JANUARY
The 1975 – Thursday, January 19 at the OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Arguably one of the biggest bands in the world right now kick the new year into life with a Thursday night slot at one of Scotland’s largest venues.
Kula Shaker – Thursday, January 19 at The Liquid Room, Edinburgh
Their debut album is a mainstay of charity shops across the land but still worth heading along for one of the only pop bands in the Western hemisphere combining Sanskrit, sitars, tablas and guitars all in one.
The Joy Hotel – Saturday, January 21 at The Mash House, Edinburgh
Catch these rising stars of the Scottish rock scene (and there are seven of them) while you can still see them in an intimate club rather than an enormous stadium.
Lewis Capaldi – Monday, January 23 at the P&J Live, Aberdeen, Tuesday, January 24 at the OVO Hydro, Glasgow
A rival of whisky for some time now and setting his sights on oil to become Scotland’s biggest export, Capaldi alone might not be enough to sustain Scotland’s economy but he’s still an excellent asset to have.
Circa Waves – Monday, January 30 at the O2 Academy, Glasgow, Tuesday, January 31 at the Music Hall, Aberdeen
Indie rock festival mainstays Circa Waves are on a UK-wide tour for the launch of their new album, including what has been billed as an “intimate” show in Dundee in February at the Beat Generator.
FEBRUARY
Florence and The Machine – Wednesday, February 1 at the OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Pipes that could power a jumbo jet and fill the Hydro twice over. The dog days are over and Florence and her machines are touring their new album Dance Fever.
READ MORE: 'It was unbelievable': Bassist explains what it was like recording hits with Abba
Twin Atlantic – Friday, February 3 at the Ironworks, Inverness
Scot rockers with a considerable fan base overlap with Biffy Clyro hit the Highlands in February. It’s the Glasgow band’s only UK date yet announced to promote their new record. Their only other confirmed plans for this year are an appearance at a Norwegian festival.
You Me At Six – February 3 and 4 at the Barrowlands, Glasgow
Relive a misspent youth of posting cryptic song lyrics, dancing at the Cathouse unders and wearing alarming combos of neon and black.
Brian Jonestown Massacre – Sunday, February 5 at the Barrowlands, Glasgow, Monday, February 6 at La Belle Angele, Edinburgh
American psych-rockers, influenced by the Stones, the cults, Hegel and the French New Wave, led by a man who once cooked for Anthony Bourdain (whose favourite song was one of the band’s), play two nights in Scotland’s biggest cities.
Rebecca Black – Monday, February 6 at SWG3, Glasgow
Bona fide meme queen whose career has miraculously managed to overcome years of cruel trolling to lean into TikTok-beloved weirdo hyperpop. Just don’t ask for Friday.
Carly Rae Jepsen – Wednesday, February 8 at the O2 Academy, Glasgow
Pop queen Carly Rae Jepsen managed to dodge the one-hit wonder curse with her 2018 album Emotion and is currently on a worldwide tour to promote her new album The Loneliest Time. This is her only Scottish stop so get tickets for Glasgow unless you want a trip down south.
Hamish Hawk – Wednesday, February 15 at the Church, Dundee, Thursday, February 16 at Saint Luke’s, Glasgow, Friday, February 17 at Café Drummond, Aberdeen
Rising Scot signer-songwriter Hamish Hawk from Fairmilehead, Edinburgh, is loved for his literate and witty song writing and has garnered comparisons to Scott Walker and Jarvis Cocker.
Taahliah – Saturday, February 18 at SWG3, Glasgow
Inspired by pristine pop and heavy club, Kilmarnock’s (by way of Berlin and Glasgow) Taahliah is threatening to become one of the biggest names in the LGBT dance music scene – having shared stages with 100 Gecs and the late, great Sophie.
Yungblud – Wednesday, February 22 at the OVO Hydro, Glasgow
A Glasgow stop for the Gen Z pop-punk superstar, pals with Machine Gun Kelly and adored by the TikTok teens for his Cure-sampling tunes and magnetic live performances.
Rachel Sermanni – Thursday, February 23 at The Glad Café, Glasgow (and the first three Thursdays in March, same venue)
Strathspey singer-songwriter takes to the intimate back room of The Glad Café to share her contemporary Scottish folk stylings. Don’t worry if you miss this one (or if you can’t get enough) – there are three more dates the following month.
MARCH
Young Fathers – Friday, March 3 and 4 at the O2 Academy, Glasgow
Darlings of music critics and the heartbeat of the T2 Trainspotting soundtrack with their anthem Only God Knows, Young Fathers play back-to-back shows in Glasgow in March at the tail end of their European tour for the upcoming album Heavy Heavy.
Lizzo – Wednesday, March 8 at the OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Rapper, singer, occasional actor and flautist. There’s not a lot Lizzo can’t do. Packing out stadiums with adoring fans is just another string to her bow.
Fatboy Slim – Thursday, March 9 at the O2 Academy, Edinburgh
Expect a dad-dancing nostalgia fest as the artist formerly known as Norman Cook hits the decks in Edinburgh to treat fans to a whistlestop tour of floor-fillers.
READ MORE: Interview: Hamish Hawk on the Scottish backdrop to his music
Suede – Monday, March 13 at the Music Hall, Aberdeen, Tuesday, March 14 at the O2 Academy, Glasgow
Rival to Pulp as the intellectual’s choice in the Britpop wars, Suede have managed to sidestep the soap opera dramas which can plague bands of their vintage to instead focus on continuing the hard graft of crafting solid records after reforming in 2010.
KT Tunstall – Tuesday, March 14 at the Music Hall, Aberdeen, Wednesday, March 15 at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Friday, March 17 at the SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
Fife’s most significant export since golf, KT Tunstall tours the final installation of her Soul, Body and Mind album trilogy with a trio of dates across Scotland.
Father John Misty – Wednesday, March 15 and 16 at Barrowlands, Glasgow
Former Fleet Foxes drummer turned indie crooner hits Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom. Expect pretty melodies, acidic lyrics and knowing winks throughout.
Sam Ryder – Wednesday, March 22 at Barrowlands, Glasgow
A viral TikToker during the pandemic turned into the UK’s greatest hope at the Eurovision Song Contest. Anthems delivered by a man so likeable he even managed to (mostly) win the traditionally Anglophobic Eurovision judges.
Death Cab For Cutie – Wednesday, March 22 at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thursday, March 23 at Barrowlands, Glasgow
Take your pick of great Scottish venues to get introspective and mopey with the titans of the noughties US indie scene.
Joesef – Thursday, March 23 at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Friday, March 24 and 25 at Barrowlands, Glasgow
Scottish soul from the streets of Garthamlock, Joesef will play two back-to-back hometown gigs before jetting off to Europe for the final leg of his tour. All this before he has even put out his debut album, which is released in January.
Orbital – Tuesday, March 28 at SWG3, Glasgow
Maybe the greatest band named after a motorway, Orbital will you back to a misspent youth of field raves and repetitive beat music this spring in Glasgow.
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