Acts compete for album of year accolade

Acts compete for album of year accolade

Lest you missed it, the 10-strong shortlist for this year's Scottish Album of the Year award ranges from newer names like Young Fathers and the much-touted Chvrches to musicians whose track records speak volumes for themselves, including The Pastels, Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice and Steve Mason of The Beta Band. Reclusive electronic duo Boards of Canada make their first appearance on the list, while RM Hubbert gets another nod for the third disc of his trilogy, Breaks & Bone, after victory last year. There is also a second shortlisting for Mogwai, pictured, with their French horror soundtrack Les Revenants and Caledonian hip-hop by Hector Bizerk with Nobody Seen Nothing. The winners of the public vote, and a strong contender for overall victory, were Biffy Clyro with their chart-topper Opposites. The judges, who include Herald writer Nicola Meighan, now have the unenviable task of wrangling a winner from that lot of talented musicians for the ceremony at Barrowland in Glasgow on June 19.

l sayward.com

Beatles film is given upgrade

The Beatles' debut film A Hard Day's Night is reissued in a digitally restored version in July, the 50th anniversary of its original. Still often cited as the finest pop movie ever made, Richard Lester's anarchic feature defined the characters of the Fab Four for much of their subsequent career. The restored version will have a cinema release from July 4 and then appear on Blu-ray and DVD on July 21, discs which include a whole bundle of extra documentary features.

l thebeatles.com

Pop singer for lounge bar gig

Sounds in the Suburbs, he promoters who bring musicians who normally tour city-centre venues into the audience's neighbourhood, stage concerts on consecutive nights at Woodend Lawn Tennis & Bowling Club in Jordanhill, Glasgow this week. Wednesday sees Wet Wet Wet's Graeme Clark appearing in the intimate lounge bar in the company of guitarist Graeme Duffin and Iain Duff on piano and accordion. He has a new EP out, titled Dry Land, which is likely to be available on the night. On Thursday, New York folk-rock duo the Kennedys present their Nanci Griffith tribute, Trouble In The Fields, with Edwina Hayes in support.

l kennedysmusic.com

Brass music is on the way

Glasgow University's Queen Margaret Union hosts what's being billed as Scotland's only Big Band Festival this Friday. Featuring the Byres Road Big Band, which is mentored by Brass Jaw and Scottish National Jazz Orchestra alto saxophonist Paul Towndrow, the Zig Zag Big Band and Glasgow University Big Band, the event is part of the West End Festival and is open to all. 7pm.

l westendfestival.co.uk