What's On Scotland 6-13 Oct: SMHAFF & more
This week, head along to the opening events of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, catch gigs from Michael Kiwanuka as part of Black History Month, C Duncan and Be Charlotte, and check out Louis Theroux's new doc, My Scientology Movie.
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.
Wishing You All Good Mental Health
Every year, World Mental Health Day tries to get us all to open up about our mental health, which, coincidentally, is one of the best things to do to keep our mental health in check. On 10 Oct, sit down with some of the people you love, put on the kettle, and have a chat about where your head's at.
The great Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (10-31 Oct) provides a similar service, with an always thought-provoking programme of theatre, film, music, comedy, visual art and literary events. We’re particularly looking forward to One Thinks of It All as a Dream, a new play from Alan Bissett about the life of Syd Barrett, which traces the Pink Floyd man’s struggles with mental health and fame.
Black History Month
Various venues throughout Oct
October is Black History Month, and St Mungo’s in Glasgow are marking the occasion with a series of events and pop-up exhibitions, including It Wasnae Us ('til 30 Oct), a showcase of art exploring the role of slavery in Glasgow’s past. Also not to be missed is Michael Kiwanuka (pictured), who brings his intimate folk-soul sound to Glasgow (The Art School, 6 Oct) and Edinburgh (The Liquid Rooms, 7 Oct) as part of the Black History Month celebrations. See blackhistorymonth.org.uk for more details.
Tenement Trail
Various venues, Glasgow. 8 Oct, 1pm
Glasgow dudes Tenement TV mark five years of DIY live music sessions in their West End flat with another Tenement Trail, this year a nine-venue, 50-band, one day spectacular. The tasty lineup includes Be Charlotte (pictured), Crash Club, The Paper Kites, TeenCanteen, Milburn and more.
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My Scientology Movie + Satellite Q&A
Various cinemas across the UK, 10 Oct
Mischief-maker Louis Theroux brings his inimitable interviewing style – part bumbling gent, part Spanish Inquisition – to the big screen this month to take on L Ron Hubbard’s controversial religion. The doc heads to various cinemas across the UK (including GFT and the Cameo, Edinburgh) from Fri 7 Oct, with special satellite Q&A screenings on 10 Oct.
Portobello Book Festival
Portobello Library, Edinburgh. 7-9 Oct
Head down the shore for some literature this weekend for the jam-packed Portobello Book Festival. Highlights include Booker-nominee Graeme Macrae Burnet on how he gets inside the minds of his characters, a talk on Edinburgh-set noir with Lesley Kelly and Alison Baillie, and artist Edward Ross discussing his delightful graphic-novel Filmish: A Graphic Journey Through Film (pictured).
ADVERTISEMENT | Home Away – Theatre Beyond Borders
Tramway, Glasgow, 8-12 October
National Theatre of Scotland takes over Tramway in Glasgow from Sat 8 Oct-Wed 12 Oct. As the world continues to shrink, as borders are constructed and crossed on a daily basis, Home Away invites ten groups of performers from around the world and across Scotland – two groups each night - to tell us what Home means to them.
Also featuring a five day conference for participatory arts organisations and professionals.
Info and tickets at HomeAway2016.com
Creative Electric: Fragility
Bongo Club, Edinburgh. 8 Oct, 3pm & 7pm, (£donations only)
All this month the Bongo Club celebrates that considerable milestone of reaching its second decade. This weekend’s events include two performances by Creative Electric of their Fringe hit Fragility, a blistering study in modern masculinity following seven young men over the course of a night out.
C Duncan
Stereo, Glasgow. 8 Oct, 7pm
With his second record, The Midnight Sun, out on Friday, Christopher Duncan and his band should be heading to Stereo this weekend in a celebratory mood. Expect the Glaswegian composer’s signature blend of electronic elements and sweeping synth combined with lush vocals and dreamy harmonies.
Read more news from across the Scottish cultural scene at theskinny.co.uk/news
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