Live music Edinburgh: Grimes | Rodrigo y Gabriela | Santigold | Homayun Sakhi

We preview the best of this month’s live music in Edinburgh.

Likened to artists including Björk and Enya, Canadian musician, visual artist and director GRIMES will be in the capital showing off her artistic repertoire. Her sound is eclectic to say the least – she has described her music as having Attention Deficit Disorder – but Grimes skilfully holds it all together and produces something like nothing else you’re likely to hear this month. 
• Liquid Room, 28 August

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

After playing for President Obama at the White House earlier this summer, the Mexican duo is back in Scotland. The sound is familiar to us now, but it’s still pretty amazing. Influenced by thrash metal, world music, Irish folk and prog rock – and now with added Cuban flavour – all played on Spanish guitars. It really shouldn’t work, but it so does. Best be quick. 
• HMV Picture House, 6 August

SANTIGOLD

The world sat up and took note when she burst on to the scene in 2008. Her fresh look, attitude and electro hip-hop sound were all set to take over the world, but a four-year wait for a follow-up album has seen her star waned somewhat. Here’s hoping the ultimate anti-diva has made those four years count and is ready to take our breath away all over again. 
• HMV Picture House, 22 August

HOMAYUN SAKHI

The Edinburgh International Festival lives up to its name in bringing the greatest exponent of the Afghan rubab to town. Homayun Sakhi is a revered figure among world music fans – he’s sort of like the Afghan Bob Dylan. Afghan folk music has facets of many cultures, with elements of India and North Africa in its sound, but Homayun Sakhi’s expressive style is altogether Afghan. 
• Greyfriars Kirk, 17 August

Album release:

ALANIS MORISSETTE – HAVOC AND BRIGHT LIGHTS

Alanis is not so much the angry young woman of her super-successful Jagged Little Pill era any more. Seventeen years on, she has become a well rounded and skilful writer/producer. The songs so far released from her upcoming album lack some of the familiar alt-rock angst, but they’re very catchy and suggest her eighth studio album will be excellent. 
• Released on 27 August