Tell you what, looks like you’re going to have to make your own entertainment early this week. First show we can spot that’s going to appeal to your discerning palettes is a good one fortunately – Ministry are back, with a show at SWG3 in Glasgow.

On Thursday, Kirk Brandon and whoever else makes up Theatre of Hate nowadays are in Dundee – at the possibly inappropriately-monikered Church.

And suddenly, Scotland goes gig-crazy at the weekend. In Paisley, Martin Metcalfe & the Fornicators trawl the Goodbye Mr Mackenzie back catalogue as well as some solo and Filthy Tongues stuff I’m sure, at the Bungalow Bar.

In Glasgow, The Shambolics are at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, while Pictish Trail plays Mono, and Lovers Turn To Monsters launch their ‘Skeletor’ EP at the 13th Note.
On the southside, The Reverse Engineer, along with Bell Lungs, are at The Rum Shack.
And Australian songwriter Ben Salter stops in on a world tour as he plugs latest album ‘Back Yourself’ – he’s in Glasgow at The Old Hairdressers on Friday 20th, and in Edinburgh, at the Voodoo Rooms, on Sunday 22nd.

In Aberdeen, just two gigs all week and both on the same night, Friday (if you don’t count Little Mix…) – Theatre of Hate are at The Assembly, while Colonopenbracket makes a welcome return, with a show at The Tunnels.

And of course, it’s festival season, so we have Rewind, taking place from Friday, at Scone Palace – OMD, Midge Ure, The SKids, The Selecter, Heaven 17, and Hooky & the Boys are the highlights, so make of that what you will.
Also in the company of royalty (maybe), Bananarama, The Bluebells, and Altered Images are at Edinburgh Castle.

Also in Edinburgh, industrial Brummies Godflesh play Summerhall, while pretty dissimilar sounds can be heard from former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman Natalie Merchant at The Queen’s Hall. In the People’s Republic of Stockbridge Hamish Hawk is running the Stockbridge Sessions, at Cowan & Sons.

Dunfermline welcomes Neon Waltz for a show at P.J. Molloy’s, and the Audiosoup festival kicks off, er, in the Borders… Duns, to be precise(ish) – among the highlights are Col. Mustard and the Dijon 5, plus a Fintribe DJ set.

Things are weirdly quieter on Saturday. Theatre of Hate are at the Bungalow Bar in Paisley, while in Edinburgh, the Average White Band play the Festival Theatre, and Del Amitri are at Edinburgh Castle.

On Sunday, Even As We Speak have a show at Glasgow’s Old Hairdresser’s, Theatre of Hate play Falkirk Warehouse.

Last but not least, on Sunday 22nd, one for fans of Sarah Records – Glasgow’s Not Unloved Records are showcasing four bands that were signed to Sarah (#2 on the NME’s Greatest Indie Labels of All Time list). Aussie popsters Even As We Speak, the Leeds/US-based combo Boyracer, Portsmouth Mod-popsters Action Painting! and Bristolian shoegazers Secret Shine are all at The Old Hairdressers (you might be advised to get a ticket in advance).