Cover image - Self Portrait (of us all) as the Devil (2009) by Graham Fagen, developed from the main character in Killing Time, a collaboration with Graham Eatough, Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) in 2006. Shown as part of PhotoDalkeith, Dalkeith Palace until 27.9

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Photo Dalkeith / Playtime with Phil Bancroft Trio

Friday – Dave Rowntree / PILGRIM / Caledonia Dreaming – 50 Years of Scottish Punk

Saturday – Heroin film screening / 1896-2026: An Epic of Electronic Music and its Technology / November Group – Afternoon Originals / Woe is Us.

Tuesday - Down to Earth - Celebrating 30 years of the Columcille Centre / Photography Scotland 2026

Wednesday – Loud Women Edinburgh present Second Idol + SheBeat + Von Dodds + YIOTA

Scroll down for details… Don’t shoot the messenger…

Here all week

Scott Lawrie Gallery, Chuckie Pend. Until 29.8. Mon-Sat. 11am-6pm.

Jake Chapman - Nicesis: the Unwellness of WellBeing

New work by Brit-art provocateur, designed to repel and attract in equal measure…

Studies in Photography, William Street. Until 29.8. Wed-Sat 12 noon-5pm. https://studiesinphotography.com/pages/cadence-ten-years-of-studies-in-photography

Cadence - Ten Years of Studies in Photography

To mark a decade of Studies in Photography, as the organisation leaves its William Street home, an exhibition bringing together 20 photographers to celebrate both.

Mote 102, Ferry Road. Until 30.8. 11am-5pm. https://mote102.com/events/from-the-ground-martha-ellis-susie-wright/

Martha Ellis & Susie Wright - From the Ground

From the Ground brings together the work of Martha Ellis and
Susie Wright in a celebration of plants and the quiet beauty found
in the natural world. Drawings, prints, sculptural works and ceramics
invite us to pause and reconsider the everyday plants and flowers we so
often pass by without a second thought.

Brown’s of Leith, Custom Lane until Aug 30, 4pm. Tickets - https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mayflies SOLD OUT

Mayflies

Grid Iron Theatre’s hit staging of Andrew O’Hagan’s novel sets itself in a Leith warehouse space which doubles up as assorted 1980s Manchester music venues in a thrilling look back in languor at how a group of teenage Ayrshire boys became men.

Tay Street Gallery, Tay Street. Until 30.8. Thu-Sun – 1pm-5pm. Preview 15.8 – 2pm-5pm. Free

Thank Fuck for Artists

Lily Ashrowan Sam Ainsley John Ayscough Emily Bates Beagles & Ramsay
John Brown Sarah Calmus Mark Haddon Hannah Dove Kevin Harman

Paul Kier Cathy Orton Sienna Ponting Mark Purves Elaine Speirs
Rowan Mace Billy McCall Chad McCail Toby Messenger Maggie Hills
lain Irving

Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street until 31.8. 10an-6pm. https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6700/

The Craigmillar Tapestry

Marking 60 years since the first Craigmillar Festival, celebrate the power of art as a catalyst for social change. Twenty incredible tapestry panels have been stitched by local residents in Craigmillar and Niddrie, telling the rich and diverse story of the community. The panels are stitched to a very high standard, reflecting the great talent in Craigmillar.

Studio Bar, Assembly George Square Studios. Until 31.8. 10am-5am. Free. https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/the-worst-record-covers-in-the-world

Steve Goldman - The Worst Record Covers in the World

The return to Edinburgh of Steve Goldman’s superlative collection of terrible record covers that makes you wonder what record company art departments were on when they greenlit these. What they might sound like is another matter entirely.

Embassy Gallery, Ferry Road. Until 6.9. Thursday: 4-7pm; Friday: 12-5pm; Saturday: 12-5pm; Sunday: 12-5pm. Opening 15.8 – 7pm. https://embassygallery.org/events/culture-vultures/

Culture Vultures

‘Culture Vultures’ is a musical written by Donald Campbell and Helen Crummy first performed as part of the 1977 Craigmillar Festival. The inaugural Festival took place in 1964 and was organised by the Peffermill Mother’s Group. Success of ensuing festivals led to the formation of the Craigmillar Festival Society in 1969, which became an internationally recognised community arts group that operated year round.

