All roads lead to Highland Perthshire this weekend for the annual Aberfeldy Music Festival.
Centred on ‘Feldy’s town hall, the two-night event champions the Scottish scene’s rising talents and is co-curated by tartan noir author Ian Rankin, a man known for his encyclopaedic musical knowledge.
It kicks off tonight with a bill that features lo-fi indie folksters Star Wheel Press, former Paper Aeroplanes singer-songwriter Sarah Howells — aka Bryde — Edinburgh art punks The Spook School and Perth-based acoustic chanteuse Laurie Cameron.
Tomorrow’s line-up includes Glasgow soulster Ray Harris, US troubadour Jordan Lee’s baroque pop project Mutual Benefit, Teen Canteen founder Carla J Easton, Broken Records frontman Jamie Sutherland and Glasgow-based dream pop exponents Life Model.
Tickets for each night are £28 with a weekend pass £50, from aberfeldyfestival.com.
*** One of Russia’s foremost alt-punk outfits is on the way to Dundee next week.
St Petersburg outfit The Riot Gang are heading up a three-band session at Conroy’s Basement on Wednesday as part of their first-ever trip to Scotland.
The four-piece have spent the last 12 years honing their furious Ramones, Rancid, Flatliners and Suicide Machines-inspired sound — as well as touring throughout Europe — and a full-on tear-up is expected.
They’ll be joined at the Meadowside venue by City of Discovery country blues punks The Overbites — who’re preparing to unleash their debut EP — and feedback-drenched Perth grunge rockers The Goatboy. Admission’s £5.
*** There’s leftfield live music with spoken word offerings at Clarks On Lindsay Street on Sunday.
The diverse ‘When I Tried To Speak’ event from 7-10.30pm is showcasing a host of female and non-binary performers with an added open mic session. It’s being headed up by singer-songwriters Hailey Beavis and Amy Duncan and alternative poets Ana Hine and Suky Goodfellow.
Ana — who’s organised the gig along with Amy — says the purpose of the Artificial Womb event is to provide a chance to see independent performers in a space where local poets and musicians can share their work.
Tickets £5 from the venue, Eventbrite and Dundee’s Grouchos and Assai Records, with concessions for students and the unwaged on the door.
*** Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross is at Pitlochry Festival Theatre tomorrow.
It’s an exclusive performance from the Dundonian at the Highland Perthshire venue, where he’ll be playing tracks from his latest solo album Short Stories Vol. 1 and revisiting some of the best-known songs from his lengthy career ahead of a full UK tour with his band starting later this month.
Ricky’s being supported by Edinburgh-based acoustic songsmith Roseanne Reid whose achievements include a Radio 2 Folk Award nomination. Tickets £23.25 from pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com.
*** Prog pioneers Soft Machine have lined up a Kinross gig on Thursday.
The Canterbury band’s line-up includes 1970s-era members John Etheridge (guitar), John Marshall (drums) and Roy Babbington (bass), along with acclaimed arranger Theo Travis on sax, flute and keys. Tickets £26.75 via ticketweb.uk.
*** Rising Scots troubadour Ali Robertson is the big draw at Conroy’s on Thursday.
Boasting irresistible melodies and a nod to beat-driven nu-soul, the Glasgow talent’s initial handful of singles have received over a million streams across the major digital music platforms, as well as garnering extensive airplay.
Ali’s being supported by alternative R&B singer and producer Callum Ross. Tickets £5 from bigcartel.com.
*** Irish blues rocker Pat McManus is bringing his potent trio to the Green Hotel tonight.
The Horslips-influenced veteran guitarist is best known for his work with his previous bands Mamas Boys and Celtus. His career highlights include supporting Thin Lizzy on their farewell tour in 1983 at the personal request of legendary frontman Phil Lynott.
Pat’s joined in his latest project by his countrymen Paul Faloon (drums) and Marty McDermott (bass), who’ve both paid their dues as in-demand session players working all over the globe. Tickets £19.40 via Ticketweb.
*** Classic anthems are in store tonight when tribute act The Clashed play Beat Generator Live. Tickets £9.25 from Grouchos or Tickets Scotland.
*** Carpenters soundalikes Solitaire are at the Green Hotel tomorrow from 9pm. Tickets £21.50 via Ticketweb.
*** Retro rockers Tivvy (tomorrow) and Bedrock (Sunday) play Number 57 this weekend.
*** Aberdeen rude boys Aka Ska are Beat Generator’s main attraction tomorrow. Tickets £9.25 from Grouchos or Tickets Scotland.
*** Cherry Bombz play Ardler’s Admiral Bar tonight, Rewind tomorrow and Brechin’s City Royal on Sunday, 4pm.
