ROCKTALK GIG GUIDE

Make That A Take Records present a weekend celebrating the debut album release of Tragical History Tour, the acoustic pseudonym of Dundee-based singer/ songwriter Derrick Johnston.

As a founder of Scottish punk label MTAT Records and front person of Scottish punk rock bands Uniforms and Joey Terrifying, Derrick has spent 20 years learning his craft in the trenches of DIY punk.

After years of DIY releases and 1,000-plus shows across the UK, USA and Europe, the arrival of the debut Tragical History Tour Aphorisms LP is imminent.

Aphorisms tells intimate tales of life, love, loss, death and redemption with slashing punk chords and folk-influenced finger-picking, like Leatherface covering Leadbelly, defined by Derrick’s distinctive warm gravel tones and unique dual-octave vocal delivery.

The Aphorisms LP was recorded and produced by John Harcus (PMX) in Perth and will be released worldwide on “pick’n’mix” coloured 12” vinyl, ecodigipack CD and as a digital download through Make That A Take/Aaahh!! Real Records/ Team Beard Records.

He’s joined by special guest Nicola Madill for a weekend of shows which starts tonight with a free show at the Twa Tams in Perth from 9pm, followed tomorrow at the Town Hall in Alyth, which also includes Callum Tosh and other special guests.

Doors for that show open at 7pm and it’s a fiver entry.

Then on Monday the show rolls into Conroy’s Basement in Dundee, where Derrick and Nicola are joined by three top punk acts.

Nosebleed from Yorkshire, Freddy Fudd Pucker from New Zealand and England’s Tim Loud make up a corker of a line-up, with doors opening at 7pm.

Tickets are £5 in advance, six quid on the door.

E-Tickets from makethatatakerecords.bigcartel.com/ product/e-tickets

The final round of heats for the WestFest Battle of the Bands take place this weekend in Dundee and Perth.

At Church in Dundee tonight Plasmas, Ark Royal, Two Thieves and The Burning Wood, OH!RIO, Houdini Said No and Little Miss Debby and The KJ Shuffle Kings compete for a place in the semi-finals.

The Dude Pistons, Bad Actress, Edgar Road, Gordon James and The Power, Frog Costume and Purgatory are at The Green Room in Perth on Sunday.

Doors for both open at 6.45pm and advance tickets are £5 from Groucho’s, Assai Records and www. gjpromotions.uk or it’s £6 on the door.

Erol Alkan makes up for having to cancel his show at the Reading Rooms in December 2016 by returning with the distinct sound of To The Rhythm to the venue tonight for an all-night long set.

Alkan has never played by dance music’s rules, which might explain how he’s lasted so long through changing trends and fickle tastes.

Gates open at 10.30pm and tickets are £10 from Groucho’s and residentadvisor.net

Tickets from his cancelled show are also valid for this event. Tomorrow it’s All Good with special guests Solardo.

Resident Ethan Bell will be bossing the warm up slot from 10pm.

Tickets are available from residentadvisor.net and skiddle.com for £15.

Hilltown Disco DJs collaborate with Guesthaus on Thursday.

Entry is £3.50 before midnight, £5 after and the night will be raising funds for DJCAD 4th year design students to present at an event in London. Bedrock are in the 5.30pm slot at Number 57 tomorrow. On Sunday it’s The Junkyard Dogs at 7pm.

The fabulous Saltfishforty grace the stage at Dundee Acoustic Music Club’s latest show on Sunday afternoon.

Douglas Montgomery (fiddle/viola) and Brian Cromarty (songs/guitar/ mandola) combine the rich traditional music of Orkney with original compositions.

The powerhouse partnership have won a devoted following throughout the UK and beyond, brilliantly transcending the duo format’s conventional confines.

Theirs is a sound of equally thrilling raw attack and multidimensional richness.

Doors open at Roseangle Kitchen Café at 2pm and tickets are available on the door or from www. brownpapertickets.com

Cherry Bombz are at Nine Maidens tonight from 8.30pm, McDaniels at 9.30pm tomorrow then on Sunday at 6.30pm at Harlequins.

The Bank Bar has Headroom tonight from around 9.30pm then tomorrow it’s Fizzle Chimps at the same time.

Songwriters Sunday is hosted by Gav McGinty and Martin Tino Allan from 8.30pm.

Dave Webster’s open mic night is at 8.30pm on Wednesday.

There’s Britpop and indie anthems from Kieron Smart at Clark’s on Lindsay Street tonight.

Tomorrow it’s Coconut Groove with funky grooves and party tunes.

Both start at 9.30pm with free entry before midnight.

Genre hopping Glasgwegians Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5 bring their infamous live show to Clark’s on Sunday.

Imagine Primal Scream and Happy Mondays had children genetically fused with the DNA of Frank Zappa, Bob Marley, James Brown and Neil Diamond.

Expect the unexpected when The Dijon Family come to town!

Ticket are £10 from beyondhighland.com and doors open at 7.30pm.

Acoustic cheesy duo George and The Jungle play pop covers all night long at Westport Bar tomorrow from 10pm. Entry is free.

Derrick Johnston, also known as Tragical History Tour.