What's On Scotland 12-19 Feb: Bahar Noorizadeh & more
There's the largest UK exhibition of Iranian-Canadian artist Bahar Noorizadeh's work at Cooper Gallery this week. Elsewhere, Coach Party play Room 2 and there's a Valentine's/Galentine's programme at Filmhouse
The largest solo UK exhibition to date by Iranian-Canadian artist Bahar Noorizadeh, The Debtor’s Portal brings together science fiction, political theory and experimental artistic practices to explore new imaginaries of post-collective futures.
Opening at Cooper Gallery this Friday 13th (spooky!) and running until 11 April, the exhibition comprises of two installations by Noorizadeh, as well as a work created in collaboration with Scottish artists entitled Reuter in Tehran. It's a provocative and timely investigation into the illusory infrastructures of economics and power and is free to visit.
Coach Party
Room 2, Glasgow. 15 Feb, 7pm
Think Isle of Wight is all quaint cottages and picturesque beaches? Think again. There's a strain of punk courtesy of indie rock group Coach Party, who marry the loud and frenetic instrumentation of 90s indie rock with sharp and introspective lyrics. Image: Lily Doidge.
Saint Joan
Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow. 14-28 Feb, various times
An urgent reimagining of George Bernard Shaw’s 1923 play about the life of Joan of Arc, this staging of Saint Joan is a much more raw and stripped back version than Shaw’s original, offering an unflinching look at the play’s core themes of gender, power, and youth-led revolution. Image: Mihaela Bodlovic.
Valentines Night with Aki Remally + Friends
People's Leisure Club, Edinburgh. 14 Feb, 7pm
Make Valentine's Day less unbearable with this gorgeous lineup of fun, flirty and sexy musicians and poets at People's Leisure Club. There's vintage soul and funk from Aki Remally, vibey disco and house from DJ Nikki Kent, and poetry from Acolyte frontwoman Iona Lee. Image: Laura Meek.
Valentine's + Galentine's Day
Filmhouse, Edinburgh. 13-19 Feb
There's more alternative Valentine's Day (and Galentine's Day!!!) plans at Filmhouse, with an incredible programme of classic cinema favourites exploring romance in all its forms: think David Lynch's Wild at Heart, Casablanca and Steel Magnolias. Image: Universal Pictures.
ADVERTISEMENT | Andrew Wasylyk
For this special performance, Dundonian musician and producer Andrew Wasylyk will be joined on stage by an ensemble, including strings, brass and woodwind to perform songs from his forthcoming new album. Navigating jazz, neo-classical, and elements of electronica, the evening will also include music taken from his four Scottish Album Of The Year award-nominated albums. Not to be missed! Coming to Stirling, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, supported by the brilliant Kathryn Joseph.
↪ Scottish Opera: The Great Wave
Theatre Royal, Glasgow. 12-14 Feb, 7:15pm
How often do you – a person who is not 18th-century nobility – get to attend the world premiere of an opera? Now's your chance: Scottish Opera have reimagined the story behind Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave (it'll be in Edinburgh the week after). Image: Mihaela Bodlovic
→ mantle: Lola So + Wheelman
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh. 13 Feb, 11pm
February's mantle welcomes in the slowly shifting season with something a bit bright and fun: Origins resident Lola So plays Scotland for the first time, with support from Glasgow icon Wheelman – expect house, bass, and genre-spanning tunes.
→ KEEP ON / Songs of Love & Lust Valentines Get Down
La Cheetah Club, Glasgow. 15 Feb, 11pm
Final Valentine's-themed event from the Valentine's Day hater: house and disco night KEEP ON have amassed four hours worth of songs dedicated to burning, pining and yearning – shake out your feelings on the dancefloor.