Top Ten Events 18 Oct | Bat For Lashes | Efterklang | David Shrigley

Our current issue cover star (have a gander here) takes her third album, The Haunted Man, on the road proper – an LP for which Brighton singer/songwriter Natasha Khan has dropped the reverb-drenched and knee-deep-in-all-things-mystical groove that characterised her first two LPs, instead presenting herself and her voice with a more direct and stripped-back aesthetic, her vocals for the most part refreshingly free of effects. We for one reckon it'll go down rather magically in a live setting, and you've got two chances to catch her in Scotland this weekend – first at Edinburgh's HMV Picture House, and then Glasgow's O2 ABC. Read our exclusive chat with her about the album's genesis here.

Mexican deli par excellence, Lupe Pintos host another of their infamous Chili Cook-Offs, where folk are invited to dress-up (moustache + sombrero = sorted) and trail the participating selection of foodie venues (see full list here), where they'll receive a 50g chili con carne taster pot to rate on taste, texture, and originality (not heat; that's a given). Voting cards are then tallied, with the results revealed at each venue at around 6.30pm. It'll then happen all over again in Glasgow the following Saturday. Read our full preview here.

Following its spring debut at the Usher Hall (where Frankie Boyle made a surprise appearance), Punchline returns for a second outing – again in the grand surrounds of the Usher Hall. Headering proceedings this time around will be Nick Helm (pictured), aka he of the balls-oot delivery and official funniest joke of the 2011 Fringe (he's got an award shaped like an elephant an' everything), with stellar support from Josh Widdicombe, and Roisin Conaty. Greg Burns will be the brave compere trying to keep that lot in check.

Our favourite pop-up tea lady returns refreshed after her special August festival dates (she let performers into her house – gasp!), for another gluttonous multi-course tea party for which we're pretty sure she's slipped in more of the sugary stuff than ever before. The menu starts with an aperitif of homemade ginger beer with five spice pretzels, followed by a trio of savouries, and then six hits of sweet-stuff – including pear and hazelnut cake, and chocolate and walnut brioche buns. Full dribble-worthy menu here.

Kris 'Wasabi' Walker returns with his monthly bout of cosmic house, punk, and upside-down disco, with this edition boasting a guest headline set from Brooklyn's neo-rave champion Octo Octa, of the über-hip 100% Silk label. Playing Edinburgh just a week after his riotous set at Berlin techno-meets-house haven, Panoramabar, he'll likely be drawing on New York's 90s house and rave sounds, as is his way. Go welcome him to Sneaky's little basement, eh?

Sparks tickets: Ron and Russell Mael (aka Sparks, pictured) are all set to play an entire tour as a duo using just voice and keyboards for the VERY FIRST TIME (excited much?!). We've got tickets up for grabs for their Edinburgh date (21 Oct). Closes 19 Oct.
Play Poland tickets: Win one of three pairs of tickets to any event at the Play Poland Film Festival, aiming to present and promote contemporary Polish cinema all across the UK - and you can use your tickets for whichever city you may wish! Closes 19 Oct.
Some Like It Hip Hop tickets: We've got a pair of tickets to see the West End smash hit Some Like it Hip Hop; a comical tale of love, mistaken identity, cross-dressing and revolution, all played out in ZooNation's trademark hip hop style. Closes 30 Oct.
VIP Sonica passes: Cryptic and CitizenM celebrate the launch of sonic art festival Sonica 2012 by offering one lucky reader the chance to be a Sonica VIP for the night, including accommodation in a boutique hotel! Full listings here. Closes 29 Oct.
Skinny On Tour: Guess where The Skinny's own lovely Kyla is reading her trusty copy of the magazine (yes, it's a bog somewhere) and you could win yourself a boozy prize courtesy of our chums at Vino Wines. Closes 31 Oct.

And... VOTE VOTE VOTE: Does The Skinny have your vote? We've been nominated for the PPA Scottish Magazine Cover of the Decade award, so we're pretty bloody chuffed... And we'd love it if you'd vote for us here. They picked our Wiley cover from way back in 2007; a bit of a blast from the past, but a damn fine choice all the same. See below: