Radar weekly: The latest from the Scottish music scene

In this week’s new music digest: My Latest Novel return as Alphabetical Order Orchestra, showcase acts for The Great Escape announced, T in the Park on tour; new music from Trapped in Kansas, The Machine Room, Fake Major, Adam Stafford, The 10:04s and King Eider; plus this week’s gig picks.
My Latest Novel members back with Alphabetical Order Orchestra. Picture: ContributedMy Latest Novel members back with Alphabetical Order Orchestra. Picture: Contributed
My Latest Novel members back with Alphabetical Order Orchestra. Picture: Contributed

Scots showcase at The Great Escape

Creative Scotland have chosen seven acts to take to The Great Escape in Brighton this month, one of Europe’s leading springboards for new music talent.

Laura St Jude, Honeyblood, Holy Esque, Fatherston, Washington Irving, Young Fathers and Alarm Bells will all perform at the Showcasing Scotland concerts in the seaside resort, where over 3,000 industry delegates will be on the hunt for the best new sounds.

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The Showcasing Scotland gigs take place on Thursday 16 May and Friday 17 May at the Dome Studio Theatre.

My Latest Novel become Alphabetical Order Orchestra

After releasing their second album Deaths & Entrances on Bella Union back in 2009, Greenock band My Latest Novel dropped off the radar. But today they announced their return, albeit under a different guise.

Alphabetical Order Orchestra is billed as a side project, and features three of the former band’s original members - Chris and Gary Deveney, and drummer Ryan King.

The first song to surface from this new trio, called ‘The Architect’, was recorded just a few days ago at Chem 19 near Glasgow, and is already streaming via The Line of Best Fit.

• A couple of weeks ago we reported on the list of acts chosen to showcase at one of Scotland’s own music industry gatherings, goNORTH in Inverness. In addition to the live music, the organisers have announced some good opportunities for those looking to work in the media. There will be radio training for 12 people plus a paid position during the Edinburgh Festival on Radio goNORTH (more details) and the ‘Hit The Ground Running’ TV training, which is a one-day course (more details).

• T in the Park has announced a roadshow which is touring Scotland over the next two weeks in preparation for the 10-week countdown to the 20th anniversary year of the festival. After a show featuring The View in Glasgow yesterday, the next dates are:

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10 May: Vigo Thieves (with burlesque artist Aurora Winterborn) @ Queen Margaret University’s Student Union, Edinburgh

11 May: The LaFontaines (with dancers from Crossfire Cabaret) @ Overgate Centre, Dundee

18 May: The Redettes @ Ayr train station

New music

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• Ayrshire band Trapped In Kansas have unveiled a new song called ‘Collapse Rebuild’ via YouTube, combining their nimble fretwork with complex rhythms and the odd rush of reverb.

• The Machine Room have a new song out as part of a series of singles to mark the 12th birthday of London promoters Club Fandango. ‘Sweden’ gets its official release on May 13, but you can already listen to it via SoundCloud.

• Singer-songwriter Adam Stafford is known for his looped incantations, in the live setting at least, but he returns to more conventional alt-pop on new song ‘Please’, which is taken from his second album Imaginary Walls Collapse, out in July. Listen on SoundCloud

• Fake Major have unveiled a new video for the song ‘Fiction’, which is taken from their Have Plenty Of Fun EP.

• Edinburgh band The 10:04s released their third single, ‘Throes’ this week, and you can watch the accompanying video from acclaimed director John “JJ” Campbell

• King Eider are an Edinburgh-based folk-blues collective who will self-release the single ‘Drink Me Dry’ on June 10. You can preview their debut offering via SoundCloud.

Gig picks

Public Service Broadcasting

Tue 7 May @ The Caves, Edinburgh, 7.30pm, £11.50

Wed 8 May @ABC2, Glasgow, 7pm, £10

Thu 9 May @The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, 7.30pm, £10

The Fall

Tue 7 May @ O2 ABC2, Glasgow, 7pm, £18

Homework album launch + Garden of Elks

Thu 9 May @ Inspace, Edinburgh, 7pm, £7

Sparrow and the Workshop

Wed 8 May @ Mono Glasgow, 7.30pm

Thu 9 May @ The Caves, Edinburgh, 7.30pm, £6-7

Adrian Crowley + Star Wheel Press

Fri 10 May @ Electric Circus, Edinburgh, 7pm, £8.50

The View

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Fri 10 May, Sat 11 May & Sun 12 May @ 20 Rocks, Dundee, 7pm, £18

Drenge

Fri 10 May @ Nice n Sleazy, Glasgow, 7.30pm, £7

Eagleowl

Fri 10 May @ Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh

Sun 12 May @ Glad Café, Glasgow, 8pm, £6

Black International + Cut Yourself in Half

Fri 10 May @ The Breakfast Club, Edinburgh, 7pm, £4

Edinburgh School For the Deaf + Hookers For Jesus + Wozniak

Sat 11 May @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, 7pm, £6

Tectonics late gig: Aidan Moffat, Stuart Braithwaite, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Oren Ambarchi, James Rushford, Joe Talia

Sat 11 May @ Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 10pm

John Grant

Sun 12 May @ Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 7pm, £16.50

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