Album: Dot Allison - Heart-Shaped Scars

★★★★★ DOT ALLISON - HEART-SHAPED SCARS The Scottish singer-songwriter finds herself

28 years on from One Dove, the Scottish singer-songwriter finds herself

Scottish singer-songwriter Dorothy Allison pretty much defines cool. Her band One Dove was the first to snare Andrew Weatherall as producer after his success with Screamadelica, and together they created Morning Dove White: an extraordinary album that fused country and western melancholy with deep dub and electronica.

Album: Mogwai - As the Love Continues

★★★★★ MOGWAI - AS THE LOVE CONTINUES The Glasgow guitar nosie veterans crash into indie Valhalla

The Glasgow guitar noise veterans crash into indie Valhalla

It’s odd to hear a band benefit from becoming more conventional. But where Glasgow’s Mogwai used to fiercely stake out a very distinctive musical space of their own, here they’re letting their influences flood into their songs – and note the word “songs” there – yet managing to retain all the sonic power they ever had, and adding extra emotional impact to boot. 

La bohème, Scottish Opera – pandemic Puccini

★★★★ LA BOHEME, SCOTTISH OPERA Top-quality cast and players in a parking lot

Top-quality cast and players put on a potted version in a parking lot

Picture the scene. A vast steel gazebo covers a nondescript parking lot next to an industrial unit in Glasgow. With a clear plastic covering, it is the most rudimentary of shelters, sides open to admit the roar of the M8 and the wailing of sirens, carried on a keen autumnal breeze.

New Music Unlocked 5: Biffy Clyro, Rave the Vote, Little Simz and AJ Tracey

NEW MUSIC UNLOCKED 5 Biffy Clyro, Rave the Vote, Little Simz and AJ Tracey

What to look out for online during the week ahead in music

Although Metallica are screening a freshly recorded concert across America’s drive-in cinemas at the end of the month, we’re no nearer to actual gigs anywhere, especially the UK. Hold tight. We’ll get there. In the meantime, here are three events worth taking a look at.

AIM Music Awards

BBC Lunchtime Concerts from Glasgow's City Halls, BBC Radio 3 review - a feast for ears if not for eyes

★★★★ BBC LUNCHTIME CONCERTS, GLASGOW CITY HALLS / RADIO 3 Four very special live broadcasts from Scottish artists

Four very special live broadcasts from Scottish artists

After the success of BBC Radio 3’s live lunchtime broadcasts from the Wigmore Hall, live music is now kicking off again north of the border, with four concerts broadcast from City Halls, Glasgow, presented by Kate Molleson.

Steve Martin and Martin Short, SSE Hydro Glasgow review - old friends bring a touch of vaudeville

★★★★ STEVE MARTIN AND MARTIN SHORT, SSE HYDRO GLASGOW Old friends bring a touch of vaudeville

Hoary gags, music, and even a soft-shoe shuffle

Steve Martin and Martin Short first met in 1986 on the set of The Three Amigos (in which they co-starred with Chevy Chase), became fast friends and have since worked on a few projects together. In what was quite a coup for the Glasgow Comedy Festival, the first night of their UK tour was a starry curtain-raiser to the festival proper, which starts on Thursday.

Halsey, SSE Hydro, Glasgow review - a pop star with plenty of personality

★★★ HALSEY, SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW A pop star with plenty of personality

The songstress is an exciting performer, but her set slowed down too much

There is something enjoyably spikey about Halsey, even when she is adhering to pop convention. At one stage she told the crowd how good they looked, before dryly adding it was praise they wouldn’t have heard before. These are brave words when playing to a Glasgow audience.

Lewis Capaldi, SSE Hydro, Glasgow review - triumphant homecoming from Brit-conquering hero

★★★★ LEWIS CAPALDI, GLASGOW Triumphant homecoming for Brit-conquering hero

Blue music and blue language in sellout show from Bathgate's favourite son

Critical and commercial success haven’t gone to the head of Lewis Capaldi. The 23-year-old opened his first of two sold-out nights at Glasgow’s 14,000-capacity enormodrome – booked when he was yet to release his debut album – with a video montage poking fun of his po-faced reaction to Billie Eilish beating him to Song of the Year at the Grammys in January.