What's On Scotland 31 Mar-7 Apr: 1984
Between a Northern Ballet transformation of Orwell's 1984, Glasgow's Buzzcut and Counterflows festivals, a chocolate workshop and Comic Con's return to the capital, you Scotland dwellers are sitting pretty for things to keep you occupied this week
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.
Northern Ballet: 1984
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. 31 Mar-2 Apr, 7.30pm
George Orwell’s terrifyingly accurate forecast of the world going to utter shit is given the Northern Ballet treatment this April at Festival Theatre. Former Royal Ballet dancer John Watkins exploits the choreographic potential of 1984 and brings it to full, dystopian, dreadful life. Matinee available at 2.30pm on 2 Apr. Snap up your tickets before they're all gone.
Buzzcut Festival
The Pearce Institute, Govan. 6-10 Apr, times vary
Back for a fifth year, artist facilitator extraordinaires Nick Anderson and Rosana Cade bring Buzzcut, a live art and performance festival to Glasgow (6-10 Apr). With help from Creative Scotland, the festival offers fees, accommodation and daily lunches to all those involved in the 50+ strong line-up of exhibitions. Admission is by donation, but pay what you can – full-bellied artists are happy artists, after all.
Counterflows Festival
Various venues, Glasgow. 7-10 Apr, times vary
Five’s a lucky number for the arts in April, it seems. Counterflows also returns this month, celebrating its own demi-decade of building platforms aplenty for ‘marginal, underground, or maybe even experimental’ music. This year’s featured artist is Zeena Parkins, a groundbreaking harpist known for her use of electronic processing, pedals and whammy boards to widen potential of an oft-underestimated instrument. Catch her at CCA on 8 Apr and at Glad Cafe on 10 Apr.
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April Towers
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh. 5 Apr, 7pm
King Tut's, Glasgow. 6 Apr, 8.30pm
Get your recommended daily allowance of synth-pop via Nottingham based outfit April Towers this week at both Sneaky Pete's and King Tut's. Not only are they storming their way round Britain on a home turf tour, they're also winning over the Kenyan population, landing four spots in the iTunes Top 20 including number one for latest single Silent Fever.
Howling Spoon
Kinning Park Complex, Glasgow. 1 Apr, 7pm
A group of wonderfully productive artists and activists come together at CCA's Howling Spoon Performance Kitchen to cook a pay-what-you-can vegan meal made up of repurposed surplus food, served up alongside live theatre, music, poetry and art. Isn't that just a lovely way to launch into April? Keep up to date with foodie goings on over in our Food News section.
Hidden Door Launch Party
Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh. 31 Mar, 7pm
Renovators and curators Hidden Door are set to return to the ‘Burgh with their mutli-platform arts festival in late May, but the jubilations begin in advance this week with their launch party at the Roxy. In true Hidden Door form, the shindig plans are littered with entertainment and art, with live tunes, late night poetry, exhibitions and show-reels galore. [This event is now sold out].
Catholic Action
Nice 'N' Sleazy, Glasgow. 31 Mar, 8pm
Catholic Action is Chris McCrory's latest endeavour following his run as drummer with Casual Sex. The Glasgow based four man outfit locks lazy guitar yowls into playful rock rhythms, employing lyrics which, though understated, prick the ears and defy mindless listening. Their new single L.U.V recently made it onto Radio 1's playlist. Read more about the band in our gig highlights, and grab your tickets before someone else beats you to it.
Edinburgh Comic Con
EICC, Edinburgh. 2-3 Apr, 10.30am
Edinburgh’s Comic Con ignites the geekiness on 2-3 Apr, providing a two day meeting post for all those whose hearts lie in the world of superheroes, comics and cosplay. Speaking of which, get your garms ready for their Annual Cosplay Championships on the Sunday – you could be in with a chance of landing 500 smackers.
Chocolate: Food of the Gods
Summerhall, Edinburgh. 4 Apr, 8pm
The Science Festival cheers up your Monday twentyfold with Chocolate: Food of the Gods, a safari into the chemistry, history and future of chocolate. Hang out with some experts in the industry, sample some tasters and get yourself educated on the unofficial Top Food Invented By The Human Race Ever. Turns out it’s not all Willy Wonka and drumming gorillas – who’da thunkit?
Rusalka
Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 5, 7 & 9 Apr, 7.15pm
Dvořák's Rusalka: the tale of an enchanting water nymph who regrettably trades in her voice for access to the land and an opportunity to win the affections of her true love. Sound familiar? Well, it shouldn’t. This isn’t some Ariel and Sebastian affair, it’s Antony McDonald's scintillating and menacing opera based on the most unsettling of folk tales.
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