Usually a band will name their first album after themselves. However, Idlewild are not your usual band.

They may not have quite turned things up to eleven yet, but Simon Neil and James and Ben Johnston sound as urgent and compelling as ever.

Putting music in a pigeonhole can be fun, and also convenient especially when it defies description.

If you travel from Fife across the North Sea, you can get straight to Sweden. Although this may not be the route James Yorkston took on the way to his latest collaboration.

The origin of punk rock is a one of those things no-one will ever agree on. The Damned made the first UK punk records, but were beaten by the Ramones, who themselves were predated by Iggy Pop, and before even that, the MC5. “Post-punk” is perhaps a little easier, especially as bands like The Fall and Gang of Four began in the '70s punk scene, alongside Wire, who were often dubbed “art rock” for good measure.

They are a band known for not doing things by halves.

A dozen albums in the space of three decades might seem a reasonable average.

You’ll know the face, even if you don’t recognise the music or even the name.

If it wasn't apparently already taken by Keith, Galashiels could make its motto "the friendly town".

It should have been a celebration and perhaps a step to greater success. Instead, Heavenly’s fourth album is almost forgotten, marked by tragedy.

They've existed, on and off, for 30 years, but Immersion have never really stood still.

A double bill of two of the finest acts on feted Glasgow record label Chemikal Underground made the journey north to Aberdeen

Ch... ch... ch... ch... changes...

If you travel from Fife across the North Sea, you can get straight to Sweden. Although this may not be the route James Yorkston took on the way to his latest collaboration.

To prove that it's never too late to catch onto a good thing, here's the new-ish video from innovative Glasgow act Peter Cat.

"Are The Skids playing?" is the response when I tell a pal I'm off to an all-day festival in Dunfermline.

There are of course many parallels to be drawn between Scotland and Canada.

They are the unsung heroes of music – the sidemen, the often uncredited musicians who are the backbone of pop, rock and jazz.

Sadly the dodgiest-quality video from the The Grand Gestures show at Dundee's V&A was the one featuring Phill Jupitus performing 'The Sailor of Bari' - but still thoroughly worth a watch / listen. Subscribe to is this music?'s video channel

🎤Another from our fan caught archive, this time with The Grand Gestures featuring Sanjeev Kohli performing his personal poem 'You To Me Are Everything'. Subscribe to is this music?'s video channel

More footage from our fan-caught archive, this time with Robert Dallas Gray (of Life Without Buildings fame) performing the atmospheric 'Come Home' at Leith Depot to launch his own new solo album. Subscribe to is this music?'s video channel

Never look back, they say. And Edinburgh electronic combo Finiflex are taking that adage to heart.

First in a hopefully bountiful series of scratchy fan-shot live video from gigs that itm? has been out and about at. Spare Snare, along with The Grand Gestures, played Dundee's V&A in July '25 to celebrate the 33 1/3 birthday of their Chute Records label. Subscribe to is this music?'s video channel

The first time I was at a Sparks show was just over 30 years ago - also in Edinburgh, but at the Usher Hall.

Inspiration for a musician can come in take many forms – politics and the state of the world, life and death, or just all-out hedonistic fun.