Gig attention switches eastwards following the Games, but after their Glasgow Green gig, The Bluebells play an unplugged set warm up at The Griffin Bar in Glasgow on Tuesday 5th August. It’s a warm-up of sorts for their show at Kelvingrove Bandstand with Alison Moyet on Saturday 9th August. Tickets for the Griffin show are available for free on a first come first served basis from behind the bar from 5pm on the day of the show. Doors open at 6pm and the set will run from 6.30pm – 7pm.

On Tuesday 5th in Edinburgh – Joan As Policewoman plays the Liquid Room.

The New Mendicants – Messrs Blake and Pernice have a small tour to promote their forthcoming single ‘Shouting Match’. On Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th August they’re at at Bridgeton Bowlers Bar (as part of The East End Social), followed by an Edinburgh Festival gig on Thursday 7th at the Spiegeltent.
They’re then at Belladrum Tartan Heart on Friday 8th (see below) and at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree on Saturday 9th.

And it must be Edinburgh Festival time – on Wednesday, Dean Friedman starts a run at Sweet Grassmarket (in the Apex Hotel), while on the same night, Stanley Odd play the 6th Saltire Society.

Belfast piano combo Duke Special (well, Peter Wilson and whoever else is in the band currently) are out and abut this week – at Aviemore’s Old Bridge Inn on Monday 4th, Tobermory’s An Tobar on Tuesday 5th; on Wednesday 6th it’s Beat Generator Live in Dundee, and on Thurs 7th, Deeside Inn in Aberdeen

On Wednesday 6th, Coatbridge – at Berits and Brown – is the unusual setting for a show by former Squeeze frontman Glen Tilbrook.

On Thursday evening, following an appearance on Radio Scotland in the afternoon, Dumb Instrument have a show at the Tron Kirk (that’s Edinburgh).

On Friday 8th, Ladykiller Caterpillar are at Henry’s, and Little Kicks play the Electric Circus.

Friday sees the first of the Oxjam Takeover shows, at Glasgow’s Nice’n’Sleazy. Headliners are Cut Throat Razors – fresh from playing the Herald’s Unsigned Band competition slot at the Wickerman.

Linlithgow – usually home to 15th century Scottish royalty rather than a modern gig venue – hosts the Party at the Palace over the weekend. The first rock bands to visit the Royal Burgh since Penguins Kill Polar Bears last year include Deacon Blue, Hue and Cry, Attic Lights, The Bluebells and James Grant on the Saturday, while on Sunday, Horse, The Silencers, Frightened Rabbit, Brownbear, and Simple Minds (described by FRabbits singer Scott Hutchison as “Expansive 80s pop… Simple Minds do that pretty fucking well.) – Also on the bill are The View, who have the Cairn String Quartet in tow. More including ticket details at www.partyatthepalace.co.uk.

On Friday, The Last Battle are at Edinburgh’s Electric Circus.

Of course, there’s another Scottish themed festival at Belladrum, near Inverness, the Tartan Heart. Tom Jones, Razorlight, Grand Master Flash, Billy Bragg, and Frightened Rabbit are among the bands on the bill – as are Fat Goth and the Singing Kettle.

And on Sunday in Perth, Ed Muirhead is at Greyfriars Bar, while Paws mainman Phillip Taylor plays a solo show, at Glasgow’s Old Hairdressers.