What's On Scotland 21-28 Jul: National Tequila Day

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.

1. National Tequila Day
Various venues across Scotland, 24 July

If you’re anything like our Food & Drink editor, the trend of assigning days of recognition to every single beverage, foodstuff and inanimate object under the sun will probably enrage you. But guys, c’mon. It’s National Tequila Day! Sofi's Bar is celebrating a day early, allowing you to neck your shots at the stroke of midnight, like a true enthusiast. Otherwise, head to Taco Mazama, El Cartel or Topolobamba who're sure to sort you out with some Mexican delights.

2. Cross the Tracks
La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. Until 24 Jul, times vary according to show

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival's 'left-field' strand / cool little cousin Cross the Tracks continues in Edinburgh this week after kicking things off on 19 Jul. CTT does a mighty fine job of spotlighting artists and producers who stir contemporary genres into old school jazz and blues, and bringing them to venues a bit more jumping than yer average concert hall. Full line-up, featuring the likes of United Vibrations (pictured), Fat-Suit and Werkha can be found here. After party's at Paradise Palms.

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ADVERTISEMENT | Edinburgh International Book Festival
Various venues across Edinburgh, 13-29 Aug

This August, hundreds of authors from across the globe appear at the Book Festival, along with prodigious spoken word artists, writer-musicians, graphic novelists and film buffs.

Highlights include singer-songwriter James Yorkston turning his storytelling skills to new use; playwright, rapper and poet Kate Tempest (pictured); Swedish spoken word performer Agnes Török; comic book artist Edward Ross with a graphic novel journey through cinema; Guardian and Vogue columnist Hadley Freeman on her top 80s movies; founder of Dr Feelgood Wilko Johnson; spoken word artist Luke Wright delivering a hurricane of a performance; and Brewdog co-founder James Watt on the ‘punk’ business movement.

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3. Sleaze: Hans Bouffmyhre
La Cheetah, Glasgow. 22 Jul, 11pm

Terrifyingly successful 25 year old Hans Bouffmyhre already runs one of the UK's premier techno labels, Sleaze Records, and is responsible for a decade of 'Sleaze' parties in Glasgow. His tracks have been spun by the likes of Richie Hawtin, Len Faki, and Ben Klock; no further endorsement needed, in our books. Catch the man himself this weekend at La Cheetah.

4. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Cameo, Edinburgh. 23 Jul, 11am & 27 Jul, 8.30pm

Isao Takahata’s hand-drawn masterpiece The Tale of Princess Kaguya gets a screening in Edinburgh this Saturday. The work comes from Studio Ghibli, renowned for films Spirited Away and Ponyo. Centred around a famous Japanese folktale, it’s a breathtaking voyage through topics of heritage, womanhood and divinity. Also screening at GFT on 26 Jul at 8pm.

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5. Edinburgh International Fashion Festival
21-24 Jul, various venues across Edinburgh

Edinburgh International Fashion Festival turns five this year, sauntering into the city with a programme more polished than a new pair of Blahniks, featuring symposiums, exhibits, shows and workshops hosted by innovative venues across the city. We're psyched for Object of Desire, a symposium on sex, fashion and the female gaze; Karen Mabon's sleepwear show and Saskia de Brauw's book launch for The Accidental Fold. Image: Scott Trindle

6. Coffee Loves Milk
Dear Green Coffee Roasters, Glasgow. 28 Jul, 11am

Coffee boffins – this one’s for you. Sit in on Coffee Loves Milk, a tasting and discussion event in which Dear Green Coffee Roasters supply the beans, West Mossgiel Farm brings the milk and Slow Food Youth Network Scotland bring the chat. Learn about coffee, milk, and their wildly differing histories (and get caffeinated to your eyeballs while you’re at it). The event will take place at Dear Green Coffee Roasters (13-27 East Campbell St, Glasgow).

7. I still believe in miracles (preview)
Inverleith House, Edinburgh. 22 Jul, 6-8pm

A round of applause for Inverleith House. They've been programming influential and interesting exhibitions for 30 years now, so it's only right they make a bit of a fuss about it. Their celebratory show, I still believe in miracles features a huge selection of artists who have exhibited in the gallery, including Louise Bourgeois, Ciara Phillips, Juergen Teller and many more. The preview is this Friday and there are vicious rumours of live performance and gin. Score. Image courtesy of Juergen Teller.

8. POUTfest: The Girl King
GFT 3, Glasgow. 21 Jul, 8.15pm

Travelling LBGT film festival POUTfest's been gracing Scotland's cinemas since early July and will continue to do so throughout August, but this week's an exciting one for GFT, so we thought it worth a mention. Thursday 21 sees a screening of The Girl King, a Scandinavian love story about gender, lesbianism and royalty. It's based on the real life events that inspired Garbo’s classic Queen Christina, and it's most definitely worth your time.

9. Fringe preview: F.R.A.N.C.
The Stand, Edinburgh. 24 Jul, 4.30pm

What's that coming over the hill? Is it Edinburgh's doubled population thanks to the annual influx of Fringe tourists? Yes, it seems that way. Beat the crowds to a seat at The Stand and catch your faves at their Fringe previews season. This week you can get a sneaky peek of F.R.A.N.C (stands for Fully Reactive Automated Non-Alcoholic Comedian), a work-in-progress from award-winning comedy writer Keir McAllister and John McGlade.

10. The Spook School
Glad Cafe, Glasgow. 26 Jul, 7.30pm

After a tour supporting PAWS, The Spook School are readying for the limelight – and with good reason. Their fuzzy-punk hooks cling to the eardrum on first listen, their beats are ripe for joyful jigging and their lyrics comprise insightful comments on sexuality and gender delivered with a nonchalant shrug and radical bite. They're something 2016's wailing for. See them courtesy of Pop!South with support from Expert Alterations, Happy Accidents and Pale Kids.

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