Under the radar: Over the Wall

Edinburgh band Jen And The Gents. Picture: Complimentary

Tongue-in-cheek electro-duo Over The Wall are set to release their superb new single, Radiator, on CD and download via Instinctive Racoon Records on 9 December with a launch gig at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on 5 December. The single earns our Track of the Month spot for November. Keep up to date with live dates and listen here: www.weareoverthewall.com

Traditionally the final quarter of the year has been when large record companies released their big albums, anticipating a sales boost in the run-up to Christmas. But that is not deterring many small labels and DIY artists getting in on the act.

Edinburgh band Jen And The Gents release their debut album Portobello on 13 November, having recently made it to the final of the Forth One to Watch award. The four-piece are playing several gigs over the month and are being championed by commercial radio’s new music maestro, Jim Gellatly.

Another capital act – Dark Soul – a collaboration between beat-making Hip-Hop producer Nasty P (who has worked with Skinnyman, Oddisee and Florence and the Machine) and soulful vocalist Naledi, has caught the attention of Jamie Cullum, who personally invited them to support him recently in Edinburgh. The duo have just released their debut single The Village. Visit www.soundcloud.com/darksoul-official.

Meanwhile, BrewDog beer is set to further its already respectable music credentials. It hosts the Brew At The Bog Festival and has helped Glasgow label Comets & Cartwheels. Now the brewery is launching its own vinyl record company. The first release is a 7” by Glaswegian rock’n’rollers The Shiverin’ Sheiks titled Guided Missiles. The band will tour various BrewDog bars from 6-9 November as well as an in-store at Edinburgh’s Elvis Shakespeare ahead of the release on 11 November. Full info visit www.facebook.com/theshiverinsheiks.

Further north, Highland & Islands label Middle of Nowhere Recordings has just released an EP for both Rachel Sermanni and Colin Macleod, pictured right (formerly The Boy Who Trapped The Sun), with the latter performing at Sørveiv Festival in Norway over the weekend as part of the goNORTH Festival Tour. See www.monr.co.uk. Both artists have also been confirmed for Celtic Connections, the largest winter festival of its kind, with over 2,000 artists performing from 16 January to 2 February at over 20 venues throughout Glasgow. Fellow Lewis singer songwriter Miss Irenie Rose will support Macleod as well as performances from the likes of Mogwai and Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire. Visit www.celticconnections.com.

Olive Grove Records, the Glasgow-based record label headed up by Lloyd Meredith from the Peenko blog and Halina Rafai of GlasgowPODCART, have just picked up another Highland act, Call To Mind. With a gap of four years since the band’s first EP, Olive Grove will release their debut album, A Family Sketch, with a show at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on 14 December followed by an Olive Grove Records showcase as part of Celtic Connections on 26 January at Oran Mor. Visit www.olivegroverecords.com.

Tonight the capital looks set to become the latest of around 50 cities worldwide to host the regular Sofar Sounds house gigs, which see musicians perform in people’s living rooms. Acts are not announced in advance, but their performances are filmed and uploaded. Among the Scottish artists to have played at their intimate events is former track of the month provider, Siobhan Wilson. .

Finally, on St Andrew’s Day, Admiral Fallow’s Louis Abbot will perform at an open air concert in the Grassmarket along with folk legend Dougie MacLean and Breabach. The following month local band the 1004s have been confirmed for the Ross bandstand opening for Nina Nesbit, 1975 and the Pet Shop Boys on Hogmanay. Chvrches, Django Django and King Creosote will also perform at different stages that night.  • Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run Scottish music business seminar night Born To Be Wide. The next event takes place at Edinburgh’s Electric Circus on 7 November and will feature a discussion about record shops. See www.borntobewide.co.uk

Under the radar: Over the Wall | Jen And The Gents