What's On Scotland 10-17 Dec: Christmas markets
This week we recommend you get seasonally merry with Christmas markets at Grey Wolf Studios and Summerhall, throw yourself into the melee at the Southside Street Food Showdown, celebrate five years of Tinderbox at their one-day festival, and much more besides.
Each week The Skinny team hand pick a selection of the best events from the Scottish cultural calendar to provide you with this here top ten guide to the most exciting goings on for the week ahead. From gigs, plays, and exhibitions, to spoken word, pop-up foodie events, and one-off film screenings, we give you the insider's guide to things to do in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee every Thursday morning.
Grey Wolf Studios Christmas Sale
Grey Wolf Studios, Glasgow. 10 Dec, 3-9pm
For all you night owl shoppers out there, the creative bods at Grey Wolf Studios host a special evening pop-up, showcasing the work of a select batch of Scottish designers, makers, and artists – amongst 'em textile artist Laura Spring, luxury knitwear maker Hilary Grant, and jeweller Cecilia Stamp. And, if you're swayed by the sweet stuff, Bear Sign will be on hand with the cake-shaped treats.
Southside Street Food Showdown
The Glad Cafe, Glasgow. 11 Dec, 6.30pm
Returning for a sixth blood-soaked food fight to the grisly death (or, y'know, a four-course streetfood tasting menu with civilised voting for your favourite dishes), the Southside Street Food Showdown IV sees event favourites Babu Bombay Street Kitchen and their West Indies foodie fare go head-to-head against Beep Beep Tuk Tuk and their Malaysian-inspired cuisine, with the winning dish announced after each sitting.
Insider Festival: Night At The Theatre
Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh. 12 Dec, 7pm
Insider fest return to the Pleasance Theatre for a Christmas special of their Night At The Theatre curated series, bringing with them SAY Award-winner Kathryn Joseph (pictured), Haiku Salut in 'lamp show' form (aka surrounded by a light orchestra of vintage household lamps that flicker and fade to the music), and multi-tasking chap Julian Corrie in his Miaoux Miaoux guise. (Image: Rita Azevedo)
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Tinderbox Fest
Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh. 12 Dec, 1.30pm
The award-winning Tinderbox – part comunity project, part arts organisation – celebrate five years in the Scottish capital with a special one-day festival, featuring 20 of the best bands in the city, both young and professional. There's also an array of special guests in store from China and the Balkans, plus an ambitious show lined up as more than 80 youngsters perform with the genre-defying Tinderbox Orchestra.
A Christmas Carousal
Platform, Glasgow. 13 Dec, 6.30pm
Storming the stage of Platform's panto for one-night-only, local psych-rockers Trembling Bells (pictured), Glasgow-based folkie Alasdair Roberts, and Oxford popstress Olivia Chaney make merry for A Christmas Carousal – which will basically involve them all performing live to the suitably surreal backdrop of the Puss In Boots set. Return bus leaving from Glasgow's Mono. (Image: Euan Robertson)
Summerhall Christmas Market
Summerhall, Edinburgh. 13 Dec, 11am-5pm
The annual festive fayre returns with more stalls than ever before, covering bespoke furniture, craft booze, clothing and jewellery among a plethora of fabulous finery. With mulled wine flowing and the Summerhall Singers on hand to provide a carolling soundtrack, you can merrily inspect the wares on offer from the likes of Gusto Artisan Foods, Holly Sharpe, The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company and many more. Also: get thee to Summerhall on 12 Dec for free tours and tastings courtesy of Barney's Beer.
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The Stand's Christmas Specials
The Stand, Edinburgh & Glasgow. 14-19 Dec, 8.30pm
Seasonal jollies care of The Stand kick-off across twa cities this week, with banterous chap Joe Heenan hosting o'er in Glasgow (joined by Zoe Lyons, Mark Nelson, Keir McAllister, and Ashley Storrie) and Bruce Devlin in Edinburgh (joined by Gavin Webster, Mary Bourke, Ray Bradshaw, and Gary Meikle), presumably decked out in Santa hats.
Scottish Fiction presents Beerjacket, Reverieme, Chrissy Barnacle
The Hug and Pint, Glasgow. 15 Dec, 7.30pm
Local music blog Scottish Fiction takes to The Hug and Pint for a festive singsong, headlined by the one-man alternative folk band that is Peter Kelly (aka Beerjacket), with support from Reverieme and their delicate acoustic indie-folk soundscapes, plus an early doors set from acoustic folk-meets-punk lass Chrissy Baranacle (i.e. best make sure you're down for the dot of 7.30pm). (Image: John Graham)
Festive Workshops
Hill Street Design House, Edinburgh. From 11 Dec, 3pm or 6pm
New Town design hub Hill Street Design House are hosting a range of pop-up events in December, from contemporary craft markets to DIY maker workshops helping you to create lovely bespoke gifts for your nearest and dearest. This Friday's a wreath-making workshop with florist extraordinaire Jack Fleuriste, followed by a tutorial in hosiery embellishment and brooch blinging from Bebaroque next week.
#NeuReekiesChristmasKracker
Central Hall, Edinburgh. 17 Dec, 6pm
Edinburgh-bothering literary merrymakers Neu! Reekie! mark their final outing of the year with summat suitably festive – #NeuReekiesChristmasKracker – returning to Central Hall (where they held their biggest event to date earlier in the year) to celebrate Christmas and their 5th birthday combined in the fine company of Irvine Welsh, WHITE, Hector Bizerk (pictured), Liz Lochhead, and more. (Image: Ricky Skinner)