GIG OF THE MONTH
Steve Reich
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, November 6; City Halls, Glasgow, November 7
Here comes everybody. It seems half the world’s musicians are descending on Scotland next month, from Dizzee Rascal to Howard Jones and Perfume Genius to Bow Wow Wow.
All of which should mean you should find something to suit your musical tastes, whether that be classical or Callum Beattie, indie veterans (hello Peter Hook) or Tony Hadley singing big band anthems.
What follows, then, is a mere skim across the surface of what’s on offer in November. But let’s start it with this promising programme of the work of American minimalist master Steve Reich, performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and directed by the composer’s friend and collaborator, percussionist Colin Currie.
Reich’s flowing, urgent compositions Runner and Double Sextet will provide the meat of the menu on these evenings, but the programme also includes Joe Duddell’s percussion concerto Snowblind (Currie will be the soloist for this work) and the UK premiere of Scottish composer Helen Grime’s new piece River.
Nerina Pallot
Tolbooth, Stirling, November 1; Macarts, Galashiels, November 2
I spent a lovely afternoon with Nerina Pallot in a London park back in 2006 talking about the time she nearly became a pop star. In the years since she has become an accomplished songwriter and performer. But she’s in Scotland with a new covers album - Into the Light of a Dark Black Night - to promote; one which sees her covering songs by the Beatles (natch), Paul Weller, the Manics, the Eurythmics and Gilbert O’Sullivan. All the makings of a good night out, by the sounds of it.
Echobelly
Oran Mor, Glasgow, November 6
Instant nostalgia, part one. This has been the year of the Britpop revival. Both Pulp and Suede released new albums in 2025 (and the latter are touring next year). Sleeper were in Glasgow earlier this month and there was some Manchester band in Edinburgh back in August. What were they called again?
For those whose taste for the mid-1990s has been revived can I point you in the direction of this gig? Sonya Madan and Glenn Johansson are in town to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s second album On which featured their top 20 hit Great Things. Sing along and it might just get you through.
Gary Numan
02 Academy, Glasgow, November 11
Instant nostalgia part 2. Actually, for all that Numan’s career is still tied to that moment in the late 1970s when he paved the way for the synth takeover of British pop with his breakthrough singles Are Friends Electric? and Cars, the truth is Numan has never really stood still and over the years has increasingly embraced a heavier, more industrial sound. That means he remains a live act who has no need to trade solely on his past.
Loyle Carner
02 Academy, Glasgow, November 12, 13 & 14
The English rapper’s set at Glastonbury in the summer was one of the quiet triumphs of this year’s festival. He managed to tame the sturm und drang of that environment and create a welcoming space for his soft-spoken brand of blissed beats and warm-hearted emotion. It’s a measure of his current standing that he is booked in for three nights in Glasgow’s 02 Academy.
ABC
SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, November 14; Usher Hall Edinburgh, November 15
Instant nostalgia, part three. It’s my well worn pop contention that, apart from maybe Pet Sounds and The Best of Al Green, there’s no such thing as a perfect album. But I would admit Lexicon of Love does come pretty close. ABC front man Martin Fry has been touring his 1982 album for more than 40 years now and why shouldn’t he? It’s a near immaculate thing and one of the peaks of British pop. These gigs see him perform the album in its entirety (plus a few other choice cuts) in the company of the Lexicon Sinfonia orchestra conducted by Anne Dudley, who did the arrangements for the album back in the day.
Bob Dylan
SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, November 16 & 17
Truth be told I’ve never really found a way into the prodigious musical output of Mr Zimmerman. My loss, obviously. For many of you, though, these two nights will be the musical highlight of the year. Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways tour has been ongoing since 2021 and it’s actually called into Scotland twice already. But now that he’s in his mid-eighties there’s always that fear that this might be the last time.
The Last Dinner Party
Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, November 17; Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, November 18
English Teacher
Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, November 19
Wet Leg
02 Academy, Glasgow, November 23 & 24
The cream of the UK indie scene is coming for a visit next month. But which act should you see? There may be a whiff of musical theatre about The Last Dinner Party’s rock theatrics, but that just means that the all-female band knows how to put on a show. Meanwhile, Isle of Wight’s Wet Leg are playing two nights in Glasgow in November, although you might prefer to wait for their Hogmanay appearance in Edinburgh. But if I had to choose I might opt for the Mercury Prizewinning Leeds quartet English Teacher at the Barrowland. Mainly for their dreampop leanings and lead singer Lily Fontaine’s charisma.
Lorde
OVO Hydro, Glasgow, November 19
Since breaking big as a teenager with her 2013 hit Royals, the New Zealand singer has always been prima facie evidence for the contention that pop in the 21st century is a female phenomenon. Her 2025 single What Was That - a harbinger of her most recent album VIrgin - was proof that she has lost none of her gift for heady, intense sad bangers. .
Nouvelle Vague
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, November 22; Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow, November 23
In 2003 Marc Collin and the late Olivier Libaux came up with the idea of a bossa nova take on post-punk classics. It was meant to be a one-off, but more than 20 years later Nouvelle Vague are still revisiting and reconfiguring classic hits from the 1970s and 1980s. The band’s latest album Should I Stay Or Should I Go? sees them tackle hits from the likes of The Clash (natch), Depeche Mode, Dead or Alive, The Smiths and even The Associates. Oh, and Martin Fry (see above) would be proud of their version of The Look of Love, sung by Marine Quemere.
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