It’s Tuesday afternoon, an unusual time for the Gig of the Week section to get writter up, but that means that you have a good few hours to prepare yourself for this evening’s big shows. In this case, that’s The Wonderstuff, Jesus Jones and Pop Will Eat Itself – an unholoy trinity of 80s (90s? 00s?) acts who play Edinburgh’s PictureHouse on Tuesday 17th – it could also be your last chance, petitions etc permitting, to see a gig in this soon-to-be-a-pub location.
In Glasgow, The Pogues make their annual trip to Glasgow, at the O2 Academy, while the consideraby younger (and better-toothed) Aaron Fyfe is at Pivo Pivo. And also on a packed Tuesday, Glasgow Art School presents No Ceremony (live) – with Roman Nose plus Ben Butler & Mousepad

Other golden oldies touting their wares – the proze for most retro show goes to Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, who are at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree on Wed 18th – and Glasgow’s Oran Mor the night before, if youre reading this from the bottom up.

And a whippersnapper or a veteran depending on who you compare him with, but Patrick Wolf is at Oran Mor on Wednesday.

If you’re on the east coast, more nostalgia in the form of grimy footsoldiers The Levellers – the the Liquid Room on Wednesday 18th.
Also on Wednesday, it’s going to be A Dark Dark Christmas at the Voodoo Rooms – but hoping to shine a little light with all proceeds going to the Samaritans are Black International, Lipsync for a Lullaby (acoustic show), The Omega Corridor and Royal Edinburgh Music.

ALl quiet until a flurry of hows at the weekend – on Friday, Pinact are at Aberdeen’s Cellar 35, while there’s unashamed retro fun with Schick of Rock at Kirkcaldy’s Windsor Hotel.
Former Y’all Is Fantasy Island bassist Robbie Lesiuk launches his solo alvum at Sportsters in Falkirk, while in Glasgow, a clutch of big shows – Deacon Blue are at the Hydro, The Twilight Sad play King Tut’s and Travis are at the Barras (the latter 2 actually on 2-night runs i.e. Saturday as well)

Saturday’s similarly gig-crazy – the excellent TV Smith – ex of The Adverts – is at Aberdeen’s Moorings, while Xcerts play at Downstairs.
Old punks in Edinburgh as well – The Valves reunite on Saturday for the first time in, what, 35 years – for a show at the Liquid Room.

In Cumbernauld, it’s party time (a phrase you don’t hear too often – Col Mustard and the Dijon 5 rip up Cumbernauld New Town Hall. Be very afraid, locals.

And oop north, in Inversneckie, Netsounds Unsigned’s Christmas Takeover at Mad Hatters has local types Call To Mind alongside Be Like Pablo.

Things quieten down by the end of the weekend – and what better way than at the Wee Chill festival, which is at SWG3 – though not that chilled – with Admiral Fallow, Washington Irving, The Little Kicks, Friends in America, Atom Tree, Trongate Rum Riots, Poor Things and Call To Mind. ALthough if you fancy something even more raucous, 17-legge groove monster How To Swim give us a sneak peek at their new album, with a show at the 13th Note.