New Scottish music: Monticule

CONSISTING of brothers Jamie and Mike Struthers plus school friend Jason Irvine, Edinburgh-based trio Monticule are refreshingly different.

Monticule

They specialise in soulful, blues-influenced rock with a contemporary twist, combining distinctive vocals, intricate slide guitar and jazz drums.

Released late last year, debut single Vultures gained radio support from Edith Bowman on BBC Introducing, airplay on Amazing Radio plus a live appearance on STV.

Latest single Pros And Cons was self-produced and released at a sold-out hometown show in the Voodoo Rooms last weekend, with support from Adam Thompson of We Were Promised Jetpacks.

Monticule play live on 14 March at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh and 17 March at The Howlin’ Wolf in Glasgow in addition to festival appearances at FyneFest on 10 June and HebCelt on 16 July. See http://monticuleband.com

• Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon organise Wide Days festival, which takes place on 22-23 April throughout Edinburgh. www.widedays.com