Radar weekly: The latest from the Scottish music scene

This week: Indie record fair returns; Is This Music? turns 10; New festival planned at Summerhall; new music from Mitchell Museum and Frightened Rabbit, plus the gig guide.

• The Scottish Independent Record Fair returns to Glasgow next month (Chambre 69, Saturday 8 December) after two successful stints during the Edinburgh festival. You’ll be able to get your hands on vinyl, CDs, t-shirts and merchandise from labels including Chemikal Underground, Song By Toad Records, Olive Grove, Rock Action, Gerry Loves Records, Chaffinch Records, Armellodie, Overlook Records, Gerry Loves Records, Love Music and Rub A Dub. If that wasn’t enough to tempt you along, entry is free and there will be live sets from label artists including Jo Mango, Rick Redbeard (The Phantom Band), Le Thug and Colin Reid (Cuddly Shark).

smia.org.uk

• Indie magazine Is This Music? celebrates a milestone next month as it turns 10. To mark the occasion, they are putting on a show at the Electric Circus on Thursday 13 December, with sets from local favourites ballboy (who were cover stars on issue 2), Adam Thompson of We Were Promised Jetpacks and We See Lights. Read more about the event, and the magazine’s first decade, at isthismusic.com.

isthismusic.com

• A new documentary about record shops will be screened at the Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh next month. ‘Last Shop Standing’, The Rise, Fall and Rebrth of the Independent Record Shop’ stars Paul Weller, Richard Hawley, Norman Cook, Billy Bragg and more than 20 record shops including Monorail in Glasgow and Apollo Music in Paisley. After the Cameo screening on 10 December there will be a Q&A with staff from three of Edinburgh’s record shops. More info and ticket details on the Cameo website.

picturehouses.co.uk

• Summerhall in Edinburgh is playing host to an all-day event called Tinderbox Fest next month (15 Dec). As well as a plethora of stalls, exhibitions and fashion shows, there will be live performances from the likes of Broken Records (solo), North Atlantic Oscillation, Foxgang and Matt Norris & the Moon. Find full information on the festival’s website.

tinderboxfest.wordpress.com

NEW MUSIC

• Mitchell Museum, who recently reformed after a brief hiatus, have released a new EP. The Spanner Works EP is 100% free to download, and is billed as “a gift of thanks to everyone who has been kind and supportive to us”. You can claim your copy on Bandcamp.

Download ‘The Spanner Works’ EP

• Last week Frightened Rabbit unveiled another new song from their forthcoming album Pedestrian Verse. You can listen to ‘Dead Now’ on SoundCloud.

Listen to ‘Dead Now’ on SoundCloud

THIS WEEK’S GIG PICKS

Monday: Toronto natives Crystal Castles have made one of 2012’s most acclaimed albums, and they’ll be playing highlights from III at the O2 ABC in Glasgow.

Monday: Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat’s Scottish tour continues at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.

Monday: Algernon Doll, who we featured just yesterday, play the 13th Note in Glasgow.

Tuesday: Another widely hyped electro-influenced band, Purity Ring, are at Stereo in Glasgow.

Wednesday: Chain and the Gang, the new project from American musician Ian Svenonius, play the Electric Circus in Edinburgh, with support from top Glasgow band Casual Sex.

Wednesday: Transatlantic trio Sparrow and the Workshop are a band not to miss. They play Nice ‘n’ Sleazy in Glasgow.

Thursday: Organs of Love, Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lock Pickers, Palms and Tut Vu Vu are among the bands helping at the launch of a new label and album from the folks behind.

Thursday: King Creosote joins forces with FOUND for another of his ‘Bits of Strange’ shows, at the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.

Friday: Multi-instrumental Edinburgh ensemble White Heath play Cabaret Voltaire in their hometown.

Friday: Across town another local favourite, Cancel the Astronauts, are at the Electric Circus, with support from Shooting Stansfield, Letters and Kid Canaveral on DJ duties.

Friday: Cross-genre night Neu! Reekie! round off a successful 2012 with performances from George Gunn and Emer Martin, as well as music from The Pastels and Radar-featured TeenCanteen.

Saturday: Black International, who graced Radar in late 2009, play a show at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh, with support from Some Skeletons, Birdhead and A Fight You Can’t Win.

http://radar.scotsman.com/viewartist.aspx?id=46

Saturday: Shhhh festival, which we mentioned a few weeks ago, is on at Platform in Glasgow, with gentle sounds provided by Emma Pollock, Meursault and Rick Redbeard.

Sunday: Dance music pioneers Orbital bring their illuminated headgear and hefty record box to the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh.