Live Music Edinburgh: Slash | Lianne La Havas | St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra | Deacon Blue | Band of Horses

By WILL COOPER
Published on 14/09/2012 18:00

We preview the best of this month’s live music in Edinburgh.

Slash

The term “legend” gets used way too often, but for this bloke it fits perfectly. The former Guns ‘n’ Roses guitarist – complete with top hat, sunglasses and Les Paul – is set to rock the capital with some fresh songs (he has a new album out) and some classic hair metal axe-manship. He’ll be ably assisted by Myles Kennedy on vocals. Tickets will be very hard to come by for this. • Corn Exchange, 7 Oct

Lianne La Havas

2012 has been a huge year for Lianne La Havas, starting with a support run on Bon Iver’s US tour plus a superb, critically acclaimed debut album, and she’s finishing the year with a tour of her very own. The young London soul-pop singer melts hearts with her smoky voice and delicate guitar work. She’s on the brink of really big things, so see her now while she’s still playing intimate venues. • Queens Hall, 6 Oct

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Russia’s oldest and most famous philharmonic have played pretty regularly in the UK this year, and received good reviews for a very Russian repertoire – Rachmaninov and Shostakovich feature prominently in their playlist. The best renditions of Russian music you’re likely to hear anywhere. • Usher Hall, 7 Oct

Deacon Blue

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Raintown, Deacon Blue return with a tour of Scotland and arrive in the capital with some brand new tracks. They never quite reached the heights that their intelligent debut album should have granted them, and subsequently the band floundered. Splits, solo projects and TV careers are put on hold for this comeback tour and first new album since 2001. • Usher Hall, 8 Oct

Album: Mirage Rock by Band of Horses

One of America’s finest rock bands release their fourth album. The lo-fi, country rockers Band of Horses follow up on the success of their first three long players, and so far they have a 100 per cent record – three albums and all of them great. The preview tracks for this record have their familiar melodiously-melancholic country-rock sound. Get it, it’ll be great. • Released 17 September