l FRIENDS of Edinburgh musician Stewart Hanratty have organised a gig in honour of the guitarist, who is gravely ill with cancer.

Pianist Robert Pettigrew has arranged some of Hanratty's songs and tunes and fellow musicians including singer Freddie King, the Kings of Cheeze, Hanratty's old blues band, Terminal Bliss and saxophonist Steve Kettley's group Odd Times are giving their services free to raise money for a charity of Hanratty's choice. The gig, which is expected to be fairly informal, takes place on Sunday March 3 at the Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, Edinburgh from 2-5.30pm.

www.thejazzbar.co.uk

l THE dates for this summer's Southern Fried Festival in Perth, promoted by the Horsecross arts organisation at Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and other venues, will be Friday July 19 to Sunday July 21. The line-up of the feast of Americana has yet to be revealed, but previous years have seen concerts by Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams. However, tomorrow's Family Ceilidh at Perth Concert Hall, which was to have featured Naorriw MacIver of Scottish band Manran and young musicians from Perth Academy's Trad in the City project, has been cancelled.

www.horsecross.co.uk

l Next week's Weegie Wednesday literary salon in the Terrace Bar of Glasgow's CCA will feature journalist and author Shari Low, whose books include Friday Night with the Girls, and historical novelist Sara Sheridan, whose soon-to -be-published London Calling is the latest of her Mirabelle Bevan mysteries. The doors open at 7.30pm.

www.weegiewednesday.org

l In an addition to its published programme, Dunblane Cathedral Arts Guild has a concert on Sunday afternoon, from 3pm, by Polish violinist Alicja Smietana, a former student of the Krakow Academy of Music and the Guildhall in London. The concert will feature music by Mozart, Paganini, and Elgar as well as a solo spot for her accompanist Gzregorz Mania.

www.dcag.org.uk