City Art Centre, Market Street until 27.9. 10am-5pm. Tickets - https://cultureedinburgh.com/events/sandra-george-start-from-the-level

Sandra George: Start from the Level

Sandra George (1957-2013) was an artist who devoted her life to working with communities, documenting and developing vital social-action projects for over thirty years. Sandra believed deeply in the power of art and collective endeavour to inspire and lift people up. Through this work – and her career as a freelance photographer – she was rarely without a camera in her hand. The legacy she has left is a powerful and empowering archive: a first-hand social history through her distinctive lens.

Start from the Level showcases the central areas of interest in Sandra’s life and work: from community, identity and activism, to home, family and the lives of young people. Including over 200 photographs, alongside personal artefacts, this is the largest exhibition of the artist’s work to date and is accompanied by the first ever catalogue of her work.

This project is produced in partnership with Craigmillar Now, an arts and heritage centre based in Craigmillar, who hold Sandra’s collection in their community archive.

Daily / Nightly…

Thursday 27.8

Dalkeith House, Dalkeith Country Park. Until 27.9. Fri-Sun, 10am-4pm. https://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/photodalkeith/

Photo Dalkeith

PhotoDalkeith returns for its third year with PhotoDalkeith RSA200 in partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy to mark its bicentenary. The exhibition celebrates Scotland’s rich photographic heritage and the evolution of photography as an art form.

The Outhouse, Broughton Street Lane. Onstage 8.15pm. Pay on the door.

Phil Bancroft Trio

Playtime invites the best, most consequential and soulful Scottish tenor saxophonist/composer/band leader/educator Phil Bancroft. Phil is one of the bench marks in the UK Jazz scene and brings the true tradition of jazz improvisation to this gig.
Dedicating years of passionate research in to this art form he is now at the zenith of his playing and with the finely tuned, highly responsive rhythm section of Tom Bancroft (drums) and Mario Caribé (double bass) this promises to be a night of highly creative energy as well as beautiful melodic invention.

Friday 28.8

La Belle Angele, Hastie’s Close. 28.8. 1pm. Tickets –https://la-belleangele.com/calendar/

Dave Rowntree of Blur – No one You Know Live

Through unheard stories alongside candid photos from his new bestselling
book, Dave Rowntree shares the tales behind Blur’s formative years. From their early friendships in Colchester, to world tours, he offers rare insight
into the moments that shaped one of the major defining bands of the 1990s.

Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. 5pm. Tickets - https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/event/pilgrim

PILGRIM

Edinburgh University Ensemble in Residence present New Works

Sequoia, Edinburgh University's Ensemble in Residence, present three newly commissioned works for violin, cello and electronics, written by PhD composition students, who take pilgrimage as their starting point.

Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Futures Institute, Lauriston Place. 8.30-10.30pm. Tickets - https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/caledonia-screaming-50-years-of-punk

Caledonia Dreaming – 50 Years of Scottish Punk

Grant McPhee Q&A with Nicola Meighan plus

Alex Ferguson + Ken McCluskey + James King + Mick Slaven + Campbell Owens + Stuart Kidd + Douglas MacIntyre

Saturday 29.8

Norton Park, Albion Road. 1.30pm. Tickets -

Local Cinema and WHALEArts present

Heroin (1983)

Peter Carr’s trilogy of films looking at Edinburgh’s heroin blight were first shown on ITV over 3 consecutive nights in 1983. They wrren’t seen again until 2025 when they were screened for the first time in 43 years at North Edinburgh Arts, close to where they were filmed. Since then, the Local Cinema initiative has picked up the films, screened here followed by a discussion.

