If you’re a Glasgow resident, why go east to the Edinburgh festivals when there’s so much cultural nourishment to be found on your own doorstep throughout the late summer? Likewise, if you’re a visitor to the capital for the annual August arts jamboree, why not take a day out from the crowded pavements, highly-strung amateur thespians and relentless flyering, and come west for the day for all from major outdoor concerts to pipe band competitions, art exhibitions, comedy shows, plays and other such food for mind and soul? Here are seven things to do in August which prove that Glasgow is the true fringe of the Fringe.
The Merchant City Festival
Like a mini Fringe away from the Fringe, the Merchant City Festival takes over Glasgow’s fashionable drinking and dining out quarter every late July and early August for a feast of live comedy, music, theatre, street arts, dance, market stalls, fashion shows, kids events and much, much more. Highlights will include the world premiere of ‘Fragile’, a brand new large scale street performance featuring dancers interacting with JCBs.
Various venues, Merchant City, Jul 25-Aug 2, merchantcityfestival.com
Limmy: Daft Wee Stories
It’s not just Edinburgh that gets all the funny people this summer - Glasgow hosts one of its own at Oran Mor, as Brian Limond, AKA BBC sketch show writer and actor, Twitter and Youtube sensation, Vine-addict and master of dark, surreal and so-very-Scottish cult comedy Limmy promotes his debut book ‘Daft Wee Stories’. As the title well implies, do not look to these stories for profundities (though there will be plenty of profanities).
Oran Mor, July 30-Aug 1
Phil Collins: Tomorrow Is Always Too Long
Tomorrow is Always Too Long (excerpt) by Phil Collins from Images Festival on Vimeo.
The final part of GOMA’s Moving Image Season is a project by Phil Collins (no, not that Phil Collins), conjuring up a vision of Glasgow from the perspective of institutions that describe the scope of human experience and define us as social beings. It includes animation by Matthew Robins and soundtrack contributions from Cate LeBon, Mogwai’s Barry Burns, Golden Teacher and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Gallery of Modern Art, until Aug 17
Magners Summer Nights
The Kelvingrove Bandstand in the West End’s leafy Kelvingrove Park was lovingly restored last year in time for the Commonwealth Games. For the second August in a row, it’s given over for several days to the Magners Summer Nights open-air concerts series, featuring big name talents from near and far. Specifically King Creosote (Aug 6), Roddy Frame (Aug 7), Glasvegas (Aug 8), an Electric Honey Records promoted showcase headlined by We Were Promised Jetpacks (Aug 9), Joan Armatrading (Aug 13), Ben Folds & YMusic (Aug 14) and Echo and The Bunnymen (Aug 15). When the weather holds, there’s no more marvelous place in the city to watch your favourite band than on a stage silhouetted against a canopy of trees lining the River Kelvin.
Kelvingrove Bandstand, Aug 6-9 and 13-15, magnerssummernights.com
Piping Live!
If you’re escaping Edinburgh for the day – a city with a piper on practically every street corner during tourist season – then you may not necessarily be in the mood for a full festival themed around Scotland’s national instrument. But hear this one out, because the champion players – traditional and contemporary, solo and band members – who gather for this annual international festival put your average busking droner to shame. Events take place around the city, building up to the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on the second last day, where pipers from all over the world duel it out to be crowned best on the planet.
Various venues, Aug 10-16, pipinglive.co.uk
Lanark: A Life in Three Acts
Alasdair Gray‘s seminal novel ‘Lanark’ is adapted for the stage anew in Graham Eatough’s co-production between The Citizens Theatre and the Edinburgh International Festival (it makes its world premiere in Edinburgh at the Royal Lyceum Theatre before switching to the Citz for a linger run). A young man arrives in a dying city with no recollection of even his own name, embarking on an epic trip through time, space and consciousness.
Aug 14-Sep 19, Citizen’s Theatre, citz.co.uk
Glasgow Summer Sessions
Two of Scotland’s most successful musicians of recent years headline these big one-dayers in the South Side’s Bellahouston Park, which feel more like mini T in the Parks than they do standalone gigs. Ex Paisley chip shop charge hand turned chart-topping soul and rock’n’roll sensation Paolo Nutini kicks things off (Aug 29), with head-turning support in the form of ever-extravagantly attired singer, model, actress and muse to the stars Grace Jones. Former Dumfries supermarket shelf-stacker turned world’s highest-earning DJ, and producer for some of the biggest names in pop, Calvin Harris brings the big beats and a big lightshow the following night (Aug 30), with support from Ellie Goulding, John Newman, Disciples and Burns.
Bellahouston Park, Aug 29-30, glasgowsummersessions.com