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.
Artists’ Moving Image Festival 2014, Tramway, Sat Nov 15 & Sun Nov 16
Two days of screenings highlighting the works of international artists using film, video, animation and assorted other moving image media.
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.
Theatre
Blood Brothers, Kings Theatre, until Sat 15 Nov
The long-running West End musical about two twins separated at birth visits Glasgow as part of its UK tour, with local hero Marti Pellow and Maureen Nolan of the Nolan Sisters in the cast.
Whisky Galore, Citizens Theatre, Wed Nov 12-Sat Nov 15
Mull Theatre present a live meta-portrayal of Compton Mackenzie’s famous comedy, with three BBC radio actors (and one overworked studio manager) attempting to perform the story in the 1940s.
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.
A Christmas Carol, Citizens Theatre, Sat Nov 29-Sat Jan 3
Charles Dickens’ famous festive tale is the inspiration for the Citz’ 2014 Christmas show, directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director Dominic Hill.
Miracle on 34 Parnie Street, Tron Theatre, Fri Nov 28-Sun Jan 4
Local theatremaker and panto rejuvenator Johnny McKnight writes, directs and stars in his latest production for the Tron, a gender-bending Glasgow-set Christmas fairytale.
The War Of The Worlds, SECC, Sat Nov 29
Jeff Wayne’s big budget adaptation of HG Wells’ sci-fi story takes to the road for its final arena tour, complete with special effects, pyrotechnics and a 3D holographic Liam Neeson.
Music
Mono’s Twelfth Birthday Party, Mono, Fri Nov 14
Incredibly, Glasgow’s premier venue/record shop/vegan cafe bar is only 12 years young this week. Join liver performers Casual Sex, General Ludd, Holy Motors and the Good Press DJs in helping them celebrate.
Out of Orbit: Space Dimension Controller and Lena Willikens, The Art School, Fri Nov 14
The Art School’s intergalactically-minded funk, disco and techno night scores a cosmic singularity with a guest appearance from Space Dimension Controller. Comeme Radio’s Lena Willikens brings some experimental vibes of her own.
La Cheetah Club 5th Birthday Part 3 with Matthew Herbert, La Cheetah, Fri Nov 14
With a title that manages to be more confusing than anything in the ‘Rambo’ franchise, La Cheetah welcomes boundary-crossing electronicist Matthew Herbert for their birthday celebrations finale.
Jonnie Common, Glad Cafe, Sat Nov 15
Probably Scotland’s wittiest folktronica wunderkind, the boy Common heads to Glasgow’s Glad Cafe (spiritual home of his Save As Collective) to launch his second album, ‘Trapped in Amber’.
Carl Barat and The Jackals, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Sat Nov 15
The erstwhile Libertine takes to one of Scotland’s best loved small stages with his new band, whose single ‘Glory Days’ (from a forthcoming, as yet unnamed album) you must’ve heard by now.
Bob Mould, Oran Mor, Sat Nov 15
The former Husker Du/Sugar singer-guitarist released his 11th solo album, ‘Beauty & Ruin’, back in June. He’s touring that in Europe this month, with support from Young Knives.
Frogbeats presents: Rebecca Vasmant, Stereo, Sat Nov 15
An Afro, Latin, house, jazz and funk night from the Frogbeats Collective, with locally-sourced genre-hopping Ministry of Sound DJ and producer Vasmant heading the line-up.
Lady Gaga, SSE Hydro, Sun Nov 16
About as far from Bob Mould as you can get, the poker faced-singer/performer/fictional creation brings her big-budget 'Artpop' extravaganza to Glasgow’s largest concert space to provide this week’s massive finale.
FLY Club with David August and Theo Kottis, Sub Club, Sun Nov 16
Sub Club’s resident party-on-a-school-night hosts the live Glasgow debut of German house chap David August (Innervisons, Diynamic) supported by returning Moda Black champ Theo Kottis.
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’.
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’.
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 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’.
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.
Sharon Van Etten, The Art School, Tue Nov 25
Spectrally-voiced alt.indie-pop from Ms Van Etten, whose fourth album ‘Are We There?’ was released back in May.
The Ting Tings, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Wed Nov 26
Following a lengthy break during which they’ve written and recorded their fourth album, ‘Super Critical’, the Fling Flings are back and ready to rol...wait, that’s not their name.
Mastodon, O2 Academy, Wed Nov 26
Punishing prog metal from the heavily tattooed Atlanta, Georgia quartet.
Kele, SWG3, Fri Nov 28
Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke is once again hitting the road solo to share some danceable electropop goodness with the masses.
Pressure 16th Birthday Party, Arches, Fri Nov 28
Berghain resident Ben Klock, Subb-an and Laura Jones join Slam for Pressure’s sweet 16th. It’s able to get married now.
Comedy
Kevin Bridges and Friends, The Stand, Sat Nov 15
One of the biggest stars on the Scottish comedy scene keeps it real in the limited capacity Stand basement, giving a leg up to some fellow comedy luminaries as well as trying out some of his own new material.
John Bishop, SSE Hydro, Wed Nov 26 & Thu Nov 27
The Liverpudlian everyman continues to sell out arenas up and down the country with his likeable, accessible observations.
Daniel Sloss, The Garage, Fri Nov 28
Perennially youthful Fifer with cutting observations and healthy links within the Scottish comedy scene (he wrote jokes for Frankie Boyle when he was just 16, you know).
Dylan Moran, The Stand, Wed Nov 26
A work-in-progress show from the misanthropic Irishman, who’s really not actually that unfriendly.
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.
Katherine Ryan, Oran Mor, Sat Nov 29
The Canadian comedian explores female role models in the media, particularly the UK-specific peculiarity that is the glamour model. All while being hilariously funny, of course.
Film
The Imitation Game, Fri Nov 14
Another biopic, this one depicting an episode in the life of computing godfather and WWII Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing. Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the complicated lead role, unafraid to play the mathematician as awkward and almost comically stand-offish.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, 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, 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.