C Alto, Quaker House, Victoria Terrace. 29-30.8. 2.55pm. Tickets – https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/1896-2026-an-epic-of-electronic-music-and-its-technology

1896-2026: An Epic of Electronic Music and its Technology

The Riventron Factory from Poland presents a music-video show starting with the TelHarmonium, the Theremin, and the Moog modular synthesizer (featured at Abbey Road by The Beatles), along with the Mellotron and Emerson's LP. A multitude of songs by famous artists: Tomita, Vangelis, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Jarre, Eno, Ultravox, Human League, Depeche Mode, Prodigy, Daft Punk, Orbital, Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, up to IA. Over 50 virtual instrument sounds from that era: ARP 2600, miniMoog, Solina String, Yamaha DX7, C80, EMS, Roland Juno60 and Novation Bass Station 2 and many more.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Palmerston Place. 3.30-4.30pm. Tickets – https://www.cathedral.net/event-details-registration/afternoon-originals-november-group-string-quartet-2026-08-29-15-30

Afternoon Originals present

November Group – Fragments in Time

Scars guitarist Paul Mackie presents the latest iteration of his contemporary classical quartet, November Group, to perform his composition, Fragments in Time, featuring poetry by Mira Knoche.

Leith Social Club, Great Junction Street. 5pm-late. https://ra.co/events/2494674

Woe is Us.

WOE (Women of Electronica) are back with another day party and this time it's a Fringe extravaganza! Escape the show madness and come down for a dance. Expect bangers all night long. Our last party was packed full of good people, everyone is welcome.

Tuesday 1.9

Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street. 1-5.9. 10am-5pm. https://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/events/down-to-earth

Down to Earth

Celebrating 30 years of the Columcille Centre

Columcille is a day service for people with additional support needs.

The exhibition shows a selection of work produced by people who attend workshops in art, crafts, print, painting, and pottery.

Various venues and times . 1.9-20.12. https://photo-networks.scot/

Season of Photography Scotland 2026

Season of Photography 2026 is a celebration of photography with the aim to highlight and promote photography exhibitions and events taking place across Scotland. The Season will embrace exhibitions and events at galleries, national and regional museums, photography festivals, Higher Education institutions and artists-run initiatives. It will feature a range of contemporary and historical work.

Wednesday 2.9

Banshee Labyrinth, Niddry Street. 7.30pm. Tickets – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/loud-women-edinburgh-second-idol-shebeat-yiota-von-dodds-tickets-1994965754274

Loud Women Edinburgh present

Second Idol + SheBeat + Von Dodds + YIOTA

LOUD WOMEN returns to its Edinburgh home bringing Sydney post-punk force Second Idol to Scotland, fusing post-punk, goth, grunge and alternative rock into intense, emotionally charged performances drenched in venom and melancholy. They’re travelling all the way from Sydney on tour, so we’re giving our Australian friends the warmest possible Scottish welcome: four brilliant bands, one allegedly haunted pub and enough noise to raise the dead.

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Steve Goldman - The Worst Record Covers in the World / Mayflies

Friday – The Alternative Degree Show / Groove Armada MC M.A.D. presents / La Beat at PLC

Saturday – Beaverhall Art Studios Open Weekend / Martha Ellis & Susie Wright - From the Ground / / Ghost in the Machine / Athens of the North Festival Party

Sunday - Horsegirl

Monday - Alan Spence - A Wee Bit Zen - When Less is More / The Swimmer

Tuesday – Dave Rowntree of Blur – No one You Know Live

Wednesday – Free Love + Eyes of Others

Scroll down for details… Don’t shoot the messenger…

Here all week…

Upright Gallery, Barclay Terrace. Until 21.8. Wed-Fri - 11am-5pm. Sat 12 noon-4pm. https://www.uprightgallery.com/now.html

Imogen Alabaster + Ross Miller + Drew Thomson + Graeme Wilcox - More Than Just

Portraiture is one of the oldest genres in art history, going back, at least, to ancient Egypt. This exhibition brings together four Scottish portrait painters – Imogen Alabaster, Ross Miller, Graeme Wilcox and, new to the gallery, Drew Thomson.

