What's On Scotland 8-15 Aug: Edinburgh Art Festival & more

Oh, sorry, are the fifty thousand festivals already in town not enough for you? Well then, you're in luck, because Edinburgh Art Festival kicks off this week, with a remarkable programme of exhibitions running across Edinburgh’s galleries and museum spaces from 9-25 August.

There’s major solo shows from acclaimed artists such as El Anatsui at Talbot Rice Gallery, DIY exhibitions from artist-led spaces such as Sett Studios, and a spotlight on emerging artists with the tenth edition of PLATFORM, featuring Alaya Ang, Edward Gwyn Jones, Tamara MacArthur and Kialy Tihngang. There's also artist in-conversation events, performances, and an opening party that is currently sold out but keep an eye on returns. Check out the full programme here, sit in a quiet room full of art, and have a breather.

Edinburgh International Book Festival
Various venues, Edinburgh. 10-25 Aug
OK fine, here's another festival: Edinburgh International Book Festival returns this week with a stunning programme of world famous and local authors giving talks, doing signings, and running workshops. Find the likes of Salman Rushdie, Caleb Femi, and Adania Shibli (pictured) there. Image: EIBF.

LUCKYME Festival Party: Iglooghost
Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh. 10 Aug, 11pm
Trailblazing Edinburgh-based indie record label Lucky Me are putting on two parties this month, with their bash at Sneaky Pete’s welcoming dance music producer Iglooghost, whose 2024 album Tidal Memory Exo is a feat of high-octane worldbuilding. Image: Igor Pjorrt.

HEALTHY w Manuka Honey
The Berkeley Suite, Glasgow. 9 Aug, 11pm
The Berkeley Suite welcomes the iconic Manuka Honey for a night of experimental club. The US-born, London-based DJ and multi-disciplinary artist is known for her decolonial approach to dance music, producing music with a distinctive Latin-American and Caribbean sound.

Cosmos
Summerhall, Edinburgh. Until 11 Aug
Palestinian circus artist Ashtar Muallem playfully explores ideas of identity and spirituality in this piece, in which yoga and meditation are ironically explored as counterpoints to violent occupation, and aerial interludes transform into moments of brief respite.

↪ SANAM
Stereo, Glasgow. 11 Aug, 7pm
Folk rock sextet SANAM hail from Beirut, blending traditional Egyptian songs and Arabic poetry with free improvised noise, rock and jazz to create a uniquely contemporary sound. Catch them in Stereo on their Europe tour to hear their intoxicating industrial sound live.

→ Elaine Robertson: Delulu
The Stand Edinburgh, Edinburgh, 1-25 Aug, 12:05pm
Surely taking the award for one of the best comedy show titles of the Fringe, newcomer Elaine Robertson’s stand up hour is a hilarious excavation of the lies we tell ourselves – good or bad.

→ Book Fringe
Various venues, Edinburgh. 9-27 Aug
A collaboration between indie bookshops Lighthouse Bookshop, Typewronger Books and Argonaut Books, Book Fringe offers a gorgeous programme of free (!!) book talks from the likes of Dina Nayeri, Marjorie Lotfi, Sofie Hagen, Lex Croucher and K Patrick.