What's On Scotland 28 May – 4 Jun: Hidden Door & more

Hidden Door isn’t as clandestine as its name suggests. This multidisciplinary arts festival specialising in transforming forgotten spaces is undoubtedly one of the key events on the Scottish cultural calendar. Returning once again to Edinburgh’s Paper Factory, this year’s festival kicks off with a night headlined by the enigmatic Aussie electro-pop provocateur BIG WETT, with ICHI, Post Coal Prom Queen and Doom Scroller also on the lineup. The great music continues across the weekend, with Buffet Lunch, Jenny Hval, Makeness, Valtos and Lauren Auder among the highlights. There’s plenty more music, art, poetry and dance on offer, but half the fun is the chance to explore this massive venue’s maze of warehouse, factory floor and office spaces.

3-7 Jun, The Paper Factory, Edinburgh; full programme and tickets at hiddendoorarts.org

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SHHE

Bonar Hall, Dundee. 28 May, 7.30pm
 

Dundee-based artist and producer SHEE, aka Su Shaw, celebrates her excellent new six-part ambient work THALASSA with a pair of shows this week. First up is this hometown performance, followed by one at Edinburgh’s Queen's Hall on Saturday (28 May). 

courtesy of Tramway

Lara Kramer: Gorgeous Tongue

Tramway, Glasgow. 3 Jun, 7.30pm
 

Lara Kramer's hypnotic solo performance Gorgeous Tongue depicts a metamorphosis. We’re told to expect moments of struggle, play, turmoil and surrender as Kramer traces the full arc of a star being’s journey in a work that's both deeply personal and expansively cosmic.

Photo: Anni Cameron

DAYS Festival

The Pitt, Edinburgh. 30 May, 1pm

Now that we finally have a bit of sun, DAYS Festival has come along at just the right time. Sneaky Pete’s and RARE join forces for this all-day dance party featuring live sets from the likes of Daniel Avery, Helena Hauff, Feena, Carmen Baía and more.

courtesy of Janus Films

The Times of Harvey Milk

Glasgow Film Theatre. 31 May, 7.40pm

You probably know about Harvey Milk through Gus Van Sant’s biopic Milk, but an even better introduction is Rob Epstein’s Oscar-winning documentary from 1984. One of the first feature documentaries to address gay life in America, it’s a timely work of queer advocacy.

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courtesy of Jamali Maddix

↪ Jamali Maddix: Work In Progress

Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh. 30 May, 8pm

If you’re a comedy fan, you’re probably getting excited for the Fringe. If you wanna be ahead of the curve, though, look out for some excellent standups doing work-in-progress shows at Monkey Barrel ahead of their August runs like Ayo Adenekan, Catherine Bohart, Maisie Adam, and this weekend, the razor-sharp Jamali Maddix.

→ Carla J. Easton

The Rum Shack, Glasgow. 29 May, 7.30pm

Easton celebrates her recently released album I Think That I Might Love You, which sees her swap keyboards for guitars; we described it as one of the best Scottish pop records of the year. Don’t miss the chance to see this enchanting performer in one of Glasgow’s most intimate live venues. 

→ Vennels: Perth’s Little Streets

Perth Museum. 29 May-6 Sep

Perth Museum celebrates ‘vennels’, those narrow streets also known as closes, alleys, and lanes, which have shaped the city. Tracing the distinctive network of vennels woven through Perth, the exhibition shows how these streets formed the heart of the medieval town and how they continue to influence its character today.