Torrance Gallery, Dundas Street. Until 22.8. Mon-Fri 11am-5.30pm. Sat 11am-5.30pm, may close earlier. Also by appointment. https://thetorrancegallery.co.uk/pages/constantine

The Artist Constantine - A Collection of Quotidian Masterpieces

New solo exhibition by Athens-born, Edinburgh-based artist Constantine, known for his bold visual language and symbolic imagery.

Leith Makers, Leith Walk. Until 23.8 - Wed-Sun, 11am-5.30pm. https://leithmakers.co.uk/exhibitions.html#/

Make Me Bouquet with

Ankita Kashyap + Parker Greenwood + Mengyusn Tong + Matt Kellison + Ross Deeley + Fiona Morehouse

Organised by the Zone 10 artist collective, which includes artists from ten different countries, the exhibition considers iconography’s use across various cultures, and how it is influenced, altered, and reinterpreted through migration and globalisation.

Scott Lawrie Gallery, Chuckie Pend. Until 29.8. Mon-Sat. 11am-6pm.

Jake Chapman - Nicesis: the Unwellness of WellBeing

New work by Brit-art provocateur, designed to repel and attract in equal measure…

Studies in Photography, William Street. Until 29.8. Wed-Sat 12 noon-5pm. https://studiesinphotography.com/pages/cadence-ten-years-of-studies-in-photography

Cadence - Ten Years of Studies in Photography

To mark a decade of Studies in Photography, as the organisation leaves its William Street home, an exhibition bringing together 20 photographers to celebrate both.

Tay Street Gallery, Tay Street. Until 30.8. Thu-Sun – 1pm-5pm. Preview 15.8 – 2pm-5pm. Free

Thank Fuck for Artists

Lily Ashrowan Sam Ainsley John Ayscough Emily Bates Beagles & Ramsay
John Brown Sarah Calmus Mark Haddon Hannah Dove Kevin Harman

Paul Kier Cathy Orton Sienna Ponting Mark Purves Elaine Speirs
Rowan Mace Billy McCall Chad McCail Toby Messenger Maggie Hills
lain Irving

Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street until 31.8. 10an-6pm. https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6700/

The Craigmillar Tapestry

Marking 60 years since the first Craigmillar Festival, celebrate the power of art as a catalyst for social change. Twenty incredible tapestry panels have been stitched by local residents in Craigmillar and Niddrie, telling the rich and diverse story of the community. The panels are stitched to a very high standard, reflecting the great talent in Craigmillar.

Embassy Gallery, Ferry Road. Until 6.9. Thursday: 4-7pm; Friday: 12-5pm; Saturday: 12-5pm; Sunday: 12-5pm. Opening 15.8 – 7pm. https://embassygallery.org/events/culture-vultures/

Culture Vultures

‘Culture Vultures’ is a musical written by Donald Campbell and Helen Crummy first performed as part of the 1977 Craigmillar Festival. The inaugural Festival took place in 1964 and was organised by the Peffermill Mother’s Group. Success of ensuing festivals led to the formation of the Craigmillar Festival Society in 1969, which became an internationally recognised community arts group that operated year round.

Please join us for the opening of our ‘Culture Vultures’ August programme with Rhubaba Choir at 7:30pm. We will be performing two songs from ‘Culture Vultures’ - the title song as well as ‘Time for Change’. The performance will last around 30 minutes.

City Art Centre, Market Street until 27.9. 10am-5pm. Tickets - https://cultureedinburgh.com/events/sandra-george-start-from-the-level

Sandra George: Start from the Level

Sandra George (1957-2013) was an artist who devoted her life to working with communities, documenting and developing vital social-action projects for over thirty years. Sandra believed deeply in the power of art and collective endeavour to inspire and lift people up. Through this work – and her career as a freelance photographer – she was rarely without a camera in her hand. The legacy she has left is a powerful and empowering archive: a first-hand social history through her distinctive lens.

Start from the Level showcases the central areas of interest in Sandra’s life and work: from community, identity and activism, to home, family and the lives of young people. Including over 200 photographs, alongside personal artefacts, this is the largest exhibition of the artist’s work to date and is accompanied by the first ever catalogue of her work.

