Doune the Rabbit Hole 2017: eight acts to see

Frànçois and the Atlas Mountains

The Anglo-French/pan-European (delete as per your political persuasion) pop group visit Doune off the back of their latest album Solide Mirage, released earlier this year. It’s an introspective pop album, with Frànçois singing en français about the plight of planet Earth. However, Solide Mirage is their fourth record so expect an inclusion of chirpier tracks – written before 2016 of course. Sat 19 Aug

PAWS

The alternative Scottish trio have racked up a slew of compliments since their 2010 inception. Not just compliments from their friends but compliments from people who really matter, like staffers at BBC, Pitchfork and SPIN, as well as ourselves. PAWS' third record No Grace dropped in 2016, and according to their website’s incredibly informative biography page, “No Grace is what happens when instead of back (sic) down or giving in, you turn the fuck up.” Fri 18 Aug

Holy Fuck

Despite a very radio-unfriendly name and a penchant towards creating occasionally jarring instrumental tracks, the Canadian electro-punk band have in their time made the Billboard Dance chart and toured with MIA. Last year’s album Congrats rounded up decent reviews, and 2017’s EP Bird Brains was accompanied by an intriguing music video partly inspired by Nelly’s Hot in Herre. Sat 19 Aug

Happy Meals

The Glaswegian syth-pop duo are popping over to Doune days after supporting Flaming Lips on three huge UK tour dates, thank you very much. Their debut album Apéro dropped just three years ago, and was soon nominated for 2015's Scottish Album of the Year award. With their most recent album – Full Ashram Devotional Ceremony (Volumes IV to VI) – released via Optimo Music back in June, Happy Meals are also appearing at Optimo 20 at SWG3 in Glasgow and Pop-Kultur festival in Berlin this month. Wunderbar. Sat 19 Aug

Liars

Due to a recent reshuffle, the eighth Liar’s album TFCF is ultimately frontman Angus Andrew’s baby. Long-term member Aaron Hemphill departed, and it’s uncertain who will form the live band. TFCF promises to "step into vastly new musical territory" which could mean anything, really. Fri 18 Aug

Jessica Pratt

Not to be confused with the soprano opera singer, this Jessica Pratt is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She emerged in 2011 with a stripped and brooding debut featuring stunning opening track Night Faces. It would be easy to draw comparisons to a Blue-era Joni Mitchell, so instead think Angel Olsen: unplugged. Sun 20 Aug

Jenny Hval

Image: Michael Barrow

The Norwegian musician and singer’s latest album Blood Bitch drawsinspiration from “blood that is shed naturally” (read between the lines, men) and vampires. It’s electronic and melancholic pop, and you, dear reader, should need no more convincing. Sat 19 Aug

Start to End perform Daft Punk’s Discovery

Start to End are a covers collective, tackling classic records over a range of genres. Debuting with David Bowie’s Blackstar in Hug and Pint’s tiny basement, they’ve since covered Radiohead’s In Rainbows and Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, and garnered a five-star review from this very magazine when they debuted their take on Discovery earlier this year. The three core members are accomplished musicians (two of them are members of Pronto Mama, and the other is in Admiral Fallow) and dedicate themselves to the albums, so lay your scepticism to rest. Sun 20 Aug

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Doune the Rabbit Hole, Cardross Estate, Stirlingshire,18-20 Aug. For tickets and full line-up, head to dounetherabbithole.co.uk