GLASGOW-based musician James Lindsay has arranged four concerts across Scotland to mark the release of his first album under his own name, Strand. Best known as the bassist with award-winning folk group Breabach, Lindsay won the Martyn Bennett prize for composition in 2014 and has drawn inspiration for the album’s wholly instrumental music from musicians and composers including Bill Frisell, Aidan O’Rourke, Sam Amidon, Ben Wendel, and Martyn Bennett. The album is released on June 2 and Lindsay leads a band comprising musicians from Scotland’s folk and jazz scenes at a launch gig at The Hug & Pint, Glasgow on April 26. After a break, he moves on to An Tobar, Tobermory on May 25; The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool on May 26; and Locos, Inverurie on May 27.

jameslindsaymusic.com

IN HIS music-making, rather than novel-writing, guise as Mull Historical Society, Colin MacIntyre, pictured is appearing at Kintyre Songwriter's Festival on Sunday April 30. He tops the bill at the last concert of the weekend in Campbeltown Town Hall on what is his first appearance on the Mull of Kintyre. Saturday's gig at the same venue features Borders Funk Warrior Jesse Rae, and The Van T's are headliners at Whisky Mac's on the Friday.

Mull Historical Society also play Glasgow West End Festival's All Dayer at Oran Mor on Sunday June 18 and the Upside Doon festival, in the company of BMX Bandits, at Robert Burns Birthplace in Alloway on Saturday June 24.

kintyresongwritersfestival.co.uk

EDINBURGH music promoters Click Clack celebrate the milestone of their eightieth monthly presentation with a triple bill at Henry’s Cellar Bar in Morrison Street on Thursday, April 27. Singer-songwriter Kirsty Heggie appears in her new incarnation as Moth Nyx alongside jazz combo Tune Gum and Captain Beefheart champions Orange Claw Hammer. The music begins at the new time of 8:30pm, with doors opening at 8:00pm.

henryscellarbar.co.uk

TO COMPLEMENT the upcoming new production of Puccini's La Boheme, Scottish Opera's final Sunday Opera in Concert of the season is the same composer's Le Villi, his first stage work, written in 1883 but never before performed in Scotland. This premiere is at Glasgow's Theatre Royal on Sunday May 21 at 3pm and will be conducted by the company's music director Stuart Stratford.

scottishopera.org.uk