There's a hint of festive spirit in the air, but not everything on offer this week is garnished with mistletoe and ivy. In fact, there's some downright violent imagery to combat all that Christmas cheer, so help yourself to some visceral tuneage from Pulled Apart by Horses and some chest-bursting action in the GFT's 'Alien'/'Aliens' double bill.
Things to Do
Glasgow Loves Christmas, city centre, until Wed Dec 31
A festival of seasonal frolics in the city centre, with illuminations and ice skating on George Square and a food-centric market on Argyle Street among the highlights. There’s also the Christmas Carnival, which sets off from St Enoch Centre at noon on Sun Nov 23, and the ever popular Santa Dash on Sun Dec 7 (register now).
21 Revolutions, Platform, until Sun Dec 7
Exhibition of words and art celebrating over two decades of the Glasgow Women’s Library, with input from Ciara Philips, Corin Sworn, Janice Galloway, AL Kennedy, Karla Black, Lucy Skaer and more.
Theatre
Edward Scissorhands, Theatre Royal, Wed Nov 19-Sat Nov 22
Matthew Bourne’s Tim Burton-inspired ballet translates the world of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ to the live stage, as the blade-fingered outcast attempts to assimilate into consumer-driven suburbia.
Theatre Uncut, Oran Mor, Mon Nov 17-Sat Nov 22
Co-Artistic Director Hannah Price helms this year’s programme of short plays themed around current political issues - head along to witness raw theatre that has something important to say.
Art
Alasdair Gray, various Glasgow galleries, until Tue May 25
The artist, writer and official National Treasure is the subject of no less than four exhibitions this month, leading up to his 80th birthday in December. Glasgow Print Studio hosts ‘A Life in Print and Posters’ until Sun Nov 16; Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is home to lifespan retrospective ‘From the Personal to the Universal’ until February; and the Gallery of Modern Art and Glasgow School of Art host ‘Spheres of Influence I’ and ‘II’ respectively, providing context by looking at Gray’s influences and those who have been influenced by him.
Jill Todd Photographic Award 2014, Street Level Photoworks, until Sun 7 Dec
Check out works from the latest crop of promising graduate photographers from across Scotland and Ireland, lent support and exposure by the Jill Todd trust.
Lucy Skaer, Hunterian Art Gallery, until Sun 25 Jan
The Turner Prize nominee and Glasgow School of Art graduate explores the relationship between representation and reality, with special inspiration from surrealist artist Leonora Carrington.
Manuel Chavajay & Rebecca Wilcox: This Might Be a Place for Hummingbirds, CCA, until Sun Jan 18
Two seemingly unrelated artists’ works are brought into direct comparison at this CCA: Guatemalan painter and sculptor Chavajay and Glasgow-based video artist Wilcox.
Nathan Coley: The Lamp of Sacrifice, Gallery of Modern Art, until Sun Mar 1
Coley’s 2004 installation – which involved the creation of 286 churchs and places of worship in Edinburgh – is revived in Glasgow’s GoMA as part of the Generation project, celebrating the last 25 years of contemporary Scottish art.
Art From Elsewhere, Gallery of Modern Art, until Sun Feb 1
Glasgow is the starting point for this UK-wide touring exhibition, which brings together international artworks from all disciplines in an effort to enhance the country’s contemporary collections.
YAKA Collective: So It Is, The Briggait, Mon Nov 17-Fri Nov 28
Exhibition staged by a collective of seven Glasgow School of Art graduates, who invited 30 of their contemporaries to exhibit works at several venues in the Laurieston area. Start your journey off at the Briggait to find out more.
Music & Nightlife
Martha Wainwright, Oran Mor, Mon Nov 17
The folk, pop and rock songstress – and yes, we might as well mention it, sister of Rufus and daughter of Loudon (and Kate McGarrigle) – plays tunes from her 18 year career.
Jack White, SSE Hydro, Tue Nov 18
Stomping blues rock from the stellar, retro-loving guitarist plays licks from throughout his White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather-spanning career, including more than a few tracks from his stomping new album ‘Lazaretto’.
