Country roots

The band Hillfolk Noir bring their winning blend of US roots music to Eastgate Theatre in Peebles tonight and the Acoustic Music Club in Kirkcaldy tomorrow. The band has a dedicated following Stateside and DJ Bob Harris is a fan of their mix of country, blues and hillbilly sounds. The band's last album, Skinny Mammy's Revenge, was released earlier this year.

www.hillfolknoir.com

Equal opportunities

Creative Scotland will host another event as part of the monthly Insights and Ideas series, focusing on equalities, and will take place at Waverley Gate, Edinburgh. The event will feature speakers from organisations who specialise in dealing with equality issues.

July 5, 2-4pm. www.creativescotland.com

Fundraiser

Conductor Christopher George will lead The Playfair Orchestra in a concert in aid of the Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh. Soloist Amy Norrington will kick off with Haydn's C Major cello concerto and Beethoven's 7th Symphony will also be performed.

July 13. www.euanmacdonaldcentre.com

Listen up

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will host an annual weekend of free concerts, called Listen Here, later this month at Glasgow's City Halls. Now in its fifth year, the event opens with a performance of New World Symphonies conducted by Mattias Pintscher. He will also lead a performance of Vaughan Williams's Concerto Grosso on June 23 with a family concert on Sunday afternoon.

www.bbc.co.uk/bbcsso

Here comes the sun

Edinburgh's first Summer Solstice festival will take place in the west end on June 22 and 23, with free performances from Fred MacAulay, Jen Brister and Roddy Woomble. Other highlights will include an arts and crafts market, face painting, buskers and children's dance workshops.

www.facebook.com/westendedinburgh