10 things to do in Scotland this week

Comedy: Jo Caulfield Presents The Good, The Bad & The Unexpected

The Stand, Edinburgh

Wed 22 May, doors 7.30pm, £5; more info

TV panel show regular and Fringe favourite Jo Caulfield presents an evening of the best comedy the Scottish capital has to offer. She will also be recording her regular podcast on the night, and this week’s guests include Gus Lymburn, Gareth Waugh, Jane Walker, character comedy from Matt Ellis, and sketches and magic from The Colour Ham.

Nights out: Electric Frog May Holiday Weekender

SWG3, Glasgow

Sat 25 & Sun 26 May, 6pm – late; £25 day/£45 weekend; more info

With the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday ensuring an extra day of recovery for most, Glasgow-based party specialists Electric Frog have put together another pulsating weekender. You can look forward to DJ sets from the likes of David Morales, Erol Alkan, Dimitri From Paris and local favourites like Optimo and Harri & Domenic.

Outdoors: Ballater Walking Festival

Ballater, Aberdeenshire

Until Fri 24 May; more info

Boasting some of the nation’s most impressive scenery, from Braemar in the west to Banchory in the east, it’s no surprise that Ballater, in the heart of Royal Deeside, is the focal point for a week-long celebration of walking. Whether you prefer to bag a Munro or take a gentle stroll, there are guided walks to suit all levels. There are also talks and demonstrations in the evenings, and a ceilidh to round off the week.

Festival: Knockengorroch

Galloway, South West Scotland

Thu 23 – Sun 26 May; more info

The ethos of the annual Knockengorroch World Ceilidh is firmly on roots music, and there is plenty to keep the dancing going at this rural party. But the festival, which has been going strong since 1998, is more wide-ranging than you might think, with acts like Asian Dub Foundation, Orkestra Del Sol and Congo Natty aka Rebel MC adding a global feel to this gathering.

Theatre: Far Away (and Seagulls)

Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow

From Thu 23 May, £12-£19; more info

The Citizens Theatre’s brilliant but modest artistic director Dominic Hill directs the finale of another strong season, a double bill by English playwright Caryl Churchill. Far Away is a dark comic vision of society destroying itself from 2000, while Seagulls is a short tale of telekinesis from 1978.

Night out: Edinburgh Zoo Nights

Edinburgh Zoo

Fri 24 May, 6pm – 10pm, £20; more info

Like comedian Susan Calman? Like animals? Then we have the perfect evening for you, as Edinburgh Zoo becomes the latest daytime venue to open its doors in the evening. Zoo Nights, a monthly event starting this Friday, has comedy from Calman, cocktails, food stalls and a silent disco alongside a chance to see its famous pandas.

Festival: Perth Festival of the Arts

Various venues, Perth

Until Sun 26 May; more info

The Fair City’s annual arts jamboree continues for a second week, and its popularity is reflected in the fact that several shows, including a headline concert by Northern Irish blues legend Van Morrison, are already sold out. But you can still book your seat for events like a theatrical tribute to Jacques Brel, a gig from rising Glasgow band Admiral Fallow, a Horrible Histories stage show and the closing concert from the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra.

Performance: Hidden in Plain Sight

Tramway & Stereo, Glasgow

Fri 24 – Sun 26 May, £6-£14; more info

The work of Arika, creators of the long-running experimental festival Instal, becomes harder to sum up as the years go by. Their latest project is a series of weekend festivals called Episodes, each consisting of passionate discussions and provocations on a different theme. At Tramway in Glasgow from Friday until Sunday is Hidden in Plain Sight,which explores gender politics and performance with the help of, amongst others, the founders of New York ballroom scene.

Festival: Burns an’ a’ That

Various venues, Ayr

Fri 24 – Sun 26 May; more info

What does Del Amitri singer Justin Currie have in common with Buzzbeak, a giant robotic musical bird made entirely from the parts of a Land Rover? All sorts of cheeky replies are possible, but the simplest answer is that both are appearing at this year’s Burns an’ a’ That festival in Ayr. Much of the festival will take place in Belleisle Park, where Currie is supported on Sunday night by Rachel Sermanni, along with a variety of bands other performers across the weekend.

Art: David Batchelor – Flatlands

Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh

Until 14 July; more info

Although David Batchelor is best known for sculptural works, his show at the Fruitmarket consists entirely of paintings and works on paper, and it is full of colour. Everything is abstract, but it is lively and improvised and the drawings lead on to his remarkable paintings, just big blobs of colour, but very satisfying.

Find more things to do on our events site, WOW247.co.uk