Oasis

What? The climax of the Gallagher’s epic global jaunt in support of Dig Out Your Soul.
Where and when? Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 17 Jun.
Special guests Kasabian and The Enemy.
Hits? Still trading on their Morning Glories. Around 11 classics in a 21 song set. Expect ‘Supersonic’, ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ and get your lighter or mobile phone out in time for ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.
Last visit? November 2008 for a couple of nights at the SECC.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? It’s about the songs maaaaan. Its a rock’n’roll show, norra feckin’ disco!
The X factor? If a stoic, vaguely uninterested looking Liam Gallagher – most likely sporting a peculiar shorts/cagoule combo – is special then here you are. Oh, and the bridge bit from ‘Slide Away’ and the crowd singing ‘Wonderwall’.
Stadium rocking-ness By definition. 8

Crosby, Stills and Nash

Where and when? Edinburgh Castle, 11 Jul.
What? Laurel Canyon’s own godfathers of protest song, veteran hippies and good vibesmen.
Special guests Aren’t the three of these guys enough? Probably, but TBC still.
Hits? A bellyful of tremendous tunes: ‘Woodstock’, ‘Marrakesh Express’, ‘Teach Your Children, ‘Dark Star’, ‘Helpless’, ‘Ohio’, ‘Judy Blue Eyes’, ‘Almost Cut My Hair’ and ‘Our House’ are enough to being getting along with for now, no?
Last visit? Stephen Stills was here solo last November, but it’s been almost four years since their last show at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Less of a spectacle, more of what they used to call a ‘happening’. Even without Neil Young, this is pretty special.
The X factor? The moment those three voices blend in perfect harmony.
Stadium rocking-ness Gently, but deliberately. 7

Bruce Springsteen

Where and when? Hampden Park, Glasgow, 14 Jul.
What? The prince of the blue collar workers bathes in post-Obama victory/Super Bowl/Glastonbury headliner glow.
Special guests TBC but we’re hoping for fellow Jersey boys The Gaslight Anthem.
Hits? Don’t go expecting ‘Born in the USA’ and ‘Dancing in the Dark’ all night, the Boss trawls through his stout back catalogue throwing out all sorts of fanboy surprises. Luckily ‘Born to Run’ seems obligatory in his mammoth sets.
Last visit? Its been a while: Edinburgh Playhouse, March 1996.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Epic, overwrought, charismatic.
The X factor? Springsteen finds the magic in little things and makes sense of them on a big scale and the E Street Band are musical demons.
Stadium rocking-ness He’s called the Boss for a reason. 9

Simple Minds

Where and when? Edinburgh Castle, 18 Jul.
What? After a few albums in the wilderness Scotland’s own global anthem suppliers are back on form.
Special guests TBC.
Hits? Skipping over the U2 wannabe moments in the early-90s, there’s plenty to choose from. A typical 24-song set throws out everything from ‘New Gold Dream’ to ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’. At least half the set is unbeatable hits.
Last visit? December 2008 at the SECC.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? The archetypal rock show: in particular, a quality frontman.
The X factor? The combination of home crowd, bloody big castle and chorsues to match should make this a suitably poignant night.
Stadium rocking-ness Local boys made good. 8

Take That

Where and when? Hampden Park, Glasgow, 19-21 Jun.
What? Most certainly back for good, Gary, Mark and the other two have become the biggest live act in the country. Who needs Robbie, eh?
Special guests Gary Go and The Saturdays.
Hits? Mostly from their ‘classic’ era, nine belters your mum would know from 20. See you down the front for ‘Could it Be Magic’.
Last visit? November 2007 for three nights at the SECC.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? The Circus world tour is likely to live up to its name; expect whistles, bells and Mancunians-a-leaping. Can’t guarantee clowns, but we’ve already established Robbie won’t be there.
The X factor? The crowd. More mentallist than any AC/DC moshpit.
Stadium rocking-ness This is a pop show mate. But bigger. 8

AC/DC

Where and when? Hampden Park, Glasgow, 30 Jun.
What? The long awaited return of the world’s greatest rock band.
Special guests Thin Lizzy and The Answer.
Hits? Out of 18 tracks, at least 10 are rock’n’roll diamonds. ‘Back in Black’, ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’, ‘Highway to Hell’ … you know the drill.
Last visit? It has been nine long years since they played Scotland, last time was at the SECC in December 2000.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Given their penchant for bloody big canons and more pyro than Guy Fawkes, expect something that goes off with a BOOOOOM!
The X factor? That funny wee man in the school uniform duckwalking his way across the stage is old enough to be your granddad, but is still the coolest man in the room by a mile.
Stadium rocking-ness These people were made for such an endeavour. 10

The Eagles

Where and when? Hampden Park, Glasgow, 4 Jul.
What? The tour for the aptly titled Long Road Out of Eden which has been dragging on for longer than anyone can remember.
Special guests Still TBC.
Hits? Plenty. They even find time to throw in a few solo hits including Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer’ on top of ‘Hotel California’ etc. Around 16 nod-along doozies from a 30-song set.
Last visit? The actual Eagles visited Hampden Park in June 2006, but in the meantime the 800 tribute bands have made sure it felt like they’ve never been away.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Less a spectacle more a laid-back rock jam. Duuuude.
The X factor? The tension/love between Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey.
Stadium rocking-ness Rocking, in a slightly more easy way than most. 7

U2

Where and when? Hampden Park, Glasgow, 18 Aug.
What? The daddies of them all parade the highlights from No Line on the Horizon.
Special guests Glasvegas.
Hits? Fourteen albums of them mate. Where do you wanna start?
Last visit? They played this very stadium in June 2005.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Now this is where things get interesting: they’ve developed a huge spider-like construction to play under in the round where no one gets an obstructed view. Looks a bit Tim Burton but should be amazing.
The X factor? He may be a bit of a diddy but on a good day Bono can make you shiver when those notes are hit: see ‘One’, ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘With or Without You’.
Stadium rocking-ness Despite the new album. 9

Duran Duran

Where and when? Edinburgh Castle, 16 Jun.
What? The kings of 80s pop show off like the Burmmie peacocks we know and love.
Special guests? Florence and the Machine.
Hits? The irresistible attraction of 'The Reflex', 'Save a Prayer', 'Girls on Film' and 'Wild Boys' is just too much to bear. And there's more where they came from.
Last visit? 2005, when they played the SECC.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Unafraid to experiment, they've been known to throw in a mid-show electro set of bleepy interpretations of their hits as part of the whole future/retro extravaganza.
The X factor? They may be looking like they'd capsize the Rio if they all tried to clamber on these days but Simon Le Bon still has the requisite pipes to make the big numbers shine.
Stadium rocking-ness Proof that pop isn’t always a panto. 8

Coldplay

Where and when? Hampden Park, Glasgow, 16 Sep.
What? The globe-straddling, epic pop colossus touches down momentarily en Ecosse.
Special guests? Top this one: Jay-Z!
Hits? ‘Yellow’, ‘Clocks’, Speed of Sound’, and ‘The Scientist’ still raise the hairs on the back of the neck when required.
Last visit? The first leg of the Viva la Vida tour: SECC, December, 2008.
What kind of spectacle should we expect? Aside from the Jigga man blowing Martin and co off the stage? The drums and army fatigues of Viva La Vida made flesh: a US civil war battle … with a piano in the middle. Gwyneth Paltrow doing cartwheels? Perhaps not.
The X factor? Chris Martin shares Bono’s fondness for the grandiose statement and when it hits the spot, he’s good.
Stadium rocking-ness Always big and often beautiful too. 7