The week in gigs starts right here – here being Monday night at children’s charity, the BIG Project in Broomhouse, Edinburgh. Karine Polwart lpsys with the BIG Project Youth Choir. To be honest it may be sold out as the first call on tickets go to local residents and proud parents, but worth a mention given the good work done there including the previous show with King Creosote.

By way of contrast – and you could probably make the grown-up city centre later-night gig easily enough – United Fruit are at Sneaky Pete’s.

On Tuesday, Jon Zip – i.e. Jon out of revitalised 70s punks The Zips – plays some stripped-back solo acoustic versions of Zips’ tunes at the Troubadour Tuesday Sessions, at The Beresford Lounge in Glasgow.

Slightly larger-scale on Tuesday, Franz Ferdinand are at the Barras

On Wednesday, it’s the Four Tops at Clyde Armadillo (does anyone call it the “Auditorium”?) Unlike many groups of a similar vintage, this lineup still contains one original Top – Abdul “Duke” Fakir.

And on Wednesday 26th at Hootananny in Inverness, Netsounds Unsigned has Michael Cassidy, supported by Inverness singer songwriter Dylan Tierney. He – Michael that is – also plays Aberdeen’s Cafe Drummond the following night.

Thursday sees Dave Hughes and the RFPB plug new release ‘Doctors and Dates’ with a show at Kage Nightclub (or, could be the Balcony Bar depending on where you read it – check local press for details…).

In Glasgow on Thursday, 6music flavour of the month Wild Beasts are at the Arches while across in Embra, Ladykiller Caterpillar play the Teviot Underground on Thursday

On Friday 28th, at Aberdeen’s Moorings, Edinburgh rockers Fatalists plug new album Unwelded. support comes from the intriguingly-named locals Depeche Chaod.

And – vested interest alert (i.e. it’s just round the corner from the curry house)… rock comes to Linlithgow, at the newly reopened Star & Garter hotel. On the bill on Friday are Bo’ness indie act The Future Capital.

And in Edinburgh, Algernon Doll is on Friday 28th at Opium

The Hidden Door festival starts on Friday – that includes 3 days (Sat – Mon) of the likes of Randolph’s Leap, The Birthday Suit, Adam Stafford and Plastic Animals, programmed by Jamie out of Broken Records, who also play.

In Glasgow, now-Franz labelmates Amazing Snakeheads are at Broadcast

Into the weekend, and on Saturday The 45’s are at the Venue in Dumfries
In Edinburgh, electronic faves Machines in Heaven are at the Electric Circus, while ska veterans The Selecter are at Kirkcaldy’s Windsor Hotel (they’re also at the O2 ABC in Glasgow on Sunday).

At Glasgow Arches on Saturday, it’s 65daysofstatic, while
Francois and the Atlas Mountains – featuring former member(s) of Otterley / Findo Gask and current members of Babe – there’s your kilt on it for you – are at Stereo.

In Edinburgh on Sunday, Boy George is at the Liquid Room. Honestly not aware if he’s DJing or singing, which might influence your attendance.

In Aberdeen, local singer-songwriter Daniel Mutch is at the Beach Ballroom while in Glasgow, The Forest are at King Tut’s, and Attic Lights play Broadcast.