This project is produced in partnership with Craigmillar Now, an arts and heritage centre based in Craigmillar, who hold Sandra’s collection in their community archive.

Daily / Nightly…

Thursday 20.8

Studio Bar, Assembly George Square Studios. Until 31.8. 10am-5am. Free. https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/the-worst-record-covers-in-the-world

Steve Goldman - The Worst Record Covers in the World

The return to Edinburgh of Steve Goldman’s superlative collection of terrible record covers that makes you wonder what record company art departments were on when they greenlit these. What they might sound like is another matter entirely.

Brown’s of Leith, Custom Lane until Aug 30, 4pm. Tickets - https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mayflies SOLD OUT

Mayflies

Grid Iron Theatre’s hit staging of Andrew O’Hagan’s novel sets itself in a Leith warehouse space which doubles up as assorted 1980s Manchester music venues in a thrilling look back in languor at how a group of teenage Ayrshire boys became men.

Friday 21.8

Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street. 21-25.8. 12 noon-5pm. (Not Sunday). https://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/events/alternative-degree-show

The Alternative Degree Show

Why are we resisting the University of Edinburgh’s proposed £90 million of job losses? Is there a crisis in university education across the UK? And what does this mean for the future for art schools?

The ‘Alternative Degree Show’ will hold space to discuss these questions while celebrating student and staff solidarity, showcasing artworks from final-year students and staff at ECA.

The Biscuit Factory, Anderson Place. 3pm-1am. Tickets –

https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Edinburgh/The-Biscuit-Factory/MC-MAD-Groove-Armada-presents/42564357/

Groove Armada MC M.A.D. presents

A full day and night of Rock, Funk, Punk, Ska, Dub, Alternative Bands, Rappers, Beatboxers and DJ, all curated by Groove Armada’s MC M.A.D.

People’s Leisure Club, Lothian Street. 11pm-5am. £10 on the door…

La Beat at PLC

Get your dancing shoes down to Edinburgh’s ever expanding soul sensation for this extended Festival special. Almost an all-nighter.

Saturday 22.8

Beaverhall Art Studios, Beaverhall Road. 22-23.8. 10am-5pm. Free.

Open Weekend with

Sheila McDonald + Rona MacLean + Lucy MacLeod + Ann Shearer

A quiet oasis amidst the crowds of the Edinburgh Festival. Come and see upholstery and textiles by Lucy MacLeod; prints and pictures by Rona MacLean; jewellery by Ann Shearer; fine enamel work by Sheila MacDonald

Mote 102, Ferry Road. 22-30.8. 11am-5pm. https://mote102.com/events/from-the-ground-martha-ellis-susie-wright/

Martha Ellis & Susie Wright - From the Ground

From the Ground brings together the work of Martha Ellis and
Susie Wright in a celebration of plants and the quiet beauty found
in the natural world. Drawings, prints, sculptural works and ceramics
invite us to pause and reconsider the everyday plants and flowers we so
often pass by without a second thought.

Filmhouse, Lothian Road. 3pm. Tickets – https://www.filmhouse.org.uk/movie/ghost-in-the-machine-qa

Ghost in the Machine

A gripping and urgently relevant investigative documentary that exposes the buried history of artificial intelligence, not as a neutral system of algorithms, but as a technology shaped by racism, misogyny, eugenics, and entrenched structures of power long before it entered everyday life.

Rejecting the notion of AI as inevitable or objective, the film traces how myths of progress and efficiency have obscured deeper political and cultural agendas, revealing the ideological foundations beneath the systems now reshaping modern society.

Sneaky Pete’s, Cowgate. 11pm-5am. Tickets – https://www.sneakypetes.co.uk/2026/08/22/athens-of-the-north-disco-clubfestival-special/

Athens of the North Festival Party

Join label owners, curators and DJ’s Euan Fryer & Lel Palfrey for a six-hour, genre-free dance sesh at the best little club in town. The Festival Special is always the highlight of our year and a total roadblock. Six hours of Disco, Brazilian, boogie with sprinkle of the obscure house.

