The Wee Gig Lowdown: October 2026
In this month’s celebration of wee gigs across Glasgow and Edinburgh, we highlight shows from Maniatrix, Gallus, and Blood Red Shoes, plus a few all-dayers with solid line-ups
As Oasis prepare for another record-breaking tour, we’re once again about to witness fans shell out hundreds of pounds for two hours with Manchester’s finest. For the same price, you could watch the vast majority of the gigs listed below, and you’ll be able to enjoy a fresh, vibrant selection of acts still bursting with creative ideas. As Neil Buchanan would say, try it yourself.
Edinburgh
Maniatrix
Leith’s well-liked experimental don is having a bit of a shindig to mark the launch of their latest album, Body Build Rate, with support from Ellen ER and Ascetic Practices. According to Maniatrix, the dress code is ‘corporate cool’, so be sure to channel your inner business mogul.
People’s Leisure Club, Saturday 3 October.
Edinburgh Indie-Pop All-Dayer
A stacked cohort of indie-pop favourites will visit The Mash House. The full act line-up is Carla J Easton, Radhika, All Girls Arson Club, Dateline, Ballboy, Crumbs, The Martial Arts and Falling And Laughing.
The Mash House, Saturday 3 October.
General Meeting
If you fancy an all-dayer, this line-up at Sneaky Pete’s is worth a punt. It’ll feature Paulie Swan, Burglar, Sports Day, Morgan Morris, Stanley Welch, Daisy Casemore, Oedipus And The Mama’s Boys, Shinlifter, The Herons, Flame, Sarah’s, Ellen ER and In C Orchestra. And all that will cost you less than £20. Not bad.
Sneaky Pete’s, Sunday 11 October.
GeeJay
The London soul pop duo are hitting the road as they roll out the red carpet for their third album, Who Have I Become?. They’re embracing a fuller, more organic sound for this one, so it’ll be interesting to see how that transition changes their live act.
People’s Leisure Club, Tuesday 13 October; also at The Rum Shack, Glasgow, Wednesday 14 October.
Birdvox
An indie supergroup of sorts, this melange of electronica, folk and distinctly Scottish rock has released a handful of very promising, hooky singles. They’ll be joined by the rising folk prodigy Faith Elliot.
Sneaky Pete’s, Friday 30 October.
Glasgow
Gallus
One of the premiere rabblerousers on Glasgow’s music scene, Gallus are a band perfectly tooled for anarchy. They’ve spent quite a bit of this year laying the runway for their new album Life Is Bliss, which came out last week, so expect a few new tunes alongside mosh pit-starting favourites.
Art School, Friday 2 October.
Lemoncello
Irish duo Lemoncello are courting a huge fanbase for their folky sound and tense dynamics. They’re on the road promoting new album Perfect Place and will be supported by indie talent Quincey May Brown.
The Glad Café, Tuesday 6 October.
Nadeem Din-Gabisi
Another graduate of the nu-jazz resurgence, London’s Nadeem Din-Gabizi has quietly courted respect for his energetic discussion of black identity and cultural displacement. He's known for spirited shows, filled with costume changes and audience participation.
The Glad Café, Friday 23 October.
Girls Of The Internet
Tom Kerridge’s UK collective has made a name for itself drawing on 50 years of dance music for a full band sound that vacillates between a gig and a club night.
Room 2, Saturday 24 October.
Blood Red Shoes
As a drainpipe-wearing indie snob of a certain age, there will always be a place in this journo’s heart for the frantic pop-rock of Blood Red Shoes. This will be a special show for Shoes fans, marking their first performance since their 20th anniversary in 2024 and prepping for the release of their first new material in four years.
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Tuesday 27 October.
Main picture: Laura Meek.