their other less troublesome acts, who share the exploratory nature of the Betas. In short, they exhibit a prevailing Pink Floyd influence.

I Whisky Galore Grand Ole Opry, Paisley Road Toll, 429 5396. 7.30pm. £2.50 (£1.50 members). Country.

I Button Up Corinthian, lngram Street, 552 1101. 12.30pm. Free. Residency for this loun y jazz combo.

I The B ues Poets The Scotia, Stockwell Street, 552 8681. 4pm. Free. Fortnightly residency for these veterans of the R&B scene.

Edinburgh

I Blues 2000 Corn Exchange, Newmarket Road, 07000 794704.

1—1 1pm. £25. See preview for this one day blues fest.

I LA Doors The Venue, 17—21 Calton Road, 557 3073. 8pm. £9. See Sat 29.

I Beltane Festival Bongo Club, 14 New Street, 558 7604. 11pm. £5 (£4). Anonymi present this fundraising party for the Beltane Festival. After the procession from Calton Hill at 9pm, head on down to the Bongo Club where KaKaTsiTsi, master drummers from Ghana, will perform along with DJ Convalent and the Red Beastie Drummers.

I The Sunday Joint Jazz Joint, 8 Morrison Street, 538 7385. 9pm—3am. £2 (£1). Mellow is most definitely the mood for the Jazz Joint’s new Sunday sessions, with funky soul grooves from DJs Sly Si and Tinku, plus guests.

I Big City Brannigans, Dundee Street, 228 5885. First band on 9pm. Free.

I Folk session Whistle Binkies, Niddry Street, 557 5114. 11pm. Free.

MONDAY 1 Glasgow I Rosita. Mika Bomb and Workshy King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. £4.50 plus booking fee. Rosita feature Marie Du Santiago and Emmy-Kate Montrose, late of Kenickic, so an evening of girl group harmonies and Northern wit is assured. I Vaughn and Kick The Cathouse, Union Street, 248 6606. 8pm. £7.50 plus booking fee. No age restriction on this show. Ex- Tyketto personage. I Jolene The 13th Note Cafe, King Street, 553 1638. 8pm. £7. That maudlin beast alt.country raises its head (morosely) in the shape of Jolene and their new album Antic Ocean. I Kinky Afro, The Unit and RPM The 13th Note Club, Clyde Street, 243 2177. 8pm. I Acoustic Jam Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Sauchiehall Street, 333 9637. 9pm. Weekly jam hosted by Gerry Lyons.

. ) J}. - Croonsome Portishead-alikes turned Ibizan starlets Moloko parade their wares at

Glasgow's King Tut's, Thu 4 May

Edinburgh

I Dark Star The Venue, 17—21 Calton Road, 557 3073. 8pm. £6. A swirling, seething meteorite of space rock from this seemingly eternally touring trio who with their album The 20/‘20 Sound almost deliver a perfect prog meets noise meets rock mixture. More subdued, but still as compelling, are sonic pioneers Orange Can. Their willful experimentation and gentle aping of Barrett-era Floyd is, amazingly, no bad thing.

I Mayday Bongo Club, 14 New Street, 558 7604. 8pm. £5 (£3). A fundraising night for the Mayday Committee featuring live music from Curios Experiments and Milla. Dls turning the tables include Trendy Wendy and Dutch Schultz.

I D.O.A and Dog Toffee Cas Rock, 104 West Port, 229 4341. 8pm. £6. The veteran Vancouver splatter punks D.O.A make a rare live appearance.

I Bottleneck Duo Whistle Binkies, Niddry Street, 557 5114. 11pm. Free.

I Jazz Joint 8 Morrison Street, 538 7385. Closed for refurbishment.

TUESDAY 2

Glasgow

I Ute Lemper Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, 287 5511. CANCELLED.

I Live Music Glory Box, Curlers, Byres Road, 338 6511. 8.30pm. Free. Three local bands.

Edinburgh

I Lorraine Crosby Band Brannigans, Dundee Street, 228 5885. First band on 9pm. Free.

I Jazz Joint 8 Morrison Street, 538 7385. Closed for refurbishment.

Glasgow

I Don Williams Clyde Auditorium, SECC, Finnieston Quay, 287 7777. 7.30pm. £19.5()/£17.5() plus booking fee. Easy listening country dude who has been a bit hit with your grandma for the last three decades.

I Zeke and Murder City Devils The 13th Note Club, Clyde Street, 243 2177. 8pm. £6. Zeke are a US speed punk combo, currently touting their Dirty Sanchez album.

I Hot Water Music and De Salvo The 13th Note Cafe, King Street, 553 1638. 7.30pm. £3. Note earlier door time, should you also wish to take in the Zeke gig tonight. Hot Water Music are a more melodic proposition in a Hiisker Dii vein. I Rolla, Blue Orbit and Hishana Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Sauchiehall Street, 333 9637. 9pm. First heat of the Battle of the Bands.

I The Originals Flares, Bath Street, 331 5160. 8.30pm. Free. Monthly residency. I Acoustic Open Stage The Halt Bar, Woodlands Road, 564 1527. 8.30pm. Free. Weekly unplugged session.

