What's On Scotland 8-15 Feb: Artists' Bookmarket & more

Listen, we all love books, but sometimes it's nice when those books have pictures in them, amirite? Enter artists' books, gorgeous curios that take the book form and transform it into a stunning art object. If this sounds right up your street, you're in luck, because this weekend sees Fruitmarket bring back their annual Artists' Bookmarket: a weekend of stalls, workshops, and overall full-on celebration of artists' books in all their glory, running from 10-11 February in the Fruitmarket gallery space. Pop by to pick up a little zine, learn how to make a collaged pocketbook, or listen to a small press give a talk. And if that's not quite enough of the written word for you, Edinburgh Zine Festival is running at the same time in Fruitmarket's Warehouse space. Happy book-ing!

Peace For Palestine
Stereo, Glasgow. 9 Feb, 7pm
Raising funds for Medical Aid for Palestine, this solidarity event features a banging lineup: sound system Mungo's Hifi, Afrobeat and ska outfit Samba Sene & Diwan, Scottish grime artist Red King, reggae and dub queen Wends and samba and brass band SambaYabamba. Image: Gaelle Beri.

Jenny Matthews: Sewing Conflict
Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow, 10 Feb-5 May
Jenny Matthews’ work focuses on issues of conflict and dispossession and human rights. This exhibition brings together a series of photographic hangings embroidered over using local techniques and materials to highlight the erasure and obliteration of war. Image: Jenny Matthews.

Lucy Debussy’s Erotic Cabaret
Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh. 14 Feb, 7:30pm
For alternative Valentine’s Day plans, head to this erotic cabaret put on by Lighthouse Bookshop and Lucy Debussy, whose new collection Unspeakable Shaking Pleasures speaks for itself, with performances from Markee de Saw, Meghan Flaherty and Lynsey May. Image: Courtesy of Lighthouse Bookshop.

Femmergy
The Bongo Club, Edinburgh. 14 Feb, 11pm
For more actually sexy Valentine's Day plans, follow up the Erotic Cabaret with a late night at Bongo Club with all femme queer DJ collective Femmergy. Expect an irresistible mixture of pop, disco, R’n’B from DJs such as Annafleur, Groundskeeper Fanny and Rawzi. Image: Charlotte Cullens.

ADVERTISEMENT | Lantern Led Tours
The Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh. Fri, Sat and Sun in Feb, 6pm
Step beneath the Royal Mile and shine a light on the past by joining an atmospheric lantern-led tour in Edinburgh. Experience the darkness for yourself. All you will have to lead you is a resident of the close and the flickering of your lantern… You’ll also meet a rather insidious character from the 17th century along the way; one that used to strike terror into people’s hearts at the very sight of them…

↪ The Last Dinner Party
The Caves, Edinburgh. 10 Feb, 7pm
For something hedonistic and baroque to brush the February cobwebs away, head to The Last Dinner Party for a dose of delicious punk-y indie rock. Recently winning the BBC Sound of 2024 poll, there's no better gig that taps into the current zeitgeist. Image: Courtesy of artist.

→ Loose Joints Valentine's Love Down – System Olympia
The Berkeley Suite, Glasgow. 10 Feb, 11pm
Loose Joints team up with gorgeously romantic DJ System Olympia for a Valentine's Day special – expect her signature mix of Italo disco, synth-pop, deep house and downtempo with support from Loose Joints residents.

→ It Happened One Night
DCA: Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. 14-15 Feb, various times
And finally, the last love-themed thing we will recommend (we're annoying ourselves, don't worry) – DCA is screening screwball romantic comedy classic It Happened One Night for, well, two nights actually.