Like The Burning Hell and Jeffrey Lewis before them, bands are taking a detour off the beaten path again this week.

The Libertines for example, who are at Ironworks in Inverness on Monday night.

Pete’n’Carl then head to Kilmarnock’s Grand Hall on Tuesday…

In a parallel universe The View might have been on the same trail as Doherty and chums, but instead they are further north than most bands bother to go – at The Sound Archive in Kirkwall on Wednesday and Thursday, Wick Assembly Hall on Friday, and Nevis Centre, Fort William, on Saturday night.

Back in the central belt / civilisation / hell (dependfing on your viewpoint), Sparks promote their ‘eccentric’ new album ‘Hippopotamus’, at Edinburgh Queen’s Hall.
It’s a busy night in the capital, on Wednedsay – The National are at the Usher Hall, while Micah P. Hinson is on the rather more intimate environs of Sneaky Pete’s
And schlepping down from Aberdeen to Sofar Sounds, The Little Kicks.

On Thursday, Orkestra Del Sol are at Inverness Eden Court Theatre – they’re also at Aberdeen Lemon Tree on Sunday.

Saturday sees The Jesus and Mary Chain along with The Van T’s at the O2 ABC, while in Edinburgh, punting fine new album ‘There Are No Saints’, Siobhan Wilson is at The Voodoo Rooms, while on a similarly epic yet melodic tip, Sigur Rós are at the Armadillo.

Finally, Orkestra Del Sol play Aberdeen Lemon Tree on Sunday.