yes, Donald’s boy, it’s jazz he plays but it’s amusing to see his name in the listings).

Also on Friday, Kelburn Garden Party has Goldie, A Guy Called Gerald and Auntie Flo on an impressive bill.

Same night, former Charlatan Tim Burgess is at Stereo, while in Stirling at the Tolbooth, it’s Aidan Moffat and RM Hubbert.

The same duo are in Wick Library (so hope they’ll be keeping the noise down) on Saturday night.

Sergeant are back, with a hometown show at Warout Stadium in Glenrothes, while in Edinburgh, Tim Burgess is at The Liquid Room, and in a new venue to us, Withered Hand plays Thomson’s Tower.

Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters is at the Hydro, and The Waterboys play the Barrowland, while for fans of a similar age but darker disposition, Clan of Xymox are at Ivory Blacks

And as part of the series of shows at Kelvingrove, Nile Rodgers/Chic, Pointer Sisters, Goldfrapp, De La Soul, Roy Ayers and Emeli Sandé will be praying for sunshine.

On Sunday, Stiff Little Fingers are at Edinburgh’s Liquid Room, while more punk rock (after a fashion) as The Vapors, along with Blondie’s Clem Burke, will be at the Bungalow Bar in Paisley.
Finally, what some people might suggest is *proper* punk rock – Electric Eel Shock are at Audio.