10 things to do in Scotland this week
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Tuesday – Saturday, 1pm, £12
In this new play by Douglas Maxwell, a widow strikes up an unlikely relationship with her dead husband’s potty-mouthed employee. She begins to enter into his un-finishing school and, liberating her own voice through vulgarity, she gets herself heard.
Tuesday: Ullapool MacPhail Centre
Tuesday: Hawick Tower Mill (plus Q&A with Swimmer One)
Friday: Mull Mull Theatre (ft. Emma Pollock and Wounded Knee live)
Advertisement
Hide AdSaturday: Kirkcaldy Adam Smith (ft. Emma Pollock and Wounded Knee live)
It’s been a theatre show, a book and an album. Now Whatever Gets You Through The Night is a film, featuring Rachel Sermanni, Eugene Kelly and more in nocturnal settings around Scotland. It’s screening in Hawick and Ullapool on Tuesday, Mull Theatre on Friday, and Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy on Saturday. The weekend screenings are followed by live sets from Emma Pollock and Wounded Knee.
The Stand, Edinburgh
Wednesday, 8.30pm, £10
Jamie Kilstein is known for his intelligent, no-holds-barred take on religion, politics, corporate greed and veganism, and is consistently compared by critics, comedians and audiences to fearless comic icons Bill Hicks and George Carlin.
Summerhall, Edinburgh
Friday, 7pm, £7
This monthly mash-up of some of the country’s finest literary and musical talents returns, with performances from novelist and Edinburgh Makar Ron Butlin, Belfast poet Miriam Gamble, cult indie favourites BMX Bandits, Scott Hutchison of the band Frightened Rabbit as well as an animation showcase.
Cinemas nationwide
On general release from Friday
A new thriller from Oldboy director Chan-wook Park. After India’s (Mia Wasikowska’s) father dies in a car accident, her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.
Friday: The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 7.30pm, £12
Saturday: Oran Mor, Glasgow, 7.30pm, £12
Bastille are an up and coming band from London who deliver bewitching electro-pop. Their song Flaws has become quite the YouTube hit, spawning numerous covers. They began as an alter-ego for Dan Smith and as a vehicle for his numerous ideas, and debut album Bad Blood is released next week.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow
Saturday & Sunday, 12pm – 3pm, free
Advertisement
Hide AdBest known as the choreographer who put dancers in an enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo, Janis Claxton is making a show in another unconventional setting this week. Inspired by fractals, Chaos And Contingency is designed to be performed in museums – beginning at Kelvingrove in Glasgow this weekend.
The Arches, Glasgow
Saturday, 7pm, £8 (sold out)
They have the typographically difficult name and the hyped electro-pop to match. CHVRCHES have only released a handful of original songs, but every one so far has been met with a huge level of interest. This is one of the hottest Glasgow gigs of the year so far and it sold out a long time ago. Support comes from another fast-rising Scots export in hip-trio Young Fathers.
The Admiral Bar, Glasgow
Saturday, 11pm – 3am, £10
Advertisement
Hide AdFrench DJ Francois K is the special guest for Melting Pot’s 12th birthday party this weekend. Celebrate a landmark for one of Glasgow’s finest disco and house nights.
SECC, Glasgow
Saturday, 6.30pm, £27.50
As prolific as Sigur Ros are (another album is reportedly on the way in 2013, only a year after Valtari), live appearances in Scotland are rare, so it’s no surprise to see their SECC show next weekend selling out quickly. If you’ve got a ticket, lucky you.