What's On Scotland 1-7 May: New From Scotland, Alchemy + more
Showcases of some of Scotland's best new bands, two returning film festivals and a host of bumper club nights all feature in this week's Zap events guide
New Music? From Scotland? Is that right?
Sounds wild but it's true – the fine folk behind the Wide Days music convention are back with New From Scotland, a pair of very exciting gigs in Edinburgh bringing together some of our favourite new bands from across the country.
Thursday 1 May features atmospheric Glasgow trio her picture, excitable dance duo KuleeAngee (pictured), indie songwriter Theo Bleak and the captivating Indoor Foxes at La Belle Angele. On Friday (2 May) at Sneaky Pete's, check out Eyve’s blend of R’n’B and hip-hop alongside the modern trad sound of Iona Fyfe, with Quebec’s Super Plage and Welsh alt-pop ace TWST also on the bill. Tickets via newfromscotland.com/tickets
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival
Venues across Dumfries & Galloway. 15 May-1 Jun
Scotland’s largest rural performing arts festival returns for its 46th edition throughout Dumfries & Galloway from 15th May to 1st June! The Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival returns with a world class programme combining theatre, music, dance, and spoken word. The Festival will bring artists and audiences alike together again, in and around venues across the region for a two-weeks celebration of local and national artists that sits at the heart of Dumfries and Galloway’s arts scene.
Alchemy Film & Moving Image Festival
Various venues, Hawick. 1-4 Aug
True to its name, Alchemy explores the strange and intriguing magic that can come from unexpected artistic encounters. This year’s programme includes strands on embodiment and borders, exhibitions, an EP launch from Miwa Nagato-Apthorp, and a ceilidh.
Malin Lewis: Halocline Anniversary
Rum Shack, Glasgow, 7 May, 8pm
Groundbreaking piper Malin Lewis celebrates the one year anniversary of their SAY Award-longlisted album Halocline with a very special Glasgow gig. They’re joined by bandmates Sally Simpson and Ali Hutton to perform tracks from the album, as well as new music.
Scottish Ballet: The Crucible
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 1-3 May, various times
Scottish Ballet’s adaptation of the Arthur Miller play dazzled on its debut at EIF 2019, and now it returns to Edinburgh as part of a Scottish tour. Miller’s McCarthy-era riff on the Salem witch trials has taken on new resonance in *these trying times*, and Helen Pickett’s extraordinary choreography ensures its message lands with a punch.
Folk Film Gathering
Various venues, Edinburgh, 2-11 May
The festival of folk cinema returns with a programme packed with stories of lives and communities from around the world. Among this year’s highlights are Emma Davie’s 1997 film Flight (pictured), telling the stories of Scottish diaspora communities across Canada, and O’r Ddaear Hen (1981), the first Welsh-language horror film.
↪ 199th RSA Annual Exhibition
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh and online, 3 May-8 Jun
The RSA’s big show rolls around once again, featuring dozens and dozens of artworks from contemporary artists from across Scotland in painting, sculpture, photography, installation, architecture and film. Image: I Hate Men (2024) by Sarah Maple, courtesy of the RSA
→ Huntress & Miss Cabbage present: Mykki Blanco & ptk.bby
Exit, Glasgow, 3 May, 10pm
Ponyboy alumni Miss Cabbage and Huntress bring another incredible night to Glasgow, headed by a set from genre-hopping polymath Mykki Blanco that promises to blend DJing and live performance. Support from high-energy Glasgow DJ ptk.bby.
→ Queen's Park Spring Weekender
Queen's Park, Glasgow, 3 & 4 May, 2-11pm
It's gonna be 17 degrees, baby! Get out to the Southside for Melting Pot and Optimo's double-header; Saturday is headed up by French house ace and noted ABBA-lover Folamour alongside Mr Scruff and Dan Shake, while Sunday stars The Blessed Madonna, Erol Alkan and Aba Shant-I, with live sets from Bikini Body and Dame Area.
GLOW Festival 2025
Venues across Edinburgh, until 18 Jun
The annual GLOW Festival celebrates all that's creative at Edinburgh College, showcasing stunning work from across the Creative Industries Faculty’s 3,500 students. Iconic venues across Edinburgh and beyond will host exhibitions, performances and showcases encompassing film-making, music, acting, dance, computer games design, photography, graphic design, art, make-up artistry and costume design.
Don’t miss the opportunity to discover Edinburgh’s new creatives. With many of the events free to attend, view the full programme and be inspired!
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