What's On Scotland 6-13 Jun: Glasgow International & more

If you love a painting (or a drawing, or an installation, or something that transcends generic boundaries in the name of creative experimentation), then you’re going to have a great month – Glasgow International, Glasgow’s biennial festival of visual art, is back in town with a gorgeous programme of exhibitions, art performances, and talks.

Running from 7-23 June (although some of the exhibitions run for longer) across various venues, galleries and museums in the city, highlights include Mina Heydari-Waite’s moving image and sculpture work Farang which traces a semi-fictional journey across Iran, and Alexis Kyle Mitchell and Ima-Abasi Okon’s Anticipate, sublimate, which considers acts of preservation and rituals for personal and collective sustenance. You can find the full programme of exhibitions, events and performances here – find a pal and make an itinerary.

Nights at Parveen's
Civic House, Glasgow. 7 Jun, 6pm
The supper clubs at Civic House are becoming the stuff of legend. There’s incredible Pakistani food on offer from in-house cafe Parveen’s, with music drawn from Iran, the Arab world, and Indian disco from DJs How Bizarre, Joumana, and headliner Mera Bhai. Image: Courtesy of Civic House.

Common Ground Festival
CCA: Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow. 7-26 Jun
There’s a brand new festival in town! Common Ground is designed to bring diverse communities together through arts and culture; check out Palestinian choreographer Farah Saleh’s performance lecture Balfour Reparations (2024-2044) (pictured) and exhibition HOW IF WHEN.

Giant Hogweed + NANI
Summerhall, Edinburgh. 8 Jun, 7:30pm
There's trumpets aplenty in this tr(i)ump(h)e(n)t 5-piece band headliner from Giant Hogweed: except gorgeous jazz harmonies and visceral psychedelic blues, with support from Edinburgh-based lo-fi pop and R'n'B icon NANI (pictured).

Loose Joints: Or:la + naafi
The Berkeley Suite, Glasgow. 8 Jun, 11pm
The Berkeley Suite's Loose Joints night welcomes Derry-born DJ and producer Or:la, whose sets bridge the gap between breakbeats and techno with dynamism and verve. She's supported on the night by Glasgow-based DJ and her self-described brand of "sparkly music".

ADVERTISEMENT | Anthony Jeselnik: Bones And All
SEC Armadillo, Glasgow. 28 Sep, 7pm
Comedian Anthony Jeselnik is bringing his new stand-up tour Bones and All to Scotland. Jeselnik recently toured over 100 sold-out shows across North America. Now, he brings his new hour of material to SEC Armadillo this September. Widely known for his Netflix specials, podcast and Comedy Central roasts he currently hosts the podcast, THE JESELNIK AND ROSENTHAL VANITY PROJECT, alongside co-host Gregg Rosenthal for All Things Comedy. Don’t miss out – get your tickets at livenation.co.uk.

↪ Matilda Bull: Flowers from Jericho
Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh. Until 30 Jun
There's just under a month left of Matilda Bull's beautiful risoprint exhibition Flowers From Jericho, which channels outrage at the massacre in Palestine through posters inspired by punk and protest aesthetics. There's a poster sale this Saturday – don't miss it.

→ Live Audio Essays: Air Pressure
SWG3, Glasgow. 6 Jun, 8pm
Part of Glasgow International’s events programme, three performances draw on sonic data from Lebanese soundscapes and the violations of Israeli fighter jets in Lebanese airspace, making audible lived experiences of violence and aggression.

→ Balkanarama Big Birthday Bash
La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. 7 Jun, 10pm
Balkanarama – the UK's best (and oldest) Balkan music-themed night – turns 17 this month, and they're celebrating with a big birthday party. Expect glitter, DJs, amazing circus and dance performances and cake.