Radar weekly: The latest from the Scottish music scene

It’s October, and yet new festivals are still being announced. We have the details on two new events, as well as our round-up of the rest of the new releases and gigs to look forward to this week.

• There’s music, and then there’s ‘sonic art for the visually minded’. At least that’s what Sonica 2012 is all about. A 10-day collection of the more weird and wonderful soundscapes from emerging talents and international artists alike. If “a miniature opera in a desk”, “hundreds of skeletal tapping fingers” or “four cellists shrouded in transparent columns” sounds intriguing, check out more at sonic-a.co.uk/2012/. It takes place at various venues in the city, 8-18 November.

• Moving south of Glasgow, The Spree is a new music, comedy and arts festival taking place in Paisley at the end of the month (October 25-28). Among the musical highlights are Human Don’t Be Angry, Miaoux Miaoux and Bwani Junction. Check out the full line-up and ticket info at www.thespree.co.uk

• Tickets have gone on sale for next year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, on 2-3 August 2013, at early-bird prices. There’s also a new promotional video with some of the highlights of the Highland festival this year.

NEW MUSIC

• Errors have the mini-album New Relics (read the Scotsman’s review) out today. You can have a listen to the track ‘Relics’ on their official website.

• We’re getting excited about the release next week of PAWS’ debut album Cokefloat! on Fat Cat Records, and you can listen to one of the tracks - ‘Sore Tummy’ - over at this blog.

• Fatherson have a new video for their track ‘Cat Stevens’. It was filmed by the website Danger is Everywhere at the Old Mill Studios, Strathaven.

• Cara Mitchell, a young Aberdeen singer-songwriter who we featured in May and on a recent podcast, has just released a new EP, called Have You Ever Wondered. You can listen to the single, ‘Passing Sun’, on SoundCloud.

• If you managed to see Whatever Gets You Through The Night, a cross-genre theatrical work which toured the country earlier this year, you might like to check out the accompanying album, which is out on November 5 on Biphonic Records, and includes contributions from Errors, Withered Hand, Meursault, Emma Pollock and many other leading Scottish talents.

• Glasgow trio Three Blind Wolves have put out a new video for their upcoming single ‘Parade’, which will be released in a fortnight.

• How to Swim’s new single is out today. Ahead of the album Niagarama, ‘It Doesn’t Have to be You’ is available today on Bandcamp.

• Randolph’s Leap have released a mini-album called As Fast as a Man, which includes a free download of the track ‘Goodbye’ (available on Bandcamp).

THIS WEEK’S GIG PICKS

Thursday: The aforementioned PAWS celebrate the release of Cokefloat! with a show at CCA, Glasgow. North American War provide the support.

Thursday: Inventive Sunderland band Field Music tour their Mercury-nominated LP with a show at Oran Mor in Glasgow.

Friday: Kid Canaveral are playing a stripped-back set at a fundraiser for the 14c studio and Josie Long production ‘Romance and Adventure’. It’s at the Glasgow School of Art Finnieston Campus and tickets are £7.

Friday: The second in the series of Paisley Underground showcases sees Fife’s Fence Records head west. The Pictish Trail leads proceedings at Paisley Art Centre, with Adam Ross (Randolph’s Leap) and KiDD.

Friday: Fans of The Twilight Sad can hear an exclusive playback of their new album, featuring remixes by the likes of Liars, The Horrors and Com Truise. It’s at the Electric Circus in Edinburgh and costs £4.

Friday: A genuine rock legend plays Edinburgh when former Velvet Underground man John Cale presents tracks from his new album at the HMV Picture House.

Saturday: Art and music converge at the launch night for new collective Black Cube at Old St Paul’s Church in Edinburgh. Includes a live set from Radar-featured Esperi.

Saturday: Leith-based band The Oates Field launch their new EP, with support from The Occasional Flickers and Fuzzystar, at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh.

Saturday: Another week, another strong assembly of talent by Neu! Reekie!, which moves to Glasgow for a night at The Poetry Club, with Tam Dean Burn, Liz Lochhead and music from Remember Remember.

Sunday: Treacherous Orchestra were one of the highlights at Celtic Connections earlier in the year. The contemporary folk collective play Stereo in Glasgow.