🎹 Then there was LUSA - a hugely exciting new electro-pop act bursting onto the scene from Innes Strachan, producer, writer and synth player with the all conquering electro-trad pioneers Niteworks who announced that this will be their final year together after three acclaimed albums, sold out shows and international success. Innes, who in 2020 revealed he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, has teamed up with vocalist Beth Malcolm, a former BBC MG ALBA Scots Singer of the Year, and co-songwriter and respected songwriter Donald Macdonald to create the new album co-produced by Andrea Gobbi. It also includes contributions from long term friend and fellow Niteworks band member Ruairidh Graham on percussion, Laura Wilkie on strings, Keir Long on piano and a spoken word piece written by poet Colin Bramwell and delivered by actor Lorne Macfadyen.

An album ‘The Colour of Space’ is coming later this year. The first single, Probably, is released on Friday.

🎧 And it’s back …. the first episode of the new season of the Good Stuff In Between podcast went live this morning featuring my interview with Sean R. McLaughlin and The Wind-Up Crows - about his first post Dante project ‘Goodnight, Lad’ reuniting him with the likes of Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan and collaborations with Jeremy Backofen from The Felice Brothers and classical Indian violinist Ragini Shankar. He talks about the inspiration behind his new music, the influence of family and place on his songwriting, and he lets me geek out on the processes behind getting a record made, how he gets those distinctive personal imprints in his writing, and the journey so far. A new single, ‘Wishing Well’, is out on 29 March with the album ‘Goodnight, Lad’ - which was pressed at Seabass Vinyl - coming in May.

☀️The line-up for FreshAyr Folk Festival in August has been revealed, and will feature Session A9, Kinnaris Quintet and Valtos across the town, along with Mishra, The Paul McKenna Band and The Lauren Collier Band.

🎶 Orkney Folk Festival has announced its full programme for this year with acts from around the world performing between 23 and 26 May. Artists from Canada, the USA, Australia, Ireland, Norway, England and throughout Scotland will join home-grown Orcadian musicians on island at the festival in its 41st year featuring 52 events, including concerts, ceilidhs, lounge performances, workshops, talks and family events. More than half of all events will take place in the festival’s hometown of Stromness, with performances are also planned in Birsay, Finstown, Harray, Holm, Kirkwall, Orphir, Sanday, Sandwick, St Margaret’s Hope, Stenness and Tankerness. Tickets go on general release at 7pm GMT on Wednesday 27 March, following a pre-sale for members of the festival’s supporter scheme, Orkney Friends.

🎻 Sticking with Orkney, fiddle player Louise Bichan will release her second solo album The Lost Summer on Friday 5th April boasting both traditional tunes and Louise’s original compositions, almost eight years after the USA-based Scottish instrumentalist released her debut album Out of My Own Light in 2016.

🎪 Terrific recognition for Knockengorroch Festival after it was named one of the UK’s best festivals for this coming summer in an endorsement featured in The Guardian. Taking place in Galloway between 23 to 26 May, its first two tranches of acts have already been named. Mentions too for other Scottish festivals TRNSMT in Glasgow from 12 to 14 July, Terminal V in Edinburgh on April 13 and 14, and Belladrum bringing headliners Deacon Blue, James Arthur and Sugababes to the Highlands from July 25 to 27.

🔴 Yup, I’m doing it again, talking about Norwegian pop star Girl In Red, but with good reason. Her 29 August gig at Glasgow Barrowland has already sold out even since last week’s Made In Norway. Marie’s added a second date on August 30. Tickets on sale now.

🔥Fans of The Gaslight Anthem missing out on tomorrow night’s gig at Edinburgh’s O2 Academy might have a chance, production holds have been released for sale.

🎸 Interpol are bringing their 20th anniversary tour to Scotland with a date at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on November 4. Pre-sale for their latest release, The Other Side Of Make Believe, is also live now.

🥾Get your jigging boots on for what is bound to be a footstomper at SWG3 in Glasgow on 15 June as the Peatbog Faeries return to the city. Tickets available now.

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