A Mighty Ramble (Possibly Featuring Some News)

Scotland noisiest duo, Bronto Skylift have just announced details of their forthcoming Scottish tour with Lady North. Having released their new single, 'Positive Gentleman' on limited edition cassette on CATH Records, as part of this years Record Store Day. Iain and Nial are going to be hitting up Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness, Thurso and Aberdeen this coming May. Full details on tickets and dates can be found in the bands Facebook page.

Up and coming Edinburgh outfit, Urvanovic, are set to release their debut single, Bubblewrap on 16th June. In anticipation of it's release they've made this rather cracking video to go with it. If this is the standard of things to come then I look forward to hearing more.

My fellow blogger friend Stu Lewis really has caught the bug for putting on gigs, fresh from running Avalanches evening Record Store gig bonanza, he's just announced the next in his series of The Tidal Wave of Indifference Presents gigs which will take place on Saturday the 23d of June at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh. This time round he's roped in a whole host of talent, including hot new Edinburgh outfit The Bad Books, who I have yet to hear, but have been promised big things. Plus Peenko favourites Loch Awe, with The Spook School and The New Fabian Society completing the bill. You've got to give the boy credit, he certainly knows how to pull a line up together. Further information on the gig can be found here.

On Thursday the10th of May, CAOS Calling, are putting on a charity event in order to raise funds for CAOS, Community Arts that's based out in Clydebank. Performing on the night you have Jo Mango, Open Swimmer, Blochestra and also spoken word performances by Drew Taylor and comedy from Duncan Graham. Tickets for the gig are just £7 on the door or you can buy one in advance here..

Rather than releasing his new single on a boring old product such as a CD or 7" vinyl. The Pictish Trail has instead opted to go with something a wee bit novel and has decided to release his a brand new single, Of Course You Exist, as part of a download bundle in which you purchase his T-shirt or Sweatshirt from the Fence Records website and you get the songs chucked in to boot. Having picked up one of those 'snazzy' jumpers at Eye O The Dug, I can vouch for their cosiness. The Pictish Trail is all set to release a new EP in July with an album following later in the year. You can catch Johnny playing live at the CCA in Glasgow with  Kid Canaveral and Johnny Common on the 3rd of May. He'll then be back in our dear green city on May 13 when he headlines the next Peas 'n' Loaf night at the Old Hairdressers (across from Stereo) with French Wives and Siobhan Wilson.

  Of Course You Exist by The Pictish Trail

 

To finish off this massive rambling post we have the new video for King Creosote and John Hopkins new song, 'Third Swan', which was released on 7" as part of this years Record Store Day celebrations. Having queued up an ungodly hour of the morning last Saturday, I am pretty chuffed that I managed to get my paws on a copy. The song also features on the Jubilee Edition of the re-release of the Mercury and SAY Awards nominated album, Diamond Mine. I can't think of a better way to sign off than to leave you with this little gem...

Gigs Gigs Gigs

It's been a while since I last did a news round up, but as per usual I wait until my inbox is close to bursting until I finally get my finger out and cram everything into one 'handy' post. Seeing as every man and his dog seems to be out playing gigs at the moment, I just wanted to share with you some excititng things that are happening that you might want to check out...

First off next Monday sees the releases of the second album from RM Hubbert's new album Thirteen Lost & Found, which comes out on Chemikal Underground. Featuring collaborations with an array of talented folk including Emma Pollock, Aidan Moffat and Alex Kapranos, it's sure to be an early contender for the end of year album polls. To celebrate the albums release Hubby is heading off on tour, kicking the whole thing off with a show at Stereo in Glasgow next Friday, which is very very close to selling out. So if you fancy heading along you'd be advised to get your tickets asap.

27th Jan - Stereo, Glasgow 
1st Feb - Bishop's Castle Town Hall, Bishop's Castle
2nd Feb - Cube, Bristol
3rd Feb - King's Place, London
7th Feb - Butterfly Cabinet, Newcastle

RM Hubbert - Nursery Recital (Vic Galloway Session)

It's not much of a secret that I am a big fan of Adam Stafford's last album, so it should come as no surprise that I am looking forward to catching him when he heads off on tour next month with Radio Trees (aka MJ of Zoey Van Goey/Aidan Moffat's Best Ofs fame). The short tour at the end of February/beginning of March sees the pair taking in an array of Scottish dates and a wee venture just south of the border down into Newcastle. Here are the dates in full:

Feb/March Tour 2012:
25th Feb: Stafford’s 30th Birthday Bash  w/Radio Trees & O’ Messy Life (Newcastle)  13th Note Cafe (downstairs), Glasgow
1st March: w/Radio Trees, The Tunnels,  Aberdeen
2nd March: w/Radio Trees, new Portsound @Manna Cafe, Dundee (Newport-on-Tay)
3rd March: w/Radio Trees, Head of Steam, Newcastle
4th March: w/Radio Trees, The Third Door, Edinburgh

Adam Stafford - Shot Down You Summer Wannabes (Vic Galloway Session)

Radio Trees - Old Folks

If you missed out on tickets for Admiral Fallow's gig at the ABC next Friday, then you could always console yourself by picking up some tickets for Louis Abbot's solo shows at Brel on the 25th of January and the 1st of February. The gigs which will see Louis playing with some 'very, very special guests' are only £5 and you can purchase them here.

Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow) -Burn Me Now (The Pop Cop Session)

My friend up in Inverness, Jamie at Netsounds Unsigned has announced his first showcase gig of the year at Mad Hatters next Friday (27th). To kick things off he's lined up none other than Dead Boy Robotics, Team Kapowski and Lady North and is if that wasn't enough the whole thing is free. So if you're up in that neck of the woods get yourself along at 9pm to check out some of Scotland's finest up and coming bands.

Lady North - Ali, the Pig Opera and the Helicopter

In case you haven't already heard, the club/gig promoters Pin Up Nights are going to be calling time it day at the end of March. Having made the The Flying Duck their home for just over three years now, the gang only have 3 more nights left and they have promised to send things off on a high. Their last night night takes place this coming Friday and this time round they've gone for a space/sci-fi-themed event billed as an Intergalactic night. Featuring live music from Den Haan, Nevada Base and Fiction Faction, further information on the night can be found here.

As if a bill featuring Sebastian Dangerfield, Edinburgh School for the Deaf and PAWS wasn't enough, my pal friend Stu over at the Tidal Wave of Indifference has just announced that he's added Broken Records frontman Jamie Sutherland to the line-up for his second gig. Taking place on Saturday the 25th of February at the Wee Red Bar, tickets for the gig are available for £6 (plus booking fee) at Avalanche Records and through Brown Paper Tickets.

PAWS - Miss American Bookworm (6Music Session)