After a four-year hiatus there’s a return – albeit briefly – for Perth’s Southern Fried Festival tomorrow.
The celebration of American roots music was an annual fixture from 2008 until 2018, but didn’t go ahead three years ago – and, of course, the pandemic subsequently intervened in 2020 and last year.
Big names in the Fair City
Having previously attracted such legends as Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Booker T Jones, The Mavericks, Graham Nash and Los Lobos, the event has set high standards down the years with a seriously impressive roster of largely indoor gigs across the Fair City.
Southern Fried had grown to become a four-day offering in its most recent couple of editions.
It’s making a one-night comeback tomorrow with the main attraction being a multi-artist tribute to American country-folk legend Nanci Griffith – who died last year – at Perth Concert Hall.
Also taking place is a late evening session at Perth Theatre’s superb Joan Knight Studio that’s seen a change to its line-up.
An all-Perthshire party
South London harmonica bluesman Errol Linton has been forced to pull out of the event, which has prompted organisers to draft in Perthshire-based classic R’n’B and boogie veterans Wang Dang Delta in his place.
The six-piece features is led by vocalist/guitarist Ian McLaren, who’s joined by Pete Caban (guitar), Jason Wotherspoon (bass), Pim Pirnie (drums), Alan Sutherland (keys) and Jim Harcus (harmonica).
WDD’s inclusion makes it an all-Perthshire party that’ll be kicking in from 10.30pm, with Katie Whittaker – formerly of Fair City country rockers Red Pine Timber Company – also on the bill.
Nowadays leading her own band, the singer-songwriter is known for her tributes to legendary American performers Etta James and Bessie Smith.
Plasmas at Hunter S Thompson
In Dundee, there’s a home turf gig for alt-synth popsters Plasmas at the Hunter S Thompson tonight.
The four-piece released new single See It Through earlier this month, with the band’s frontman Ross McQueen claiming it was written as a homage to 90s American sit-com and coming-of-age film soundtracks.
Since touring’s post-lockdown revival, Plasmas – McQueen is joined by lead guitarist Conor McBay, keys dude Rory Strathie, bassist James Swan and drummer Sam Walker – have played packed-out shows alongside Australian indie rockers Planet and rising Scots stars Swim School.
They’ve also had a “surreal” support slot alongside English dream pop exponents Jaws, who were one of their original inspirations.
Live at Beat Generator, Conroy’s
Separately, the highlight at Beat Generator this week is a turn from Big Country frontman Simon Hough, who’s taking his own band to the North Lindsay Street venue on Sunday.
Conroy’s Basement has experimental noise rockers Portable Heads, Dundee-based robot-themed DIY outfit Machine Speak and bleak sonic drone exponents Shupostekud in a triple-pronged aural assault tonight, ahead of a feast for hip-hop fans tomorrow.
The Meadowside venue is set to welcome Scots microphone tyrant Red King for his first Dundee headline show since lockdown, hot on the heels of his new single Whirlwind Head.
He’s being supported by Dundee hip-hop artist Xand3r, the fresh wordsmith Kouk and London-raised wordsmith Lynx and Glasgow grime legend Rapture 4D, who’ll be performing a DJ set.
Meanwhile at Church…
Just a stone’s throw away, Church hosts Dundee metal outfits Volcano X, Kurnel Fist, Indica and Solar Sons tomorrow – with ear-shredding sets expected.
Elsewhere, PJ Molloys has a set from Vistas tomorrow, with the Dunfermline venue having named ex-Sergeant frontman Nicky Lipp as support to the Edinburgh indie noiseniks.
Lastly for this week, there’s a couple of afternoon sets that’re free to attend from talented folk-inspired Perth songsmith Beth Malcolm at the Tolbooth Cafe in Stirling’s Jail Wynd tomorrow.
Highly-rated Roxy Music tribute Roxy Magic – as recently featured on this page – are at the Green Hotel in Kinross both tonight and tomorrow.
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