What's On Scotland 19-26 Oct: Black History Month

October marks Black History Month, and the week ahead is packed to the rafters with educational events, panels, gigs and screenings that form – directly or indirectly – a celebration of the histories, achievements and excellence of black people. Scottish Parliament host a Black History Month panel on 19 Oct complete with a free screening of the Emmy Award-nominated film Traces of the Trade – A Story from the Deep North as part of the wider Festival of Politics. Later in the month GUSRC host an event entitled Black History Month: Confronting Glasgow's Colonial Past, followed by a Q&A.

If you're after some damn fine cultural happenings scroll down for a couple of recommendations, but we'd also like to politely remind you that the nationwide broadcast of Grace Jones' Sophie Fiennes-directed film Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami screens on 25 Oct in cinemas across the UK. You know what to do.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Summerhall, Edinburgh. 19 & 20 Oct, 7pm
WHQ – the glimmering jewel in Newcastle's clubbing crown – has become rather accustomed to trips north of the border lately, and we're not complaining. This month they're teaming up with Nat Turner to bring an exclusive group of session musicians and vocalists together for a performance of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in its entirety.

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AJ Tracey
The Liquid Room, Edinburgh. 21 Oct, 7pm
SWG3, Glasgow. 22 Oct, 7pm
Grime fella AJ Tracey (aka Che Wolton Grant) touches down at The Liquid Room this week with his Secure The Bag! tour. Grant rose to fame on pirate radio before slamming a BBC Sound of 2017 nomination earlier this year. Rest assured the West Londoner MC will be spitting the fieriest bars over the chilliest bleeps.

Love Song to Lavender Menace
The Lyceum, Edinburgh. Until 21 Oct, 8pm
This week's your last chance to catch James Ley's Love Song... a highly recommended play about two friends, Bob and Sigrid, and their new lesbian, gay and feminist bookshop, ‘Lavender Menace’. The celebratory ode is an LGBTQ History Month Scotland Cultural Commission, and likely to stir the hearts of those interested in Edinburgh's non-hetero stories.  Image: Aly Wight

India @ UK 2017: Inter_rupted
Tramway, Glasgow. 20-21 Oct, 7.30pm
Thanks to India @ UK 2017, a festival of dance and theatre, this month the High Commission of India in UK and UK/Indian festival producer Teamwork Arts bring two of India’s most celebrated dance companies to Scotland. Daksha Sheth Dance Company and Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company will both perform in Glasgow on 20-21 Oct.

ADVERTISEMENT | ARTIST ROOMS: Music from the Balconies - Ed Ruscha and Los Angeles
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Until 29 April 2018, admission free
Comprising photographs, paintings and drawings dating from the early 1960s to the 2000s, this striking free display explores Ruscha’s fascination with West Coast American culture.
Ed Ruscha, The Music from the Balconies © Ed Ruscha. ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d’Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund 2008 © DACS 2017

Luminate Festival: When We Were Young
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Until 15 Apr
Creative ageing organisation Luminate want to draw attention to the importance of creativity and activities as we age. This year's festival continues until 31 Oct, and features exhibitions, films, performances and participatory events in venues across Scotland. Check out When We Were Young, an exhibition exploring how the experience of childhood – and its portrayal – has changed over the years. Image: David Peat - An Eye on the Street, Glasgow 1968 (Comforting Arm)

Graphic Design Festival 2017
The Lighthouse, Glasgow. 20-26 Oct
Graphic Design Festival Scotland makes a return this week with an expansive programme featuring workshops from MTV, Spin, Supermundane, Recoat, CodeBase and Hungry Sandwich Club. There'll also be a reprise of GDFS's International Poster Exhibition (21 Oct-25 Nov), discussions, parties, and shorts film screenings. Also, It’s Nice That founder Will Hudson's hosting an event about networking called Awkward and we're totally game.

Acid Mothers Temple
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh. 21 Oct, 7pm, Conroy's Basement, Dundee. 22 Oct, 7pm & Broadcast, Glasgow. 23 Oct, 7pm
In 2011 we described Japanese psychedelic rock unit Acid Mothers Temple as "near-legendary". Six years later (and over two decades since their conception) they're still going strong, and we're still big fans. Don't miss this opportunity to have your senses temporarily assassinated. Image: Kenny McColl

Sonica: Infinite Lives
Tramway, Glasgow. 26-28 Oct, 9pm
How does a live lab experiment in which bacteria react to electronic music suit you? If you're intrigued, visit Tramway to catch Robbie Thomson's Infinite Lives, which is, er, exactly that. The event forms part of Sonica (26 Oct-5 Nov, various venues across Glasgow), a biennial festival of visual sonic art from around the world. Image: Robbie Thomson

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