It’s a curiously quiet gigging calendar this week, but Monday sees Merrill Garbus and drumming chums, aka tUnE-yArDs at Glasgow School of Art, which isn’t a bad place to start. Oh, and in Aberdeen, Downstairs, it’s hotly-tipped (yay!) Cumbrian punks Colt45. They’re at Edinburgh’s Opium on Thursday.

While we’re being all formal, Mr & Mrs Sparks – (Brett and Rennie to you) aka The Handsome Family are at Edinburgh’s Pleasance on Tuesday, and the following night they play St Andrews in the Square (in Glasgow, not Fife)

Remember Gun? Course you do. The Cameo-covering Glasgow combo are back, sans codpiece, for a show at Edinburgh’s Liquid Room on Wednesday.

More nostalgia on Thursday, as ska legends The Selecter are at Glasgow’s O2 to punt a new album, while a different vintage is offered by Underworld (aka Freur) who are at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall.

On Friday, The Mickey 9s launch their new single (see below) at Glasgow’s Buff Club. And, for anyone that bemoans the fact that nothing ever happens in Montrose, T’Pau are there on Friday, Bet you’re sorry now. Better to head for the capital, where pigeon fancier and comedy genius John Shuttleworth is at the Queen’s Hall.

Dundee hogs the spotlight on Saturday – moustachioed former Hold Steady man Franz Nicolay is at Buskers. He has a single coming out on Make That A Take and there’s an instore as well, see www.facebook.com/franznicolay…

Finally, to Sunday where Edinburgh is planet rock for one night only – Fifers ForeignFox are at the Mash House, while folky ladies The Poozies play the Voodoo Rooms.