Edinburgh

I Tracy Chapman Playhouse, 18—22 Greenside Place, 0870 6063424. 7.30pm. £15. Powerful songs from this singer- songwriter, who has penned classics such as ‘Fast Car’ and ‘Can 1 Hold You Tonight’ (as covered by Boyzone).

I The Groundhogs La Belle Angele, 11 Hastie’s Close, 225 7536. 8pm. £5 (£6 on door). These 605 bluesy rockers as led by guitarist Tony McPhee return to play under their original moniker for the first time in years with hits from their heyday collaborating with John Lee Hooker and the like.

I Colin Campbell Common Grounds, 2/3 North Bank Street, 226 1416. 7.30pm. Free.

I The Cher Experience Brannigans, Dundee Street, 228 5885. First band on 9pm. Free. A tribute to that wonder of plastic surgery.

I Open Mic Night Whistle Binkies, Niddry Street, 557 5114. 11pm. Free. Folk free for all.

I Bannerman's 212 Cowgate, 556 3254. 9pm. Free. Czekai provide the pre- club soundtrack.

I Jazz Joint 8 Morrison Street, 538 7385. Closed for refurbishment.

TURSDAY 4

Glasgow

I Radio Sweethearts Virgin Megastore, Buchanan Street. 6pm. Free. This bunch of achin’ hearts play an in- store set to promote their new album Lonesome Blue.

I Shakin' Stevens Pavilion Theatre, Renfield Street, 332 1846. 7.30pm. £14.50/£12.50. The chameleon-like Shakey hits us with another image change. Will we ever keep up with his ever-changing moods? This time round he is (consults style barometer) playing feeble pop with a vague rock ‘n’ roll influence in a sub-Elvis style.

I Moloko King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, St Vincent Street, 221 5279. 8.30pm. SOLD OUT. The now Ibiza-friendly dance pop combo retain their quirks and the incredible voice of Roisin Murphy that marks them out from the morass.

I Horse The Ferry, Clyde Place, 429 8676. 8pm. £10. Fresh from her recent collaboration with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Horse continues to prove her diva credentials.

I The Crocketts The Cathouse, Union Street, 248 6606. RESCHEDULED for Sun 28 May. Original tickets still valid. I Clinic The 13th Note Club, Clyde Street, 243 2177. 8pm. £6. Top indie combo who, unusually for a band from Liverpool, actually seem to possess an imagination and play music which is not indebted to The Beatles. Clinic are mystery men well, they wear surgical masks playin urgent arage pop.

I May The 4t Be Wit You Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Sauchiehall Street, 333 9637. 9pm. £10. Usual sci-ft party madness with an extra attraction this year. Tim Russ, otherwise known as Tuvok in Star Trek Voyager will be playing with his band Neil Norman & The Cosmic Orchestra.

I The Vagabonds The Scotia, Stockwell Street, 552 8681. 8.30pm. Free. Residency for this covers band.

I Jam Session Samuel Dow’s, Nithsdale Road, 423 0107. 8.30pm. Free. I Live Music Eat Drink Man Woman, King Street, 552 9260. 9pm. Free.

Edinburgh

I Horace Andy and Archive The Venue, 17—21 Calton Road, 557 3073. 8pm. £8. One of reggae’s sweetest voices who has re-emerged for solo shows after several years as guest vocalist for Bristol’s Massive Attack performs a special acoustic set.

Continued over page

rock & pop MUSIB

The best gigs this fortnight Rock/Pop

r

The Delgados Bittersweet indie guitar ramblers who don’t like being called lo-fi. Could be called worse, of course; crap, for instance. They're clearly not, however, and parade their new album The Great Eastern as proof. Edinburgh: The Liquid Room, Tue 9 May.

The Flaming Lips Their current album, The Soft Bulletin, is a true joy to behold. See them recreate their vinyl excursions in the live arena replete with fake blood and a virtual drummer. Glasgow: The Garage, Wed 10 May.

Electronic

Leftfield Rhythm And Stealth wasn’t quite the comeback that many hoped for, but Leftfield remain one of the top quality crossover dance acts who can generate mass euphoria. Glasgow: Barrow/and, Thu 11 May. Blues

Blues 2000 Ten hours of the finest blues God's good earth has to offer, topped by US veteran Otis Rush. See preview page ??????? Edinburgh: Corn Exchange, Sun 30 Apr. Folk/World

Youssou N'Dour (Pictured) The world music icon performs his numerous hits including his top crossover duet with Neneh Cherry, 'Seven Seconds'. Glasgow: Old Fruitmarket, Fri 5 May. Jazz

Green Juice Future jazz fusionists Green Juice, fronted by saxophonist Martin Kershaw, bring their breakbeat selection to Futuristica while Joseph Malik and Daryl G man the decks. Edinburgh: Futuristica at La Belle Ange/e, Sat 29 Apr.

Classical

Macbeth Scottish Opera present an award-winning production of Verdi’s take on the Shakespearian tragedy starring Richard Zeller and Kathleen Broderick as the duplicitous leading duo. Glasgow, Theatre Royal, Tue 2, Sat 6 May.

27 Apr—ll May 2000 THE U8T 49