In this week’s round-up: The Scottish Independent Music Fair returns to Edinburgh; Sold-out Belladrum; new music from Citizens, Vcheka and Evil Hand; plus this week’s gig guide.
Good Monday to you. We’re kind of continuing the summer lull this week, but there’s still a few things going on you might want to wrap your ears around.
• It’s all about Edinburgh from this week of course as Fringe and Festival madness sets in. For example, The Scottish Independent Music Fair returns to Summerhall on Saturday, with local labels offering Fringe-goers a taste of our music scene. Expect stalls from the likes of Gerry Loves and Chemikal - from 12noon to 4pm.
• The festival onslaught continues with Belladrum Tartan Heart this Friday and Saturday. Among the highlights (from a Radar perspective) are Frightened Rabbit, Bwani Junction, Rachel Sermanni, Niteworks, Fatherson and Make Sparks. But it’s sold out, so nae luck if you don’t have a ticket, unfortunatley.
• Scottish Fiction are offering a free download bonanza in the form of a treasure hunt. Basically the blog has hidden 12 exclusive tracks in its monthly free EPs, which you can get a hold of through bandcamp. The artists are The Son(s), Randolph’s Leap, Discopolis, Ambulances, Lovers Turn to Monsters, DOLFiNZ, Miniature Dinosaurs, The Mouse That Ate The Cat, Satellite Dub, IndianRedLopez, Run/Lucky/Free, and Mitchell Museum - a pretty exciting line-up. Start the hunt on Bandcamp.
NEW MUSIC
• Citizens officially launched their debut album, CTZNS, on Saturday and it’s available now through Bandcamp. It’s a no brainer really; this is damn good.
• Meanwhile Vcheka have also put out their debut album this week. Here’s a great blurb about it: “With a sense of art-pop ambience, the band channel the sounds of the jazz greats, moving with smooth, free-form liquidity, throwing in Japanese spoken word vocals and crashing walls of percussion and on-point guitar rhythms.” Phew. Get it here.
• Evil Hand is working on a new album, but has put up a demo of a new track on Soundcloud for your attention: http://soundcloud.com/eh_studios/evil-hand-as-good-as-it-gets/s-7hHWH
THIS WEEK’S GIG PICKS
FRIDAY: Gerry Loves Records are hosting a special night with some of the bands they’ve released work by, at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh, to celebrate the first day of the Fringe “before you start lashing out at flyer people later in the month.” Playing are Adam Stafford, Lady North and The Japanese War Effort plus one more, to be confirmed. Tickets available in advance.
FRIDAY: Indie Funday Friday reaches its first anniversary at Henry’s Cellar Bar. The night has raised almost £2,000 for charity since it began and this week will be focusing on Mercy Corps. The Jacarandas, Universal Thee, Little Love & The Friendly Vibes, and Hello Frisco are on the bill.
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: Shmeet presents: 2 gigs, 2 days, 2 towns, 3 bands. A double-header with IndianRedLopez playing their first hometown gig in quite a while, with The Draymin. That’s at the Voodoo Lounge in Peterhead on Friday; the following day, the action moves to The Tunnels in Aberdeen where The Draymin headline over Miss Lucid and IRL. Tickets.
SATURDAY: Fat Goth return to Glasgow with a show at Bloc for Deathkill 4000. The band will be on shortly after midnight. Find out more.
SUNDAY: Fresh from their set at Belladrum, Make Sparks are playing a free instore at the Apple Store, Buchanan Street, from 5pm, as part of “the road to BFest.”
SUNDAY: Born to Be Wide is hosting an Edinburgh showcase, which they’ve billed as “the best way to get a snapshot of the diverse Scottish talent playing during the Fringe”. Ten acts will perform ten minute sets throughout the night at The Electric Circus. They include Fatherson, Fat Goth, Homework, Paul Gilbody, Siobhan Wilson and Teen Canteen, with more TBC. During the daytime, there will also be in-store appearances at Avalanche Records and Coda Music. Find out more on the website.