What's On Scotland 25 May-1 Jun: Hidden Door
There's a Bank Holiday on the horizon, and oh BOY are there treats in store, from Hidden Door to Glasgow Vegan Festival, Riverside Festival to The Whisky Stramash...
Not only are temperatures predicted to soar into certain taps aff territory this week (at the time of writing, at least), the Central Belt is also packed sky-high with attractions and distractions. Scroll down for more on that, but for now let's talk Hidden Door, returning to the capital on 26 May. Taking place between this year in Leith Theatre, the multi-platform arts festival continues until 4 Jun with another busy programme. We're stoked that Bdy_Prts, Faith Eliott and Monkoora are on the musical bill, and recommend you also try to catch Flint and Pitch's Blistering Mischief and a screening of The Adventures of Prince Achmed, sound-tracked live by SINK.
Travis Alabanza: The Other’d Artist/s
Until 17 Jun, Tues-Sat 11am-5pm, free
Through creative collaboration with more than 20 Black artists, Travis Alabanza aims to turn Transmission gallery into a living room. The exhibition – which promises to be an exploration and documentation of how the Black body feels within space – is set to be a Black artists’ takeover of the gallery – aiming to change the function of the space in its presence and future.
Pinegrove
Summerhall, Edinburgh, 29 May, 7.30pm
With addictive guitar lines, the odd bit of banjo and Evan Stephans' hearty yet agile, Americana-ready vocals, it's a blessed sound this band create. You'll leave feeling like your soul's been ravaged and healed simultaneously. Probs. Image: Phillip Randall
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Formerly good-as-gold indie-folk talent who's acquired a little ferocity while crafting her new album I'm Not Your Man. If you were into the recent offerings of Angel Olsen and Jenny Hval, this will suit you down to the ground and back up again. Image: Steve Gullick
ADVERTISEMENT | Colin Cloud: DARE
Pleasance Grand, Edinburgh, 2-26 August, 8pm
Real-life Sherlock Holmes, forensic mind-reader and master of the unconscious Colin Cloud returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with a brand new show. In DARE, you will be involved in a potentially life-enhancing experience of epic proportions – he’ll predict the future and deduce your most intimate thoughts. Star of The Illusionists (Broadway and London’s West End). Total Edinburgh Fringe sell-out 2014-16. WARNING: Your truths will be revealed for entertainment purposes.
Edinburgh International Children's Festival
27 May-4 Jun, times, venues and prices vary
Accidentally offered to babysit this week and seriously regretting it? Find a silver lining at Edinburgh International Children's Festival (formerly known as Imaginate). There's theatre from Scottish and international companies, along with film screenings, puppetry, dance, physical theatre and more. Brownie points and genuinely entertaining shows? Score. Image: Jon Green
Fresh from a string of US dates with Whitney, and ahead of summer dates with Kurt Vile, American wanderer Julie Byrne hits UK shores for an eight-day stint and plays her only Scottish date at Glasgow's CCA. Her voice will make you want to melt into yourself – your ears will thank you. Image: Jonathan Bouknight
Dairy-free diners, Glasgow Vegan Festival also takes place this week, promising 50 stalls, eight world food caterers, talks and demos galore. They recommend turning up peckish, but we'd advise otherwise if you don't fancy bankrupting yourself on nut butters. Image: Jayde Perkin
Surgeon's Hall, Edinburgh, 27 & 28 May, 12-5pm
Did you know that May is national whisky month? No?! Well, it's not too late to celebrate – The Whisky Stramash is back and ready to embrace you in its liquor-y arms for another year. Expect hunners of samples from near and far, the chance to buy your faves, and all the usual Stramashy mystery, comedy and merriment. Image: Joshua Rappeneker
Riverside Museum, Glasgow, 27 & 28 May, 1-11pm
Make most of that long weekend and party it out at Electric Frog and Pressure's Riverside Festival. Nina Kraviz, Sven Väth, Rødhåd, Jasper James, Derrick Carter and Natalie x Becky (plus heaps of other local and international DJs) are all signed up cause some mayhem. And with a whole day off on Monday to deal with the aftermath, what excuse could you possibly have for bailing? Image: Andrew Potter
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