It's another bumper month of cultural activity in Edinburgh, with two new exhibitions kicking off at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and a handful of anthology-style events: All Night Horror Madness, the Wee Dub Festival and Nightvision all yield excellent multiple entertainments apiece, and the capital even gets a wee bump from the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Things to Do
Kazuo Ishiguro, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Thu Mar 5
The Booker Prize-winning author of ‘Never Let Me Go’ and ‘The Remains of the Day’ embarks upon a tour of UK venues to discuss his latest novel, ‘The Buried Giant’, a historic tale of two elderly Britons seeking out their son in the era of the Roman empire.
Rally & Broad, The Bongo Club, Fri Mar 20
‘Dance While The Sky Crashes Down’ is the subtitle for this edition of R&B’s evening poetry cabaret, with end-of-the-world entertainments from musicians RM Hubbert and Elyssa Vulpes, plus words from Alan Bissett, Lynsey May and the newly crowned Scottish Slam Champion.
Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield Stadium, Sun Mar 21
It’s the last day of the 2015 tournament, and while England prepare to face off against France at Twickenham, Scotland are taking on Ireland at Murrayfield. And, yes, we’ll probably get gubbed, but it’s all about the atmosphere, innit?
Scottish Tattoo Convention, Corn Exchange, Sun Mar 28 & Sun Mar 29
Get together with your fellow lovers of inked up alt.culture for a two-day celebration of body art, featuring loads of visiting artists, a series of Best Tat competitions and entertainment from the twin exhibitionist worlds of burlesque and Insane Championship Wrestling. They're kind of like flamenco and bullfighting that way.
Game Masters, National Museum of Scotland, until Mon Apr 20
Yep, we’re still going on about it, but seriously, the National Museum of Scotland’s exhibition-cum-installation-cum-arcade covering the history of videogaming is one of the best things in Edinburgh right now. Also, we recently spotted that some local bus tickets have 2-for-1 vouchers on the back. Keep it under your hat.
Theatre
The Fair Intellectual Club, Assembly Roxy, Tue Mar 3-Wed Mar 4
Penned by comedian Lucy Porter, this period tale of nationalism, rationalism and feminism is inspired by a real society formed by three young women in 18th century Edinburgh.
Hacktivists, Traverse Theatre, Thu Mar 5-Sat Mar 7
The Lyceum's Youth Theatre company presents a dark comedy about bullying and revenge in the age of the internet.
The Slab Boys, King’s Theatre, Tue Mar 10-Sat Mar 14
John Byrne’s play about two adolescent workers in a carpet factory is a giant of 20th century Scottish theatre; actor and theatremaker David Hayman is no small fry himself. We can't wait to see how the latter directs the former in this new production.
The Effect, Summerhall, Wed Mar 11-Sat Mar 14
Playwright Lucy Prebble (who also penned TV's 'Diary of a Call Girl') is behind this unconventional love story about two strangers who meet during the testing stages of a new drug. Is it romance, or just side effects?
Spamalot, Playhouse, Mon Mar 16-Sat Mar 21
The Eric Idle-penned Python-style musical clip-clops back to Edinburgh, sending up the legendary Knights of the Round Table with fish-slapping, killer rabbits and knight who say ‘ni’.
The History Boys, King’s Theatre, Tue Mar 17-Sat Mar 21
Alan Bennett’s 2004 play about adolescence and the true purpose of education is the recipient of 30 major awards, and has fast become enshrined as a national treasure and modern classic. Which is a fancy-pants way of saying it's really, really good. Go and see it for yourself if you don't believe us.
Hedda Gabler, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Fri Mar 20-Sat Apr 11
Lyceum Associate Artist Amanda Gaughan helms Richard Eyre’s new Ibsen adaptation, in which the titular heroine sets out to make a name for herself, consequences be damned.
The Producers, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Mon Mar 23-Sat Mar 28
Jason Manford takes the lead in this stage adaptation of Mel Brooks’ movie about a spectacularly awful Broadway musical. With Nazis.
Comedy
Susan Calman, Traverse Theatre, Wed 4 Mar
The award-winning comedian and BBC Radio regular embarks on her first UK tour, ‘Lady Like’ – ‘a show about being older, wiser and liking yourself'.
Frankie Boyle, The Stand, 8, 15, 25 Mar
The bad boy of Scottish comedy promises ‘I’m Better Than This’ in a series of work-in-progress sessions at the city’s premier comedy den.
Not the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, various dates and venues
The benefit of having the GICF just along the M8 is that several comedians have taken the opportunity to squeeze in a few capital shows while they’re north of the border. Stewart Lee (Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Sun Mar 15), Josie Long (The Stand, Tue Mar 17), Richard Herring (The Stand, Wed Mar 18) and Seann Walsh (Assembly Roxy, Sat Mar 22) are four such opportunists. Reward them with your laughter.
