Nighttime illuminations, voices in the basement and one-man human cannonball blues guitar this week - and who said all the creepy, bizarre stuff was for Halloween?
Music & Nightlife
Bob Log III, Sneaky Pete’s, Mon Nov 3
A one-man slide guitar blues performance with a splash of weirdness – Bob performs in a human cannonball suit and motorcycle helmet, and requires some audience participation for the hilarious and/or terrifying-sounding ‘Boob Scotch’.
Chvrches, Corn Exchange, Wed Nov 5
Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty continue touring their phenomenal debut album ‘The Bones of What You Believe’. And why the hell not – its best moments capture a ‘bittersweet fusion of melancholy and mild euphoria’, after all.
Jacques Greene, The Caves, Thu Nov 6
The mysterious low-key Canadian house producer teases a couple of forthcoming releases on LuckyMe and Night Slugs with a set at one of Edinburgh’s most unique subterranean venues, with support from likeminded local Telfort.
Africa in Motion Closing Party, Summerhall, Fri Nov 7
The Scotland-wide fest that aims to highlight the breadth and variety of filmmaking talent in Africa wraps up with a night of percussion, dance and Afro-centric beats from the likes of Ayawara and Swank ‘n’ Jams.
Jasper James at In Deep, Sneaky Pete’s, Fri Nov 7
The son of Harri from Subculture (Glasgow’s long-running and still essential Sub Club Saturday nighter) proves he has ample chops of his own, with a Radio 1 Essential Mix and an EP on Optimo Trax already under his belt.
Nightvision presents Joy Orbison & Boddika, Liquid Room, Sat Nov 8
Peter O’Grady, aka Joy Orbison (Hotflush, Aus) brings his unique update of house and jungle-inflected dubstep to a headline slot, accompanied by frequent collaborator and SunkLo co-label boss Boddika, New York’s Novel Sound boss Levon Vincent and rising Edinburgh talent Theo Kottis.
Sleaford Mods, Electric Circus, Sat 8 Nov
Nottingham’s finest contribution to the world of ‘electronic munt minimalist punk-hop’ (pictured above) noise up the Electric Circus.
Things to Do
Night in the Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, until Sun Nov 23
Come and experience the Botanics as you’ve never seen them before, with spectacular and eerily beautiful illuminations transforming the park into a psychedelic wonderland.
Bonfire Night, various venues around Edinburgh, Wed Nov 5
Forgot to buy your tickets to the official Meadowbank display? Head up Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill and enjoy seeing all the fireworks in the city explode in panoramic view.
Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, Sun Nov 9
A well-heeled farmers’ and artisans’ market, with Au Gourmand, Dunkeld Smoked Salmon, The Pea Green Boat, Tanny Gill, Annanwater and Peelham Farm among the regular stallholders.
Theatre
Bondagers, Royal Lyceum Theatre, until Sat Nov 15
Sue Glover explores the lives of the 19th century women who worked on Scottish farms, employing a mix of humour, song and dance to leaven the graft and toil of croft life.
Symphony, Traverse Theatre, Wed Nov 5-Fri Nov 7
Three of the UK’s finest up and coming theatremakers (Tom Wells, Ella Hickson and Nick Payne) deliver a show that combines the best elements of theatre, comedy and live music. We praised the ‘the sweet, skilled cast and the sheer energy’ of the show when we reviewed it during its Edinburgh Fringe run – what more do you want?
The Voice Thief, Summerhall, Fri Nov 7-Sun Nov 9
A family-friendly promenade performance set in The Voice Facility (aka Summerhall’s basement), where the voices of young girls tell a haunting story.
Best of BE Festival, Traverse Theatre, Sat Nov 8
The highlights from this year’s Birmingham European international theatre festival enjoy UK tour, including Radioballet's 'From The Waltz to The Mambo', Julia Schwarzbach's 'Loops and Breaks', and Mokhallad Rasem's 'Waiting'.
Art
Negritude Republic, Summerhall, until Fri Nov 7
Johannesburg graphic designer Modise BlackDice makes his solo UK debut with this striking poster exhibition as part of the Afrovibes UK Festival fringe and Africa in Motion Film Festival, celebrating 20 years since the end of apartheid in South Africa. It’s a bold and striking exhibition combining pop art, typography and black iconography.
Danie Mellor, National Museum of Scotland, until Sun Nov 9
The acclaimed Australian artist explores the intertwined stories and histories of Scotland and Australia using museum exhibits and his own personal history.
Chloe Dewe Mathews: Shot at Dawn, Stills Gallery, Sat Nov 8-Sun Jan 25
Evocative photography exhibition capturing landscapes of WWI execution sites in the modern day.
Stan Douglas, Fruitmarket Gallery, Fri Nov 7-Sun Feb 15
Exhibition of the Canadian artist's film, video and photography works that explore the junction between history and memory.
Film
Interstellar, Fri Nov 7
Our reviewer said Christopher Nolan’s latest ‘makes Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Gravity’ feel like a palate cleanser for the big meal to come’, and gave it a hefty five stars. Bigger than ‘Gravity’? Count us in.
Leviathan, Fri Nov 7
A contemporary Russian tale, set on the shores of the Barents Sea, about the unholy powers of the state and the church bearing down on one man and his family. A 'sweeping, curious and bold' parable says our critic.
Set Fire to the Stars, Fri Nov 7
Elijah Wood stars in this poetic, tastefully shot biopic of Dylan Thomas, focusing on his ill-fated tour of the United States in the 1950s. Contains astounding supporting turns from Kelly Reilly and Shirley Henderson too.