Sunday 23.8

La Belle Angele, Hastie’s Close. 7-10pm. Tickets – https://la-belleangele.com/events/horsegirl/

432 present

Horsegirl plus From Two

New York-via-Chicago trio of best friends Nora Cheng, Penelope Lowenstein, and Gigi Reece have released their second album, 'Phonetics On and On,'an exploration of the lines between pop, minimalism, and playful experimentation. It’s hard to imagine any of these songs being written by anyone but Nora, Penelope, and Gigi.

Horsegirl write with unanticipated honesty, leading us through scenes of girlhood and youth. These are moments of their lives. The indelible truth is that Horsegirl is a band of best friends; being around them you can see that love in their eyes and it is always a joyous thing to witness. It’s a love that is ever-present in 'Phonetics On and On' as tenderness reverberates back and forth across the recording.

Monday 24.8

St. Columba’s by the Castle, Sottish Episcopal Church, Johnston Terrace. 12 noon. Tickets - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotlandsfest-a-wee-bit-zen-when-less-is-more-tickets-1987138325223

ScotlandsFest presents

Alan Spence - A Wee Bit Zen - When Less is More

Join Edinburgh’s former Makar Alan Spence at ScotlandsFest, Luath Press’s literary festival during the Edinburgh Fringe. Spence is author of the cult-classic Glasgow Zen and upcoming sequel A Wee Bit Zen.

Argonaut Books, Leith Walk. 7.30pm. Tickets – https://argonautbooks.co.uk/event/t2mykUotbYEW

Leith Kino in association with Argonaut Books present

The Swimmer

Leith Kino’s season of big screen book adaptations continues with Frank Perry’s version of John Cheever’s short story which made one of the greatest depictions of one man’s mid life crises ever.

Tuesday 25.8

La Belle Angele, Hastie’s Close. 25, 27 and 28.8. 1pm. Tickets –https://la-belleangele.com/calendar/

Dave Rowntree of Blur – No one You Know Live

Through unheard stories alongside candid photos from his new bestselling
book, Dave Rowntree shares the tales behind Blur’s formative years. From their early friendships in Colchester, to world tours, he offers rare insight
into the moments that shaped one of the major defining bands of the 1990s.

Wednesday 26.8

Leith FAB Cricket Club, Leith Links. 7pm. Tickets - https://www.howlinfling.com/shhh/p/howlin-fringe-2026-3

Howlin’ Fringe and Lost Map presents

Free Love + Eyes of Others

Free Love are the Glasgow-based duo of Lewis and Suzi Cook, creating ecstatic electronic pop that blurs the boundaries between dancefloor euphoria, psychedelic exploration and hypnotic ritual.

Argonaut Books, Leith Walk. 7.30pm. Tickets – https://argonautbooks.co.uk/event/Nmu8sHN2NY36

Leith Kino in association with Argonaut Books present

Rumble Fish

Leith Kino presents Francis Ford Coppola’s film of S.E. Hinton’s novel, starring Matt Dillon in a true cult classic.

Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Maud the Moth + Burnt Paw / Phoebe Bridgers – Lost Weekend Album Release Party

Friday – Beefheart Big Dummies! featuring Orange Claw Hammer / 54 – 46 Boss Reggae & Ska Club/ B…

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It’s the unhinged “One!Two!Three!” of the kid on the drums as the band crash into the chorus that grabs me. I don’t realise who the blonde haired singer in the black dress centre stage even is at first. Once it registers, I have to check out whatever has just appeared on my Instagram feed in full.

It starts in close up, first on a hi-hat before we see th…

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday –Lee McCormack: A Magic Lantern / Champion Trees + Kaspar Hauser + Gordon McGruer Quartet / Tom Robinson with Adam Phillips – Then and Now

Saturday – Beefheart Big Dummies! fea…

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Irvine Welsh and Vic Godard – When Blackpool Rocked

The news that the UK tour of Trainspotting The Musical has been cancelled has left a pretty big hole in the theatre calendar. This is especially the case for Edinburgh, where this brand new musical version of Irvine Welsh’s era defining novel was set to be seen at The Playhouse. This is the grand old th…

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There will Come Soft Rains is a short story by Ray Bradbury. It is set in a post-apocalyptic future on August 4th 2026, in an abandoned California where the machines never stop.

