Radar recommends: 16 - 22 January

[Over the Wall: testing out the Trampoline on Saturday]


Please bear with us while we try out a yet another format to our weekly gig round-up...

Radar Recommends started out as a small selection of the best gigs in Scotland. Then its scope got wider with less critique. Now we're aiming for the middle ground.

Every Friday we'll write short previews about the most eye-catching gigs of the week ahead, then give you the bigger picture with the calendar below.

If we're inundated with complaints we will, of course, change it back.


A Scottish Songbook
Saturday @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall / 7.30pm / £16 - £20
Among the array of Celtic Connections options this week, this one could be pretty interesting. The festival directors have chosen classics and hidden gems from the vast archives of Scottish songwriting, for performers including Emma Pollock, King Creosote and Kris Drever.

Trampoline: How To Swim, Over the Wall, Thomas Western
Saturday @ Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh / 7pm / £5
Yet another tip-top line-up from Trampoline. How to Swim and Thomas Western both featured here in 2009, and we hope to put right the Over the Wall omission very soon. Because they're superb.

St Deluxe, Stuart Braithwaite, Will Carruthers (DJ set), Joe Foster (DJ set)
Sunday @ Mono, Glasgow / 7pm / Free
Noisy, fuzzy St Deluxe and a solo set by the Mogwai man makes for an excellent free night out at the launch of a touring exhibition of work by artist Natty Brooker (best known for his collaborations with Spacemen 3 and Spiritualzed).

Comanechi, Divorce, Holy Mountain
Monday @ Captain's Rest, Glasgow / 8pm / £5
Ear-ringing should come as standard as Londoners Comanechi are suitably teamed with shouty Glaswegians Divorce – definitely one to see – and heavy improvisation from duo Holy Mountain.

Also playing Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Vivian Girls, St Deluxe
Wednesday 20th @ Captains Rest, Glasgow / 7.30pm / £8
Everyone’s favourite chick-filled Brooklyn three-piece return to Glasgow as part of their UK tour. Delightfully messy, sunny pop-rock, even better live. Support from similarly Nirvanafuzz-laden locals, St Deluxe. Surf’s up.

Versus: Eagleowl, Found, Oates Field
Thursday @ Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh / 8.30pm / £5
Through its spirit of open collaboration, Versus has quickly positioned itself as one of the capital's most exciting live music nights. This combination of eagleowl and Found is the sonic equivalent of mixing Scotch broth with skittles, so we can only assume the mysterious Oates Field are bringing some heavy-duty condiments.

Baroness, Titus Gein
Thursday @ Nice'n'Sleazy, Glasgow / 7.30pm / £10
Sci-fi prog fun is back on the menu as Titus Gein return to support the rather more serious, grand and impressive Baroness who are touring their Blue Record of last year.

The Real McKenzies, The Plimptons
Friday @ Stereo, Glasgow / 8pm / £7
Not sure about the prospect of seven kilted Canadian punk rockers, but The Plimptons, who recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary, are always good for a fun set.



Words: Elaine Liddle, Lauren Mayberry, Nick Mitchell

What have we missed? Tell us below, or add it to our gig guide by emailing utr.scotsman@gmail.com