A small but select set of live shows this week…

Tuesday see a long-awaited set from Explosions In The Sky at the Barrowland in Glasgow.

On Wednesday, Karine Polwart is at Abriachan Village Hall near Drumnadrochit, while in a not-all-that-similar vein, folk legends Bellowhead bring their farewell tour to Glasgow, at the O2 ABC.

And The Flaming’ Groovies will be shaking some action (yeah, I know) at Glasgow’s CCA.

While Mark Lanegan’s at the O2 ABC in Glasgow on Thursday…
And the following night, the former Screaming Tree is at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.
Hector Bizerk are at Glasgow Art School on Friday, but in the main all eyes and ears will be on the Wide Days music conferencey thing, which includes free showcases at Sneaky Pete’s and the Electric Circus. Blanck Mass, The Van T’s and Scumpulse just a few of the six acts you can see for free. Mind you, at Leith Depot on Friday, punting their new album ‘The Future’, DTHPODL.
Also worthy of mention is a rare gig in Greenock as The View visit the Town Hall.
Final Friday shows involve minor Britpop players The Bluetones at Aberdeen Lemon Tree (which sounds a rather more appealing prospect than Noel Gallagher at the AECC). Rather more modern, Pinact are at Mad Hatters.

On Saturday in Easterhouse, the Outskirts multi-arts festival returns to Platform. Running from 3.30pm into the night, musical offerings include Kathryn Joseph in a one-off collabration with Twilight Sad singer James Graham. In the city centre, at Broadcast, punting their new and very decent comeback album, punk legends Penetration.

Another matinee performance at the Glad Cafe in Shawlands on Sunday 24th – as well as Monica de Ioanni in a dance and movement performance, Jer Reid out of Sumshapes and formerly of Dawson plays with Jenny Soep doing live artwork. There’s also a live set from Stuart Henderson, formerly of Ganger.