Radar weekly: The latest from the Scottish music scene

Music convention Wide Days returns

Scotland’s answer to SXSW, albeit on a slightly smaller scale, returns this week.

The annual Wide Days music conference takes place in Edinburgh on Wednesday and Thursday, offering invaluable industry advice as well as live showcases of some of the brightest new musical talent from these shores.

The seminars deal with issues like music publishing, selling music online, the role of promoters – as well as a slightly daunting event called A&R You Brave Enough where musicians can submit their work for immediate feedback from industry taste-makers.

Intriguingly, there will also be news of a UK version of a Foro De Eixo, a musician-led gig-swap network in Brazil which boasts 30,000 members and last year helped organise over 6,000 gigs. Details of the British Fora Do Eixo, which will run under its translated name Off Axis, will form part of a talk given by Jeff Thompson, of the Manchester-based Un-Convention organisation.

Wide Days isn’t just for those who work in the music industry, however, with evening showcase gigs on both nights, featuring Fatherson, Fat Goth, Garden of Elks, Roman Nose, Saint Max & the Fanatics, Siobhan Wilson and Washington Irving.

For more information on the convention go to www.widedays.com.

Young Fathers to headline benefit night

Edinburgh hip-hop trio Young Fathers, who we tipped for breakout success earlier this year, will top the bill at a benefit gig for Love Music Hate Racism/Unite Against Fascism in their hometown on May 2.

The show at the Voodoo Rooms will also feature The Spook School, LAW, plus “a very special guest” to be announced, and DJ support from Hobbes.

Tickets for the show are priced at £5.

Young Fathers will release their next mini-album, TAPE TWO, on Los Angeles-based Anticon in early June.

Fridge Magnets set for ‘silent concert’

It’s too late to be an April Fool, so this must be legit… Fridge Magnets will be performing a “silent concert” in Glasgow next Monday (April 15). Music streaming service Deezer, who are staging four such events across the UK, explain the premise:

“Deezer will exclusively invite 300 fans in each city to ‘get on the bandwagon’ and attend each outdoor performance – each gig will be a “silent” concert. The shows will be performed from inside a mobile perspex box with fans able to see the band but NOT hear them. However, no one will miss a note, as anyone who is invited to attend a Bandwagon gig or wins a money-can’t-buy ticket will be given a special pair of Deezer “silent disco” headphones and will be able to hear the performance.”

To enter their contest to win tickets, visit the Deezer website

• The line-up for the Kintyre Songwriters Festival has been announced, with the likes of Rachel Sermanni and Emma’s Imagination playing the event, which takes place in Campbelltown, from May 24-26. You can browse the full line-up and book tickets online

New music

• Bwani Junction will release their new single, Civil War, on April 29. It’s taken from the young Edinburgh band’s second album, which is expected later this year. In the meantime, check out the new video for Civil War

• Like beer? Like records? Of course, but which would you rather spend £12 on? That’s the tricky question being posed by Edinburgh’s Song by Toad Records, who have teamed up with Barney’s Beer on a thirst-quenching release for Record Store Day. They are putting out eight songs simultaneously on vinyl and as download codes on bottles of Barney’s Beer – both limited to runs of 250. Which will sell out first? Find out where to buy your vinyl/beer here

Not to forget the bands providing the music, all of which have received glowing praise on Radar in the past: Zed Penguin, Magic Eye, Le Thug and Plastic Animals – watch the latter’s video for their contribution, Pizarnik

• Flutes have released their new single Kilburn, taken from their self-titled debut album. Although they formed in Fife, the band’s inspiration for the single comes from the London area it’s named after – although it was recorded at Chem 19 studios near Glasgow. The album is available now, and you can listen to Kilburn on SoundCloud

Gig picks

Steve Mason

Tuesday @ King Tut’s, Glasgow, 8.30pm, £17

King Creosote

Tuesday @ Mareel, Lerwick, 7.30pm, £12.50

Wednesday @ Oran Mor, Glasgow, 7.30pm, £12.50

James Blake

Thursday @ The Arches, Glasgow, 7pm, £12.50

Hector Bizerk

Friday @ Non-Zero’s, Dundee, 8pm, £4

Limbo: Comanechi, United Fruit, Vasquez

Saturday @ The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, 8pm, £8

Father Sculptor EP launch

Saturday @ Stereo, Glasgow

Neu! Reekie! (Alan Bissett, Kirsty Logan, Young Fathers, Jesus, Baby!)

Saturday @ The Poetry Club, Glasgow, 7pm, £6

Comanechi + Divorce

Sunday @ Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Glasgow, 7.30pm, £8

Bad Fun: North American War, Furrow, Deathcats

Sunday @ Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, 7.30pm, £5