Scottish Live Music Highlights: May 2024

Things get fully underway straight out the gate in the capital this month with Wide Days (1-3 May) for three days and nights of music industry panels and showcases, featuring Kohla, Leif Coffield, Supermann on da Beat, Pearling and more, before Edinburgh TradFest returns (3-13 May) with a whole host of exceptional concerts and workshops to help get you in touch with your Scottish roots.

Stag & Dagger is also back this month, taking place on consecutive days in the grassroots venues of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with Hamish Hawk topping the bill (4-5 May). On the same weekend, you'll find more experimental offerings courtesy of the BBC's Tectonics festival at City Halls and Old Fruitmarket. The following weekend, the brand new Houses festival takes over the full SWG3 complex (11 May) with Alice Faye, EYVE, Joell, JusHarry, Psweatpants, Queen of Harps and loads more local talent set to play.

Outside of the central belt, Rise Up takes place in Aberdeen (2-4 May), with the mighty Bemz headlining Lemon Tree on the final night with support from Rebecca Mani and Fiza, while the end of the month brings the first camping festival of the year in the form of Knockengorroch (23-26 May), with Both Hands, Eva Lazarus, N’famady Kouyaté, Malin Lewis and Yoko Pwno among this year's lineup in the gorgeous Carsphairn Hills.

Outwith festivals, new release shows from locals abound. Karys launches her latest single, do you have a lighter?, in support of N'famady Kouyatéat Leith Depot (4 May), Joell brings his latest mixtape, No Flowers Without Rain, to Sneaky’s (10 May), and post-metallers DVNE launch Voidkind at La Belle Angele (16 May). On the same night in Glasgow, party with Guests in honour of their debut record “I wish I was special” at The Old Hairdresser's. The following night, back in Edinburgh, local producer sevendeaths celebrates the release of Concreté Misery Decayed Edition with a support slot for Holy Other at Summerhall, while the end of the month sees Doom Scroller launch The Flat Earth at Sneaky Pete’s (31 May). And don't miss anniversary shows at Stereo from Moni Jitchell (25 May) and Honeyblood (30 May), or Hidden Door's 10th Birthday Party in the St James Quarter carpark (10-11 May).

For other local shows, head out for Kathryn Williams and Withered Hand at Mono (1 May) and Summerhall (4 May); catch Pippa Blundell at Stereo (11 May), or get yourself to Dunfermline for Megan Black at PJ Molloys (31 May).

Out on the road this month, in Glasgow catch Sandrayati (King Tut’s, 3 May), Mount Kimbie (QMU, 5 May), Olivia Rodrigo (OVO Hydro, 7 & 8 May), Danny Brown (SWG3, 28 May), Nicki Minaj (OVO Hydro, 29 May), Dana Gavanski (The Hug & Pint, 31 May) or claire rousay (The Glad Cafe, 31 May). In Edinburgh, choose between Montreal art-punks La Securité (Sneaky Pete's, 11 May), or Leeds outfit English Teacher (The Mash House, 17 May).