Under the Radar

IN RECENT months, few Scottish bands have generated as much buzz as PAWS. Alternating between grunge and lo-fi garage pop, the trio were one of only six acts chosen to play at our Wide Days music business event, and they have since been selected for Go North and the T Break Stage at T in the Park. Radio 1, 6 Music and Radio Scotland have all picked up on the band, who have supported buzz acts Yuck and Subpop signing The Dum Dum Girls. Their track Salem is our track of the month for May.

Among the acts joining PAWS on the T Break bill are Church of When The Shit Hits The Fan, Lady North, Conquering Animal Sound, Fatherson and Discopolis. Full info on all the acts selected for this high-profile showcase can be found at www.tennents.com/tbreak Black Isle Brewery's tent at Rockness has long served as an island of quality refreshment in what might be described as sea of revolting cooking lager, so we are particularly excited about the prospect of the beer makers hosting their own festival on 4 June. Billed as the Summer Shindig, the line up includes Abigail Grey, Black Diamond Express and The Douglas Firs. With both admission and camping free of charge, it is hard to resist. www.blackislebrewery.com/shindig.asp

The following week, more (free) music action takes place in the area, with dozens of bands playing showcases at Go North in Inverness. These begin with an all-ages gig on 8 June, with the main programme following on 9-10 June. In addition to the live shows, the event features numerous useful seminars and attracts some big music business names. For more information check out www.gonorth.biz.

Just down the road in Aviemore the Insider Festival takes place from 17-19 June. This year it boasts a Victorian theme, with organisers promising a 20 beer voucher to anybody arriving by horse-drawn carriage, hot air balloon or penny farthing. The line up is very much a who's who of former track of the month providers, including Admiral Fallow, Stanley Odd, Woodenbox With A Fistful of Fivers, Bronto Skylift and Capitals, as well as Hidden Orchestra, Abigail Grey, French Wives and Donna Maciocia. With a capacity of just 750, this promises to be an intimate event. Visit www.insiderfestival.com for details

Taking place throughout the month, Glasgow's West End Festival features music activity across several venues. This includes a free day of gigs and a Mardi Gras parade at Kelvingrove Park on 5 June. Also worth checking out is the programme at Oran Mor, with an Electric Honey showcase on 4 June, a Fence Collective bash the next evening and the Communion Glasgow on 24 June: www.westendfestival.co.uk

Glasgow's finest music video adventurers descend on Auld Reekie for Detour's Wee Jaunt 3 on 4 June, taking in musical happenings at more unusual locations. All 50 free tickets were snapped up within 45 minutes, but there are still some left for the after party at the Electric Circus. FOUND will be headlining the gig, with more to be announced. www.facebook.com/detourscotland

• Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon host the music business social night Born To Be Wide and will be running several seminars at Go North in Inverness from 8-10 June.

• For more coverage of Scotland's underground music scene, visit radar.scotsman.com