EMILY SMITH
■ DUMFRIES Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate, Sun 18 Dec, emilysmith.org
The top folk singer and a former winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year award performs live.
DUNDEE CHORAL UNION CHRISTMAS CONCERT
■ DUNDEE Caird Hall, Sun 18 Dec, dundeechoralunion.co.uk
This year’s Christmas concert from the group features Handel’s Messiah.
ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN
■ DUNFERMLINE Alhambra Theatre, Sun 18 Dec, garymullenandtheworks.com
Tribute to Freddie Mercury et al, starring Gary Mullen – winner of ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes – and his band the Works, bringing you all the Queen hits.
PHIL CUNNINGHAM’S CHRISTMAS SONGBOOK
■ PERTH Perth Concert Hall, Sun 18 Dec
■ ABERDEEN Beach Ballroom, Mon 19 Dec
■ EDINBURGH Assembly @ Queen’s Hall, Tue 20 Dec
■ GLASGOW City Halls, Wed 21 Dec, philcunningham.com
One of the masters of Scottish contemporary folk is joined by a selection of special guests (including Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, John McCusker, Kris Drever and Ian Carr) for a showcase of modern and traditional Christmas music.
THE RSNO CHRISTMAS CONCERT: THE SNOWMAN
■ EDINBURGHUsher Hall, Sun 18 Dec, rsno.org.uk
A family-friendly concert of carols and seasonal tunes, including the now-annual screening of the 1982 film The Snowman, with live musical accompaniment.
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EMBRACE
■ EDINBURGH The Queen’s Hall, Sun 18 Dec, embrace.co.uk
Indie rock five-piece from Brighouse, fronted by Danny McNamara.
DUNEDIN CONSORT: HANDEL’S MESSIAH
■ GLASGOW Bute Hall, Sun 18 Dec
■ EDINBURGH The Queen’s Hall, Mon 19 Dec, dunedin-consort.org.uk
The Dunedin Consort’s rendering of Handel’s landmark oratorio has received rave reviews over the years, and the consort’s 2006 recording of it won a Gramophone award. Here the ensemble gives its annual performance of the work, led by director John Butt.
THE TEMPER TRAP
■ GLASGOW The Garage, Sun 18 Dec, thetempertrap.com
Melbourne swoonsome indie rock four-piece who are a favourite soundtrack for adverts and TV programmes.
THE 1975
■ GLASGOW The SSE Hydro, Mon 19 Dec, the1975.com
Sweeping indie rock from the Manchester four-piece.
STATUS QUO
■ GLASGOW The SSE Hydro, Tue 20 Dec, statusquo.co.uk
Cheery veterans of classic rock.
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KATHERINE JENKINS
■ GLASGOW Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Tue 20 Dec, stokepark.com/concerts
Britain’s best-selling classical crossover artist.
TMSA YOUNG TRAD TOUR
■ DUNBLANE Victoria Hall, Wed 21 Dec, tmsa.org.uk
The Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland presents its annual tour.
TRAVIS
■ GLASGOW The SSE Hydro, Wed 21 Dec, travisonline.com
Scotpop heroes touring their eighth album Everything at Once.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE BBC SSO
■ GLASGOW City Halls, Thu 22 Dec, bbc.co.uk/bbcsso
Celebrate Christmas with the BBC SSO, Jamie MacDougall, Clare Teal, Stephen Bell and a load of festive music.
GLASGOW CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
■ GLASGOW Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Fri 23–Sat 31 Dec, raymondgubbay.co.uk/whats-on/glasgow-christmas-festival
A range of seasonal concerts at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, including the Glen Miller Orchestra, Hogmanay with the RSNO and a Christmas carol singalong.
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ANDRÉ RIEU: AND THE WALTZ GOES ON
■ GLASGOW The SSE Hydro, Fri 23 Dec, andrerieu.com
In what will surely be the main event for fans of international violin-playing, André Rieu mops up the permanent wave of enthusiasm for his signature style, and returns to the UK to do what only he and his instrument can do.
THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS
■ INVERNESS The Ironworks Live Music Venue, Tue 27 Dec
■ DUMFRIES Easterbrook Hall, Wed 28 Dec
■ AYR Ayr Town Hall, Thu 29 Dec
■ DUNFERMLINE Alhambra Theatre, Fri 30 Dec, redhotchillipipers.co.uk
A unique brand of ‘bag rock’ (that’s bagpipes plus rock, if you were wondering) with stirring tunes and energetic performances. Expect everything from ‘Flower of Scotland’ to Coldplay’s ‘Clocks’, via AC/DC and Deep Purple.
SPACE SPECTACULAR
■ GLASGOW Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Thu 29 Dec, glasgowconcerthalls.com
A voyage through a galaxy of favourite music from deep space and beyond.
SKERRYVORE
■ STIRLING Tolbooth, Thu 29 Dec
■ LIVINGSTON Howden Park Centre, Fri 30 Dec, skerryvore.com
Expect blazing bagpipes, accordion and fiddle mixed with standard rock instruments as the ‘boy band of Scottish traditional music’ play live.
BIG COUNTRY
■ DUNFERMLINE PJ Molloys, Fri 30 Dec, bigcountry.co.uk
A reformed configuration of the veteran Scotrockers follow the success of their 30th Anniversary ‘Steeltown’ Tour with this ‘Best Of’ tour.
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VINTAGE TROUBLE
■ EDINBURGH The Queen’s Hall, Fri 30 Dec, vintagetrouble.com
Old school dirty rhythm’n’blues fronted by a charismatic soul shouter with the fancy footwork of James Brown down pat.
NIGHT AFORE CONCERT
■ EDINBURGH West Princes Street Gardens, Fri 30 Dec, edinburghshogmanay.com
After the Concert in the Gardens on 31 Dec sold out in a record three hours, the peeps at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are hosting a second gig headlined by Paolo Nutini.
BAD MANNERS
■ DUNDEE Buskers, Sat 31 Dec, badmannersonline.com
Buster Bloodvessel and co persist with the comedy ska.
THE CAVES EDINBURGH HOGMANAY PARTY
■ EDINBURGH The Caves, Sat 31 Dec, unusualvenuesedinburgh.com/venues/the-caves-venue-edinburgh
Bring in 2015 in one of the city’s most unique clubbing venues.
RED HOT HIGHLAND FLING
■ INVERNESS Northern Meeting Park, Sat 31 Dec, invernessfestivals.com
Hogmanay concert and fireworks with music from Skerryvore, Scooty and the Skyhooks and the Elephant Sessions.
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More reviews and listings at list.co.uk