Edinburgh Youth Gaithering's big band has vacancies for young musicians from Edinburgh and surrounding areas.

The band will be beginning a new term in September, with regular Sunday rehearsals, and plans to work on newly composed music with accordionist Pàdruig Morrison, having previously rehearsed and performed under Scottish Album of the Year 2015 nominee Mike Vass. Band members need to be secondary school age with an intermediate to advanced playing standard and experience of group playing.

eyg.org.uk

Girvan plays host to two of the most respected musicians on the acoustic music circuit when American guitarist Preston Reed (pictured) and singer-songwriter Nick Harper share a bill at the Ayrshire town's North Parish Church on July 31. Reed, who lives locally, is a pioneer of the percussive tapping style of acoustic guitar playing and Harper, a Herald Angel award winner, is renowned as an energetic, virtuosic guitarist as well as a socially aware songwriter with a repertoire of cover versions that ranges from Led Zeppelin to Jeff Buckley. The music begins at 8pm.

prestonreed.com

James Rhodes, the acclaimed pianist who had to overturn a high court injunction to allow him to publish his memoir, has been added to the bill of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. He will be speaking at the festival on August 30.

Rhodes, 40, persuaded Supreme Court justices to lift an injunction which barred publication of his autobiographical book, Instrumental, which details sexual abuse he suffered as a child.

The Court of Appeal had granted an injunction temporarily blocking publication of parts of the book after Mr Rhodes' ex-wife raised fears that detail would come to the attention of their 12-year-old son and cause him ''serious harm''. Rhodes then asked the Supreme Court for a ruling.

Edinburgh publisher Canongate was a co-defendant in the case throughout the protracted legal battle that began in the spring of 2014.

edbookfest.co.uk

The Glasgow venue on the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland's upcoming tour with saxophonist Iain Ballamy has been changed due to unforeseen circumstances. The concert will now go ahead at Cottiers Theatre in Hyndland Street on Thursday July 16 at 8pm.

nyos.co.uk