What's On Scotland 18-25 Aug: Edinburgh Festivals
Sick of turning up to shit Fringe stand-up due to lack of planning? That's where this we come in. Check out our comedy picks, then go get chic with The Scottish Blogger shop at Hillhead, get smart at EIBF Unbound, get proud at the Art School's Free Pride
Each week The Skinny team hand pick a selection of events from the Scottish cultural calendar to provide you with this guide to the most exciting goings on in the week ahead. From gigs, plays and exhibitions to spoken word and pop up cake shops, we give you the insider's guide to things to do in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee every Thursday morning.
Right – sun's out (sort of) and the Olympics are basically over. Time to get hardcore with this Fringe lark. Luckily for you our comedy team have spent the first half of Fringe legging it all over town to make the festival a little easier to navigate. They're digging Fern Brady (henceforth known as Five Stars Fern), Paul Currie, Bridget Christie and a reflective yet hilarious set from Richard Gadd. You've got just over a week – go laugh your face off. You deserve it, pal.
Grab Life By: Celebrating the life of Gary Watson
The Priory, Glasgow. 18 Aug, 11pm
Friends, family and fans of the late Gary Watson, frontman of The Lapelles, will congregate at Glasgow's The Priory this Thursday to celebrate his tragically short but gloriously full life with songs, beer and love. Line-up features Baby Strange, WHITE, Declan Welsh & The Rockalls. Image: Kate Johnston
Sunday Circus / The End
The Courtyard, Glasgow. 21 Aug, 4pm
After nine years in the game, long running institution Sunday Circus bring their celebrated parties to an end. Join the crew for one last round of Courtyard antics, with favourite guests Craig Richards, Tricky (pictured) and Affi spinning the farewell tunes. Image: Pete Dunlop
Scottish Blogger Shop
Hillhead Bookclub, Glasgow. 21 Aug, 11am-5pm
Nine of Scotland's best fashion bloggers, including Forever Yours Betty, Honeypop Kisses, Bee Waits, and Little Blog of Horrors unite their sartorial smarts to curate an afternoon of shopping in Hillhead. There'll also be cocktails, a photobooth, manicures and make-up galore. Image: Lucy Letherland
EIBF: Unbound
The Spiegeltent, Edinburgh. Nightly until 29 Aug, times vary
Edinburgh Book Festival’s experimental effort to bring literary delights to life returns. Get along to Poetry As Refuge, a multilingual, multinational, musical poetry evening with guest selector Bidisha, the riotousTongue Fu (20 Aug) and Neu! Reekie! (26 Aug).
Glasgow Pride / Free Pride
Various venues in Glasgow, 20 & 21 Aug, times vary
Glasgow celebrates LGBTQ Pride twofold, kicking off with with Free Pride at The Art School ft. SQIFF, Letitia Pleiades, Junglehussy, Jak Soroka and Sgaire Wood (20 Aug). Then, on 21 Aug get involved in, er, not-free-pride at Glasgow Green with Prides, Karen Harding and Stooshe. Image: Emily Wylde
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Trainspotting
Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh. Until 29 Aug (not 23), times vary.
Get a punch in the gut from In Yer Face Theatre, who return to the Fringe with their immersive, repulsive and magnificent production of Trainspotting. Swimming in stars and accolades, it's a realisation of the novel so extraordinary it shocked Irvine Welsh himself. Get booked in fast.
Emma Pollock
The Hub, Edinburgh. 25 Aug, 7pm
The Delgados founding member Emma Pollock gets involved with the International Festival with a set full of deeply personal and lyrically magical music following the release of her third album, In Search of Harperfield. She's joined by master of frets RM Hubbert and pop duo Bdy_Prts. Image: Rita Azevedo
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