Joey Bada$$, The Garage, Tue Nov 18
The Brooklyn rapper takes a break from his Pro Era crew to show one of Glasgow’s predominantly rocky live music venues how it’s done.
Prehistoric Friends, The Glad Café, Tue Nov 18
Lush, sensual, dreamy soundscapes courtesy of Glasgow’s underground supergroup, featuring members of Miaoux Miaoux, Admiral Fallow, Quickbeam and the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra.
Kasabian, SSE Hydro, Wed Nov 19
A large-scale arena gig for nu-Britpop kingpins Serge, Tom and co, now touring album number five, ’48:13’.
Banks, O2 ABC, Wed Nov 19
LA singer specialising in ‘the sort of downbeat, sniffles-and-sass grooves that have reinvigorated the R&B genre and kept disco pants slowly swaying in every basement club from Brooklyn to Brixton’. At least, that’s what we said in our review of her debut LP, ‘Goddess’.
Lee Scratch Perry, SWG3, Wed Nov 19
This is a good get for Glasgow’s foremost forward-thinking warehouse space, as the legendary dub pioneer (pictured) drops in for a midweek evening skank.
The Drums, The Art School, Thu Nov 20
Brooklyn’s indie-pop finest return in support of third album ‘Encyclopedia’.
Erasure, O2 Academy, Fri Nov 21
Synthpop icons Andy Bell and Vince Clarke command more than a little respect as they play tracks from their 16th studio album, ‘The Voilet Flame’.
The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Barrowland Ballroom, Fri Nov 21 and Sun Nov 23
Ahead of their debut album’s 30th anniversary next year, the iconic Glasgow shoegaze outfit are playing through ‘Psychocandy’ in its entirety at this two-night residency on home turf.
Astral Black with Skepta and DJ Milktray, The Art School, Fri Nov 21
Grime poster-boy Skepta headlines this Astral Black show case which is ostensibly a launch party for DJ Milktray’s ‘All Because the Lady Loves’ EP, but is actually an AB showcase: Jon Phonics, Jaisu, Dressin Red, Bushido Brown, Deburgh (Big N Bashy) and DJ Keoma are also on the bill.
Lily Allen, O2 Academy, Sat Nov 22
She’s booked in to play Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations at the end of December, but we suppose there’s no harm in getting reacquainted with Scottish audiences ahead of time.
Pulled Apart by Horses, Stereo, Sat Nov 22
The Leeds four-piece take to the Stereo basement for a suitably subterranean strain of screamy, noisy punk rock.
Wintersong, Platform, Sat 22 Nov
The great and good of Glasgow’s indie-folkie scene (including RM Hubbert, Alasdair Roberts and Admiral Fallow’s Louis Abbot) join forces with some further flung collaborators (The Grumbling Fur, Plinth) for a tuneful contemplation of winter.
Comedy
Gilded Balloon Comedy at Drygate, Drygate, Fri Nov 21
Mickey Dwyer, Romesh Ranganathan, Steve Shanyaski and Bec Hill form the top-notch line-up at GB’s weekly Drygate residency.
Film
Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder, Glasgow Film Theatre, until Mon Dec 22
The BFI’s sci-fi season has an especially stellar week at the GFT, with Jonathan Glazer’s deeply unsettling 'Under the Skin' screening on Mon Nov 17 and both an ‘Alien’/’Aliens’ double bill and Fritz Lang’s masterful silent sci-fi ‘Woman in the Moon’ on Sun Nov 23.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, from Thu Nov 20
The first part of the final chapter of Suzanne Collins’ much-loved book series sees Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence in the role that’ll be on her tombstone) take on the oppressive government of Panem, led by Donald Sutherland’s cadaverous President Snow.
Winter Sleep, from Fri Nov 21
Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan returns to the barren steppes of his motherland for a challenging, intelligent depiction of the power struggles within relationships and communities.