Bradbury first published his story in 1950 in Collier’s magazine, then the same year as part of his book, The Martian Chronicles.

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The death of Kevin Keegan has taken me by surprise in terms of how much it upset me. I don’t do football. I have just managed to get through the entire month and more of World Cup ‘26 without seeing so much as a throw in or a penalty kick. Only occasionally as the stakes got higher did the international tournament impinge on my consciousness at all. Eve…

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20 years ago last week, artist Paul Rooney unleashed a chatterbox sprite named Lucy into the world by way of possessing the airwaves on BBC Radio Lancashire. He went on to capture his glorious stew of cheeky monologue and sonic alchemy in a blood red 12-inch single released on Berlin’s SueMi label.

The day Rooney’s epic narrative mash-up turned up at MAP

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The news that Vini Reilly, aka The Durutti Column, is about to release his first album of new material for sixteen years has caused low key raptures amongst those devoted to Reilly’s extensive back catalogue. Renascent (2026) has already been trailed by two tracks - ‘Scammer’ and ‘Liars’ - both impressionistic electronic ditties featuring reflective voc…

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There was no nonsense about Pauline Murray when I interviewed her for the Herald newspaper back in 2010. As the latest iteration of her band, Penetration, play the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh this weekend, it’s interesting going back to it, as well as doing a recap on what has happened since. There are no great revelations in the article. It’s more of a p…

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Craigmillar Tapestry / Mark Haddon / Jake Chapman - Nicesis: the Unwellness of WellBeing / Cinetopia Film Networking Night / PCS Leith Night for Palestine with Queen of Harps + Elsie MacDonald + Nada Shawa Band / The Songs of Joni Mitchell with Jesca Hoop + Lail Arad and more / An Evening of Sonic Art and Song …

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A post today on A Certain Ratio’s Facebook page reminded me that it is six years this week since Denise Johnson died aged just 56. For those who may not be aware, Johnson was the Manchester singer who brought soul to indie-dance, from Primal Scream’s Screamadelica (1991) and Give Out But Don’t Give Up (1994) albums to touring for a quarter of a century…

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Friday – Braw Gigs present Container + Nic Krog + Afraidofmessages + Ascetic Practices (DJs) / Box Energy presents Jacksonville + Phonogramme + Skylax + Stepback

Saturday –Edinburgh Fle…

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It’s some time in the late 1980s, and I’m walking up the narrow stairs of Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre. At that time, Scotland’s new writing theatre lives up a close on the corner of West Bow at the Cowgate end of the Grassmarket. As I make my way up the stairs, a figure appears above walking down the stairs towards the exit. Taut with purpose, short ha…

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Sandra George: Start from the Level / Braw Cinema Club #90 presents Fallen Angels

Friday – Nicole – Performance Screening / Operation Recomply / Acid 87 + The Gall + Denham/He…

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Playtime presents The Music of Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny

Friday – Gurry Wurry – Glue Album Launch plus Eyes of Others + Carl Marah

Saturday –DJ Joseph Malik & Fawaz / Lydia …

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday – Without a Camera: 200 Years of Photography 1826-2026 / A Night of Spoken Word and Music

Friday - Frets Concerts present Bubbles + Nunk + Quad90 / Lizabett Russo

Saturday –Save …

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday –– Leith School of Art End of Year Exhibitions / Cinetopia Film Networking Night.

Friday - The Shell + Sonia Killmann / Rhythm and Revolution present Sun Red Sun + De La Gaita B…

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Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…

Thursday –Cinetopia Salon #4 - Eden by Mia Hansen-Love plus Live DJ set from Ann Tweak / Gnawa Trance Fusion: Bridging Cultures Through Music / Noisenight243 presents Dudu Kouate + Julia Bilat

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