1960s survivor returns to Scotland as she hits her ninth decade

The Herald Scotland

27-04-2025

SEC Armadillo, May 17
It has long been my contention that the best thing at Live Aid was not Queen or U2 at Wembley, but Hall & Oates in their big-haired pomp - and joined by Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of the Temptations, if memory serves - over in Philly. (I've never watched their set again in case I'm wrong.)
Daryl and John's recent acrimonious musical divorce is one of the sadder stories in pop of late. At their best Hall & Oates were blue-eyed soul in excelsis. (I'd take She's Gone or Out of Touch over Radio Gaga any day of the week).
Anyway, Oates, now in his late seventies, is hitting the road on his own (with Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook as support). So this is a chance to hear one of the great white soul voices up close.
Daryl Hall with John Oates before their split (Image: Stuart M Berg) Elkie Brooks
The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, May 27
Perhaps we shouldn't get too overexcited about the fact that Elkie Brooks's current live dates have been labelled The Long Farewell Tour. She's already booked in to play the Usher Hall in May 2026. Even so, this Edinburgh show is a chance to hear one of the great British blues singers in her ninth decade. Brooks's career started in 1960 and she made a name for herself in the band Vinegar Joe alongside Robert Palmer before becoming a fixture on British television's light entertainment shows in the 1970s after the success of Pearl's a Singer and Lilac Wine. What has never waned over those decades is the strength of that voice: all gravel and grace.
Scissor Sisters (Image: free) Scissor Sisters
OVO Hydro, May 17
Meanwhile, on the same night just across the road … It's been 12 years since Scissor Sisters last toured, so it says something that they can book a venue as big as the Hydro for their return; all the more so since singer Ana Matronic will not be joining them onstage. That puts more of an onus on frontman Jake Shears to pick up the slack in the 'putting on a show' front. History suggests it is not something Shears will shy away from.
The Eves
Liquid Room, Edinburgh May 3
It's a busy month for live gigs, with Erasure's Andy Bell, John Legend, The Flaming Lips and our own King Creosote all on tour. So it would be easy to overlook this more modest gig at the Liquid Room. And a pity. It's still a little surprising that Caroline Gilmour and Marissa Keltie haven't made the breakthrough they deserve. The duo have been knocking on the door for years now, supporting Belinda Carlisle and Sister Sledge, and seeing in the New Year singing on STV. They have even made it onto the Radio 2 playlist. But proper recognition has eluded them so far. Still, this headline gig and a vinyl release of their EP Both Sides on the Last Night From Glasgow label later this year shows that they aren't giving up. This time next year hopefully …
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China Crisis
The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, May 8
Years ago at one of those eighties revival nights I heard the compere describe Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon as looking like a pair of geography lecturers from the local Polytechnic. Which was true enough, but if so they were geography lecturers with an ear for a tune. China Crisis were part of the second wave of synthpop bands who filled the charts in the early 1980s. They had a particular ear for minor-key ballads as evidenced by such singles as Christian, Wishful Thinking and Black Man Ray. Here's a chance to relive some memories. NB, another eighties band, The Christians, are also in Glasgow this month. They play St Luke's on May 18. And they're at La Belle Angele in Edinburgh the night before.
Patrick Wolf
Saint Luke's, Glasgow, May 11
Sadly, Patrick Wolf never became quite the star his talent deserved. When he emerged at the start of the century he stood out from the musical landscape that surrounded him; a pop dandy in the age of indie landfill. It didn't do him any favours, unfortunately and the last 15 years have not been easy. He's had issues with alcohol and addiction, was the victim of a serious hit-and-run, lost his mother and had to declare himself bankrupt. He even employed an exorcist to cleanse his studio at one point, before finally returning to making music a couple of years ago. He was always a superb live performer so this should be something of a celebration of his resilience if nothing else.
Nicola Benedetti plays Perth (Image: free) Benedetti plays Brahms
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, May 14; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, May 15; City Halls & Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, May 16
Nicola Benedetti joins conductor Maxim Emelyanychev and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to see out the SCO's season with a performance of Brahms's Violin Concerto. Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony is also on the programme. Another chance to see one of Scotland's greatest musicians operating at her peak.
Tate McRae
OVO Hydro, May 23
Contemporary pop is Auto-Tuned, Trap-influenced and predominantly female. For every one Harry Styles there are half a dozen Taylor Swifts or Miley Cyruses (or Billie Eilishs or Olivia Rodrigos or Sabrina Carpenters or Chappell Roans or Charli XCXs or Dua Lipas or … Well, you get the message). At just 21, Tate McRae is the latest of them. The Canadian singer and dancer has already released three albums, the latest of which, So Close to What, became her first number one in the United States when it was released in February. If she's not as distinctive as Eilish or as outspoken as Roan, she is just as successful. If you want to know what pop looks like in 2025 this is probably the show to see.
Kylie Minogue plays the Hydro (Image: PA) Kylie Minogue
OVO Hydro, May 16
This is Kylie's 16th headlining tour, apparently. And the UK leg kicks off in Glasgow (with a return visit on June 6 if you are struggling to get tickets for this gig in May). Expect seriously campy dancers, songs from every Kylie era all the way back to the Stock, Aitken and Waterman days. Your favourite Kylie track? I'm saying Better the Devil You Know.
Jorja Smith
02 Academy, Glasgow, May 26
It's perhaps a marker of Jorja Smith's appeal that in recent years she has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and turned up in the Radio 1 Live Lounge with rapper AJ Tracey. With a voice that glides from jazz to soul and an ear for contemporary R&B, Garage and even a hint of Grime, the Walsall-born singer is one of UK pop's best assets as this gig should show. Oh, and her song Little Things is a proper belter.