With less than a month 'til the last-ever Triptych, we've uncovered a few related gems...
If you've yet to pick up tickets for the Scottish debut from America's greatest unsung folk hero, Michael Hurley, we urge you to snap them up forthwith. The one-time train robber's rough-hewn muse has quietly inspired American Music for over forty years: he's been covered by Cat Power; lauded by Yo La Tengo; recruited by Devendra Banhart. What are you waiting for?
He plays Glasgow Classic Grand on Saturday 26 April and Edinburgh Bongo Club on Sunday 27 April, and he's joined by new folk rhapsodist Alela Diane, and Glasgow's Grant Campbell.
Here's Hurley live in a Philadelphia church hall last year, gruffly resplendent as ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sPO5dw2KII
Speaking of legends, Wu Tang overlord The RZA also makeshis Scottish live premiere this year - his appearances at Edinburgh Liquid Rooms (April 25), Glasgow Arches (April 26), and Aberdeen Snafu (April 27) are set to be awesome.
A dude whose pseudonyms include Prince Rakeem, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah, The Abbot and Bobby Digital, the RZA's CV spans horror-core hip-hop spin-off Gravediggaz, and soundtrack scoring for the estimable likes of Jim Jarmusch
(Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai) and Quentin Tarantino
(Kill Bill vols 1&2).
Here's the RZA getting jiggy with Eurythmics, and winning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3hb__ylG4
Just in time for burgeoning soul stud Jamie Lidell's shows at Glasgow Tramway (April 25) and Edinburgh Liquid Rooms (April 26), comes this - his ace new single, 'Little Bit of Feel Good': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T--j0_yxBaY
Lauded NY composer and multimedia shaman Mikel Rouse dispatches Music For Minorities at Edinburgh Queen's Hall (April 25) and Glasgow RCH (April 26): expect a remarkable alloy of video fragments, personal narratives, sixties pop and Delta blues. For a taster of his versatile wares, see here - The End of Cinematics: http://www.youtube.com/?v=LvzFxJt56OA
Now: a programme change. Unfortunately, Mr Velcro Fastener can't appear due to unforseen circumstances, but the sweltering Subhead (Death to Vinyl / Tresor) will perform live instead: Glasgow Ivy, April 26. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
And finally - don't forget - this is the final year of Triptych, but sign up now for upfront info on Tennent's major new music venture, The Tennent's Mutual: www.tennentsmutual.com