With summer temperatures stepping up to the plate over the last few weeks, Scotland’s gig scene remains equally sizzling this June. International names such as Arcade Fire, The Stone Roses and even Jack Bauer will be making an appearance over the coming month, but if you’d rather forgo the arena rock for some grassroots gigs, check out these little beauties in June’s pipeline.
Over a 10-year career, this Spanish trio have put out five different albums all with the same self-titled name. But don’t mistake such an approach for apathy; their furious blend of psychedelic rock, blues and jazz, fused with elements of traditional Spanish music, is anything but lethargic. This month they bring their inimitable energy to Sneaky Pete’s on the Cowgate.
@ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 6th June
Local Edinburgh lad James Gage (aka Passion Pusher) wasn’t your average adolescent. By age 19, the industrious young gun had already uploaded over 220 tracks to Bandcamp, turning Song, by Toad heads in the process. Now with a full-length EP under his belt, Gage unleashes his creation on the Scottish capital at the Safari Lounge. Expect breathless pop-rock with lashings of existentialism and self-doubt.
@ The Safari Lounge, Edinburgh, 16th June
After lending his musical talents to such varied outfits as the Brand New Heavies, Gabrielle and Zero 7, Neil Cowley decided that all three of them counted entirely too many singers amongst their numbers and so set about assembling a jazz trio devoid of vocals. The end result? Oh, just a gong from the BBC for Best Jazz Album at the first time of asking. Five more albums, three beards and some very cool artwork later and the Neil Cowley Trio are playing in a repurposed Glasgow church as part of this year’s exciting lineup at Glasgow Jazz Festival. Don’t miss them.
@ St Luke’s, Glasgow, 22nd June
Canadian punk rockers Dearly Beloved pride themselves on making a jolly good racket. With over a decade’s experience in doing so, they’ve gotten pretty adept at it and this year let a producer twist some knobs and dials on their latest release Admission for the very first time. Has that polish made them lose any of their power and panache? You better not believe it… but maybe come down to King Tut’s and check, just to be on the safe side.
@ King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent, Glasgow, 27th June
Another Scot picked up by Song, by Toad Records, Siobhan Wilson delivers soulful ballads in a hauntingly beautiful voice. Years spent in Paris has left a French influence on her work (two of the tracks on her debut album There Are No Saints are sung en français and there’s even a ditty penned by her old flame while living out there) and the fascination with all things Gallic lends a romantic quality to her work and performance. Come see for yourself at The Glad Café at the month’s end.
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