10 things to do in Scotland this week

EIFF artistic director Chris Fujiwara launches this year's programme. Picture: Neil Hanna

Music: Refugee Week Scotland Opening Concert

Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

Mon 17 Jun, 8pm, £16; more info

With spooky prescience, the organisers of the opening concert of this year’s Refugee Week Scotland – a seven-day, 100-event celebration of the social and cultural contribution refugees make to Scottish life – have booked three acts who feature on the recently announced shortlist for the Scottish Album of the Year Award, namely folk-pop ensemble Admiral Fallow, beguiling singer/songwriter Karine Polwart and former Arab Strap guitarist Malcolm Middleton.

Theatre: Let the Right One In

Dundee Rep

From Tue 18 Jun, £13 – £17; more info

Director John Tiffany’s farewell production for the National Theatre of Scotland is an exciting stage adaptation of the cult Swedish vampire flick. Expect imaginative set design and some brilliant performances from a cast that includes Lorraine McIntosh and Paul Hickey

Festival: West End Festival

Various venues, Glasgow

Until 30 Jun; more info

After the Glasgow Mela attracted thousands of revellers to Kelvingrove Park over the weekend, the West End Festival continues this week with its eclectic programme of arts and culture. On Wednesday KT Tunstall will showcase songs from her new album at Oran Mor and on Sunday there’s another all-day gig, with 14 acts performing at the same venue, including The Twilight Sad and Meursault.

Festival: Edinburgh International Film Festival

Various venues, Edinburgh

From Wed 19 Jun; more info

Now firmly anchored in its June berth on the festival calendar, the 67th EIFF gets started on Wednesday with the European Premiere of Drake Doremus’s Breathe In, an American family melodrama starring Guy Pearce. Other highlights of the first week include I Am Breathing, a tender documentary about Motor Neurone Disease sufferer Neil Platt’s final months, What Maisie Knew, which finds Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan as two self-absorbed New York parents, and Noah Baumbach’s much-anticipated comedy Frances Ha.

Music / Spoken Word: Nile Rodgers

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 22, Sat 23 Jun, 8pm, £30; more info

Already a pop culture hero for his work with Chic and David Bowie, Nile Rodgers was introduced to a new generation this year via Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ single. He’s at Summerhall in Edinburgh on Friday and Saturday in a very different guise: combining music and spoken word to tell a story about the cultural life of Harlem.

Days out: Royal Highland Show

Ingliston, Edinburgh

Thu 20 – Sun 23 Jun, £25; more info

Much more than a mere agricultural fair, the Royal Highland Show has grown to become one of Scotland’s show-piece events, with a huge range of entertainments, music, food and drink stalls, outdoors activities and demonstrations, and shopping and fashion to be sampled. Not to forget the cows and combine harvesters, of course.

Festival: St Magnus International Festival

Various venues, Orkney

From Thu 20 Jun; more info

Orkney’s annual celebration of the arts begins on Thursday for nine days and nights of world class performance, new work and community celebration. This year’s theme is pioneers and exploration, and as such the opening event is the world premiere of Long Strides, a production which marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Orcadian scientist and adventurer John Rae.

Music: Insider Festival

Inshriach, near Aviemore

Fri 21 – Sun 23 Jun, £35 – £110; more info

A relative newcomer to Scotland’s thriving boutique festival scene, Insider is already a popular option for a weekend away. It places a strong emphasis on new music – so look out for the likes of PAWS, Randolph’s Leap and Prides – alongside more established talent like Matthew Herbert and Karine Polwart.

Days out: Scottish Traditional Boats Festival

Portsoy, Aberdeenshire

Sat 22, Sun 23 Jun, £8 day ticket; more info

Now in its 20th year, the Scottish Traditional Boats Festival has outstripped its name to encompass a full weekend of music, dance, food and crafts in the picturesque coastal town. But of course the sight of the elegant old sailing vessels and the exciting skiff races on the open seas is still the big draw.

Art: From Death to Death and Other Small Tales

Scottish Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh

Until September 8; more info

From Death to Death and Other Small Tales at the National Gallery of Modern Art is not as gloomy as its title suggests. It is a loan exhibition from the D.Daskalopoulos Collection, but instead of being shown on its own and apart, it is mixed with work from the Gallery’s own collection.

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