Scotland awakes from slumber and emerges from the gorse as we enter gig-heavy February. If you’re reading this on Monday then you can see Kaiser Chiefs at Dundee’s Caird Hall – though to be honest, we preferred their earlier stuff.

Tuesday 3rd sees Mariachi El Bronx play Edinburgh’s Electric Circus, with a show at Glasgow’s King Tut’s on the following night – for the uninitiated, they are basically LA punks The Bronx, but in mariachi mode. Just what it says on the tin.

Not sure what it is about Thursday, but gigs abound – Martin Stephenson (minus his Daintees, we assume), is at Clarks in Dundee, while same town, same night, dynamic duo – they actually are – Jamie and Shoony are at the Green Room.
In Edinburgh, The Creeping Ivies play Sneaky Pete’s, while in Glasgow, the first of a trio of shows that are part of King Tut’s 25th birthday. We Were Promised Jetpacks are followed by The Twilight Sad on the 6th and on Saturday 7th, esteemed company for a sellout show from Julian Cope.

Also on Friday, a mini-tour of sorts (is that a Tourette?) as Prides – tipped to break out in the US this year – plays Thursday 5th at Ironworks in Inverness, before moving across country to Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree on Friday 6th, then down the coast to Edinburgh’s Liquid Room on Saturday 7th.

Back to Friday, when across the country Lost Map signings Tuff Love precede their new EP ‘Dross’ with a set at Nice’n’Sleazy, Tijuana Bibles take in Dunfermline’s PJ Molloys, and A New International (TBFKA The Starlets), play Edinburgh Bongo Club

Finally – on Sunday – last but not least, yada yada, The Phantom Band celebrate new album ‘Fears Trending’ with a show at Non Zeros in Dundee.