What's On Scotland 18-24 Apr: Sands Film Festival, Pearling mixtape launch + more!
There's plenty of great gigs and exhibitions to see in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee this week – plus, a fantastic film festival for those willing to go a little further afield...
Sands, the International Film Festival of St Andrews, is smaller in scale than some of the showcases that have appeared in the Zap! the last few months, but the quality of the programming is well worth a trip to the historic seaside town. Expect Hebridean coming-of-age Silent Roar, healing documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, and a genre-bending queer dissection of Virginia Woolf in Orlando: My Political Biography.
There's also plenty of live events to grapple with, including a talk with Scotland's own Karen Gillan about her work in front of, and behind the camera, plus screenings of two of her short films.
Multiple venues, St Andrews. 19-21 Apr
LUNCHTIME READINGS:
The Skinny Guide to Record Store Day 2024
With RSD 2024 set to take place on Saturday 20 April, we take a look at the official and unofficial events our favourite record shops have planned across Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee.
⤹ AD
Tectonics Glasgow
City Halls & Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow. 4+5 May
Book now for Tectonics Festival at Glasgow City Halls & Old Fruitmarket. Experience the cutting edge of experimental and avant-garde music as international and local artists come together to push the boundaries of sound. Bring a thirst for discovery and surprises! Book a Day Pass or save money with a Weekend Pass when booking by Friday 26 April.
Book Now
Pearling 'Lovelocket' Launch
Room 2, Glasgow. 18 Apr
"Fairy pop" innovator Pearling launches her mixtape Lovelocket in her first hometown headliner show with support from nil00, Spent, angel.world and Slide Cancel. Performance artists and dancers will elevate this gig to otherworldly heights.
In Short, Europe: Best of Best
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. 20-21 Apr
Taking place in Scotland for the first time, the 6th edition of In Short, Europe is a five-strand celebration of European short filmmaking, showcasing works from many countries whose cinematic output is often underestimated, such as Cyprus and the Faroe Islands.
Luisa Omielan: Bitter
Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh. 25 Apr
Back for her first solo show since What Would Beyoncé Do?! – which earned her the first BAFTA Breakthrough award for comedy – Luisa Omielan's success has been marred by entertainment industry power politics; but she's turning that bitterness into comedy gold.
George the Poet Book Launch
The Portobello Bookshop, Edinburgh. 23 Apr
Acclaimed rapper and award-winning podcaster George the Poet launches his memoir Track Record: Me, Music and the War on Blackness at the Portobello Bookshop, with a talk with broadcaster Gemma Cairney. In-person and livestream tickets are available.
⤹ AD
Encounter rare new painting by world-renowned Surrealist artist
Modern One, Edinburgh. On display now
An extremely rare and sought-after painting by world-renowned Surrealist artist Remedios Varo has been acquired by National Galleries of Scotland. This is the first ever oil painting by Varo to enter a public collection in Europe and is now on display and free to view at Modern One. A significant and exciting acquisition for the people of Scotland, Varo only completed about 100 paintings in her lifetime, with most in public collections in Mexico.
↪ Psweatpants
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh. 18 Apr
SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow. 19 Apr
Up-and-coming Glasgow rapper Psweatpants offers two hard-hitting headline gigs. The Scottish Alternative Music Awards winner for best hip-hop act is perfect for fans of Bemz, Nova, Slowthai and Tyler, the Creator.
→ Colin Robertson: North, South, East & West
Iota, Glasgow. Until 27 Apr
Colin Robertson returns to iota with a collection of charcoal drawings on traditional Japanese paper, which use "starting points" as varied as photographs of Sinead O'Connor to the royal family.
→ Dubdee Presents: Mighty Oak Sound System
Kings, Dundee. 19 Apr
At the end of the week, enjoy all six "scoops" of Edinburgh's roots and reggae royalty, the Mighty Oak Sound System, who are bringing their handbuilt, heavyweight rigs to Dundee for the very first time.
Competitions and Offers
Win a £50 food voucher for The George Hotel, Inveraray! The 160-year old family-owned hotel won Best Whisky Bar of the Year 2022.
Win tickets to the Black Isle Belters! Two lucky winners will win a pair of tickets to either of Peat & Diesel's May Bank holiday weekend shows.
Win a family pass to Belladrum Festival 2024! Enter on the website, closes 28 Apr.