Film
Chappie, general release from Fri Mar 6
Following the spectacular 'District 9', we were a bit underwhelmed with Neill Blomkamp’s 'Elysium', a standard Hollywood sci-fi that shared none of its predecessor's unique South African spirit. Thankfully, the director’s back on home turf with this Jo'burg robot flick featuring homegrown rave-rap duo Die Antwoord.
Hyena, selected release from Fri Mar 6
A gritty, London-set corrupt cop thriller than manages to put a fresh spin on over-familiar material, Gerard Johnson’s follow-up to low-key serial killer drama 'Tony' is well worth your time.
Still Alice, general release from Fri Mar 6
Julianne Moore won an Oscar for her incredible performance in this drama about a middle-aged woman who discovers she has early-onset Alzheimer’s. Sure, it doesn't sound like a real pass-the-popcorn experience, but it's own of the most powerful turns you'll see this year.
Mommy, selected release from Fri Mar 20
French-Canadian stylist supreme Xavier Dolan delivers a transgressive, compassionate mother-son drama that works well as a companion piece to his similarly excellent 2009 debut 'I Killed My Mother'.
All Night Horror Madness, Cameo, Sat Mar 21
One of the most exciting nights on the Scottish film calendar, this dusk-til-dawn horror marathon is never less than electric. The line-up for this, its ninth-and-a-half outing (don't ask), is particularly spectacular: 'The Thing', 'Halloween III', 'Slugs: The Movie', 'Child’s Play' and a surprise movie, all screening from gloriously authentic 35mm prints.
Art
Trudy Stade: Connecting Visions, Summerhall, Thu 5 Mar-Sun Mar 8
This new photography exhibition explores the lives of blind and partially sighted people across Scotland, with subjects including stand up comedian Jamie MacDonald and double-marathon runner Hazel McFarlane. Head along to the launch event on 5 Mar for additional undisclosed entertainment.
David Rushton: Berlin, 1989, Summerhall, until Sun 22 Mar
Taken in the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Rushton’s photographs capture the complex mix of emotions as East and West Germany were finally reunited after nearly three decades of separation. It forms a good companion exhibition to...
Erich Salomon & Barbara Klemm: A Leap in Time, Stills, until Sun Apr 5
Two German photojournalists with very different subjects are brought together in this Stills exhibition. Salomon was a proto-paparazzo who used hidden cameras to snap candid pics of the rich, famous and powerful in 1930s Germany; Klemm, on the other hand, made it her business to be an unobtrusive eye at significant moments in German history. Between them, they span the 20th century: Salomon died in Auschwitz in 1944, five years after Klemm was born.
Raoul De Keyser: Paintings 1967 to 2012, Inverleith House, until 12 Apr
The nature-inspired Dutch painter gets the full retrospective treatment at the Botanics-based gallery, marking his first major UK solo exhibition in over a decade.
BP Portrait Award, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, until Wed Apr 15
Prestigious international portraiture exhibition, showcasing selected entries in addition Thomas Ganter’s winning painting of a homeless German man. Proof, if needed, the portraiture remains a fascinating and vital artform.
Georgia Horgan: Machine Room, Collective, until Sun Apr 19
Examining the seemingly unconnected worlds of Scottish textiles and witch-hunting in the 17th century, this research installation combines writing, images and artifacts to muse on the disciplining of women’s bodies.
Ponte City, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, until Sun Apr 26
Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse's starling photography exhibition documents the history and current state of Ponte City: a skyscraper in Johannesburg that was originally marketed as a luxury living space for white South Africans but, post-apartheid, has now become a residence for refugees from neighbouring nations.
Roy Lichtenstein, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Sat Mar 14-Sun Jan 10
One of the most radical and influential artists of the 20th century, American Pop Art master Roy Lichtenstein gets a wide-ranging exhibition of his works at the Modern Art Gallery.
Reflections, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Sat Mar 14-Sun Jan 10
The SNGoMA’s ‘programme of new and changing displays’ features work from a diverse range of internationally-renowned contemporary artists, including Louise Lawler, Taryn Simon, Cathy Wilkes, Martin Creed, Gabriel Orozco, Abraham Cruzvillegas and more. We’re most intrigued by the exhibition-within-the-exhibition which tackles artistic representations of the head, starting with Pablo Picasso’s 1912 drawing (somewhat predictably titled, ‘Head’).
Music & Nightlife
Ryan Hemsworth, Cabaret Voltaire, Sun Mar 1
Having sold out Sneaky Pete's on his last two visits, the eclectic, sample-happy Canadian DJ/producer is ready for a (slightly) bigger room, taking on Cab Vol with support from DJ Milktray as part of his 'Sucker for Punishment' tour. We have it on reliable authority that he is in no way related to Chris Hemsworth, aka Thor.
