We've cheated more than a little with this week's Top 10, cramming in dozens of events under the Burns Night banner. Plus, Celtic Connections rumbles on and the West End Festival makes a sneaky incursion into the winter months. All in all, it's a cracking week to be in Glasgow.
The Second Coming, Tramway, Mon Jan 19
It’s your last chance to see Fidget Feet’s high-flying tribute to Irish poet WB Yeats, incorporating traditional music, song, dance, theatre, archive footage and aerial dance action.
Macbeth, Citizens Theatre, Tue Jan 20-Sat Jan 31
The experimental Filter Theatre company rejig Shakespeare’s Scottish play with more avant garde electronic instrumentation and movement.
Punch Brothers, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Fri Jan 23
It’s another busy week for Celtic Connections, but if we had to choose only one act from this week (and, given space restrictions, that’s exactly what we have to do), it’d be the one by this bluegrass-meets-modern classical ensemble.
The Electric Gardens, Botanic Gardens, Fri Jan 23-Sun Feb 15
Unable to wait until their traditional June slot, the folks behind the West End Festival have jumped up the calendar to present this spectacular music, light and sound-enhanced walk round the Botanic Gardens.
Eton Messy, Arches, Fri Jan 23
The YouTube channel, promotions outfit and record label hosts a weekend takeover at the Arches, with a headline set from Lancaster duo Bondax and support from londe, Karma Kid, Just Kiddin, TCTS, Kidnap Kid and Glasgow’s own ShangriLa crew.
A Most Violent Year, general release from Fri Jan 23
American writer-director JC Chandor ably steps into the shoes of the great Sidney Lumet in this New York period crime piece starring Oscar Isaac (‘Inside Llewyn Davis’) and Jessica Chastain (‘Zero Dark Thirty’).
Alvvays, King Tut’s, Sat Jan 24
The Canadian indie-pop quintet (pictured above) behind last summer’s inescapably wonderful ‘Archie, Marry Me’ should go down an absolute treat in the city Belle & Sebastian call home.
Alasdair Gray: Spheres of Influence II, until Sun Jan 25
Alasdair Gray season is sadly dying down, as much as Glasgow’s love of the free-thinking polymath can ever really die down – make sure you check out this great exhibition before it closes on Sunday.
Rally & Broad, Stereo, Sun Jan 25
The stellar performance evening put together by poets Jenny Lindsay and Rachel McCrum pops its head up again, this time with special guests Liz Lochhead, Loki & The Kartel, Kirsty Logan, Kevin Gilday and Shambles Miller.
Burns Night, various venues, Sun Jan 25
The nation’s Bard fails too attend his own birthday party for something like the 200th time running, but we won’t hold it against him. Find out the best places to swig a dram, address a haggis and dash a white sergeant with our handy feature.