What's On Scotland 19-26 Sep: Sonica Festival & more

Never mind what the John Hughes films tell you: AV is cool. Sonica Festival, Glasgow’s music and art extravaganza dedicated to all things audiovisual is back, taking over the city’s venues for eleven days from 19-29 September.

There’s music from the likes of NEKO3, Grand River, plus44Kaligula, RSNO with live visuals from Alba G Corral, SHHE, Ela Orleans, Gazelle Twin, naafi, NikNak, Robin Fox, France Jobin, Annabelle Playe and more. Check out the full programme here – you can buy tickets to individual performances there.

ADVERTISEMENT | Experience Live at The Big Top this January!

Featuring Toploader, the iconic band behind the global hit Dancing in the Moonlight. Known for their electrifying performances, they’ll light up the big top stage. Joining them are the UK Pink Floyd Experience, celebrating 50 years of The Dark Side of The Moon, Scottish folk-rock superstars Mànran, poetic supergroup LYR, and the dynamic Story of Swing.

Plus supports. Don’t miss out on this unique live music experience

Hamish Hawk
St Luke's, Glasgow. 23 Sep, 7pm
Now on his fifth album, Edinburgh boy Hamish Hawk is reaching prolific levels of output. His latest release A Firmer Hand, out just last month, is maybe his best yet: a dark, sexy record of queer desire that blends everything from sleazy goth rock to moody synth pop. Image: Ellen de Faux.

Dundee Design Festival
Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, 23-29 Sep
This year’s edition of the Dundee Design Festival celebrates the tenth anniversary of the city being awarded UNESCO City of Design status, with an ambitious programme of exhibitions, events and projects exploring the state of contemporary design in Scotland. Image: Courtesy of RISOTTO.

Sing For Gaza
Leith Depot, Edinburgh. 19 Sep, 7:30pm
Head to this fundraising event for Medical Aid for Palestinians at Leith Depot for a beautiful wee lineup of local musicians, including Harry Harris, Emma Capponi and Fionnbarr Byrne, Man of Minch and Nyla, and readings from Helena Fornells Nadal and Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin.

Arsenic and Old Lace
Grassmarket Community Picturehouse, Edinburgh. 25 Sep, 7pm
Community cinema Grassmarket Community Picturehouse has a great programme of events on this autumn, from new releases you might have missed to beloved classics. Catch Frank Capra's 1944 screwball caper Arsenic and Old Lace this week, starring Cary Grant. Image: Courtesy of Grassmarket Community Picturehouse.

ADVERTISEMENT | Find the sun this Summer with An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location
Royal Scottish Academy building, Edinburgh, until 27 Oct

Indulge your wanderlust with National Galleries of Scotland’s An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location, on now until Sunday 27 Oct. Dip your toes in the sun, sea and society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with over 90 works by renowned Glasgow Boy, Sir John Lavery. Discover some of the Irish impressionists most notable paintings as you take a trip through his extraordinary life from Scotland to New York, Paris, Morocco and more.

↪ Jeremy Deller
The Modern Institute, Glasgow. Until 21 Dec
Exploring British social and cultural histories and the legacies of public spaces, Jeremy Deller's art eschews typical artistic forms in favour of democratic media like t-shirts, music, posters and banners to examine ideas of civic life. Image: Patrick Jameson.

→ The Mirror Dance: dreamcastmoe
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh. 21 Sep, 11pm
DC-based DJ dreamcastmoe arrives in town to play almost every genre you love – from house and disco to funk, soul and breakbeats – at this month's edition of The Mirror Dance at Sneaky's.

→ EXIT presents: Nala Brown + Marcy + Alliyah Enyo
Exit, Glasgow. 20 Sep, 10pm
Exit welcomes Rotterdam-based DJ Nala Brown, one of the founding members of of the all-female collective AMPFEMININE known for pushing back against the norms of the Dutch clubbing scene. Expect house, techno, electro, bass, and beyond.