Alasdair Roberts, Traverse Bar, Mon Mar 2
Folk troubadour Roberts has made one heck of a name for himself as a talented curator and updater of Scottish trad folklore – catch him as part of a series of gigs in the Trav café bar, curated by aspirational ethical gig outfit Soundhouse.
Wee Dub Festival, various venues, Fri Mar 6-Sun Mar 8
Channel One Soundsystem, Earl Gateshead, Taiwan MC, Onlyjoe and Red Eye Hi-Fi are among the guests at Edinburgh’s epic annual celebration of dub, reggae and dancehall culture. Find out more in our nifty preview.
Jonnie Common, Voodoo Rooms, Sat Mar 7
The folktronic boy wonder is starting to pick up some recognition these days, with a BBC 6 Music session scheduled into his current tour roster. Catch a slice of his witty, poignant pop nous while you can still watch him without binoculars.
Abdominal & the Obliques, The Mash House, Sat Mar 7
Funky alt.hip hop in the Jurassic 5 mould, with MC Abs less likely to rap about guns, bitches and bling than, say, bicycling, train stations and his mum.
Karnival, The Caves, Sat Mar 7
The capital’s leading underground house night stages another top-notch guest party in the Caves, this time starring Berghain resident and Terminal M boss Monika Kruse.
Nightvision, various venues, Mar 7, 20 & 21
The stellar guest-led series of club nights continues through March, with appearances from fast-rising Birmingham DJ Hannah Wants (Mar 7), drum’n’bass legend Roni Size (Mar 20) and a live set from house innovator Ten Walls (Mar 21).
The Handsome Family, The Pleasance, Tue Mar 10
The alt.country darlings received a bit of a boost last year thanks to their song ‘Far From Any Road’ being used as the intro music to top notch TV show ‘True Detective’, which should give you a taster as to their superlative southern gothic schtick.
In Deep, Sneaky Pete’s, Fri Mar 13 & Fri Mar 20
It’s another special month for Sneaky’s resident guest selector: on Fri Mar 13, it’s London-based house, disco and soul label Wolf Music, with Edinburgh’s own undergroundies Firecracker Recordings reappearing on Fri Mar 20.
The Selecter, Liquid Room, Sat Mar 14
Given the 2 Tone group’s fractious pattern of reunions and side-projects over the years, it’s probably worth clarifying: this line-up of The Selecter features vocalists Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson, but not original songwriter Neol Davies. Should still be a skankin’ good time regardless.
Franz Nicolay, The Banshee Labyrinth, Tue Mar 17
The dandyish former keyboardist for Brooklyn rockers The Hold Steady is also an accomplished solo multi-instrumentalist in his own right. Hear his indie-rock anthems in the cosy confines of the Banshee basement this month.
Sivu, Sneaky Pete’s, Thu Mar 19
Tender, heart-on-sleeve pop balladry from Finland for people who like music to cry to. Which, come on, must be more than just us. For fans of Alt-J and Wild Beasts.
The Unthanks, Queen’s Hall, Fri Mar 20
The Northumberland traditional folk band based around sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank perform tracks from their latest album of haunting and rousing ancient sounds retooled for modern ears, ‘Mount The Air’.
Coalition, Sneaky Pete’s, Sun Mar 22
Sneaky’s resident bass night celebrates its eighth birthday with a special guest appearance from Curses, better known as NYC Trouble&Bass boss Drop the Lime. You’re gonna wanna take Monday off.
Paul Weller, Playhouse, Sun Mar 22
Wrapping up a UK tour with his sole Scottish date, the Modfather in chief will play songs from his forthcoming 12th studio album ‘Saturn Patterns’. Though we suspect there’ll be a few hits from his back catalogue thrown in as well.
Sacred Paws, Sneaky Pete’s, Wed Mar 25
Not to be confused with grungy noisemakers Paws, Ailidh Rodgers and Rachel Aggs are a Rock Action-signed indie-pop duo whose tropical summery melodies recall the Djangos, Bwani Junction and the like. They’re launching their new ‘Six Songs’ EP on this tour.
Electrikal, Bongo Club, Fri Mar 27
Following February’s canny pairing of Dillinja and Chimpo, Electrikal are acting all coy about this month’s bassy double bill: the legendary grime crew Newham Generals are headlining, supported by a ‘secret guest’.
Bipolar Sunshine, Electric Circus, Sat Mar 28
Combining elements of electronica, hip hop, pop, R&B and whatever else he feels like on the night, former Kid British vocalist Adio Marchant (aka Bipolar Sunshine) should find himself quite at home in the city of the similarly genre-defying Young Fathers.