Critic's choice - June 26

Hey You Get Off My Pavement
Sun, noon, King's Court, Glasgow, £18.50, 0141 552 9458

Bored of those immersive long-haul festival treks? Here's a handy solution, with Hey You Get Off My Pavement taking over King's Court in Glasgow's Merchant City to deliver a delightful selection of slightly off-kilter acts to either enthral or enchant. There's worthy local headliners in the shape of indie-tweesters Camera Obscura. Also included in the day's proceedings is the driving folk-indie scuz of Foxface, the precisely intricate pop machinations of School of Language and the twisted rhythms of Felix Kubin. It'll be like a grown-up village fete with better music and more beer, though without as many flower stands. More's the pity.

(Appeared in The Herald on June 26, 2008)

Critic's choice - June 19

Goose

Thu, 7pm, Classic Grand, 18 Jamaica St, Glasgow, £6 (£7 on the door), 0141 847 0504

While retaining their usual low profile, the Belgians are becoming increasingly adept at delivering finely honed synth-rock acts to the grateful wider world - bands with the ability to fuse dance-inspired electronic beats and distorted instrumentation together, with surprising success. Slowly building up a fanbase since the release of debut album Bring It On through scintillating live shows, the quartet delve into the same sort of slick genre side-stepping as fellow countrymen Soulwax. As a pre-festival warm-up performance, tonight should be good both for Goose and for a gander.

(Appeared in The Herald on June 19, 2008)

Critic's choice - June 12

Errors

Fri June 13, 8pm, Stereo, 20-28 Renfield Lane, Glasgow, £5, 0141 222 2254

Residing on Mogwai's superb Rock Action Records, Glasgow electro-indie mob Errors have just this month unveiled debut album It's Not Something but It Is Like Whatever, and what better way to celebrate than by playing a launch show right in the heart of their home town? It's an intriguingly intricate and complex work, subtly utilising synths while twisting them instrumentally into the sort of melodies that would do their label-owners proud. There's a very real chance that this could be a breakout year for the band, and deservedly so.

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(Appeared in The Herald on June 12, 2008)

Rock Ness review

Rock Ness, Dores, near Inverness
4/5

Despite unheralded rain, Friday night turned into such a party - with an amazing ceilidh performance in the Wrong Ness tent - that Saturday already had a hangover vibe about it. A disappointingly dreary set by Hercules and the Love Affair didn't help (their initially intriguing retro-80s disco let down by lackadaisical execution), and electro duo Digitalism's biggest hit, Pogo, was curtailed after they appeared to have run over time.

It was Soulwax that turned things around, their remixes of Justice and Daft Punk pulled off with aplomb, and a tangible electricity sparking up their set. Two of them also perform as 2 Many DJs, playing a variety of crowd-pleasing anthems. Felix Da Housecat also provided some visceral thrills, with Mr Oizo's Flat Beat received with satisfaction by the Fat Sam's tent attendees. It's a nice contrast to the flaccid flailings of Fatboy Slim, whose set lacked any real sense of vitality.

Sunday provided the strongest music, with sunburn-inducing conditions to boot. If Red Light Company were acceptable indie festival fodder and pop-rockers Team Water Polo irritating even before some ill-advised white-boy rapping, Does It Offend You Yeah? were exactly what was required, in-vogue nu-rave done extraordinarily well. Brattish, but in a vital way, they provided some great dance music mixed with the almost-Rage Against The Machine metal breakdown of With A Heavy Heart (I Regret To Inform You).

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An impressively robust performance from Simian Mobile Disco followed and there was an equally deft set in the same tent by Roisin Murphy, whose sultry left-field pop leanings must have captured many hearts besides mine.

Possibly the best set of the weekend was in the Skins arena by Boyz Noize, unveiling the dirtiest techno tunes with an intelligently designed, crushing mix set, and after a brief interlude with Annie Mac, Underworld entranced with the perennial Born Slippy, a suitably sunny climax to a weekend blessed with fine weather and some fine music.

Sunshine, glorious sunshine

So into the midst of the Saturday we are, and it's been far more fun than should be allowed, thanks in large part to the weather. We'll see how it holds up tomorrow, when the forecast was oh so much bleaker...

The music's been a bit so-so, things kicking into life as we speak with Digitalism at the Soulwax tent, bringing some much-needed energy and vitality to proceedings.

That particular part of the site seems to be the place to reside at afterwards, with Soulwax and 2 Many DJs to follow after. Perhaps a short trip to see Digitalism within the confines of the Myspace bus at 10, seems like something that should not be missed it I can wheedle my way on, especially given their performance. Actually, maybe best to go properly experience the rest of the show...

Rock Ness - the first day...

As starts to the Scottish festival season go, Rock Ness has already got off to a splendid start, so much so that last night felt more like the event's finale that the mere Friday night prelude.

Some unexpected rain didn't dampen proceedings too much - see what I did there? - with various tents at the main site open into the early hours. The highlight was an amazing ceilidh set, which led to a rather wonderful combination of dancing fiends jumping along and the more bold attempting some proper Highland flings. Engagement with the former crowd led me to believe I'd sprained my foot in an act of foolish impetusousness, but - no! - my dancing days here are far from numbered. Much as some attendees might wish they were... Oh, and a special mention to the biggest conga line I've seen in my stupid little life, twisting inside the tent until I felt compelled to join in, if only I hadn't a drink in my hand. Forsooth!

But yes, here I am, and the weekend's just about to begin...

Critic's choice - June 5

Rock Ness
Rock Ness Sat-Sun, from noon, Dores, near Inverness, £50-£115, www.ticketline.co.uk

With the recent resplendent weather we can welcome the Scottish festival circuit back with open arms. Rock Ness returns at one of the most scenic locations imaginable, on the banks of the Highland-based body of water that may just harbour a big timorous beastie. Though headliners Fatboy Slim and Razorlight may not match the jaw-dropping might of Daft Punk last year, there's more than enough talent around to demand your attendance. Make sure to catch electrifying dance-punk duo Digitalism, incendiary party-starters Simian Mobile Disco and sultry disco-pop goddess Roisin Murphy.

(Appeared in The Herald on June 5, 2008)