International Film Festival
Various venues, Edinburgh, Until July 1
The world’s longest, continually-running film festival will, this year, screen around 121 new features, including 21 world premieres, from 48 countries across the globe. Highlights include the long-anticipated Disney-Pixar animation Incredibles 2, Q&A and in-person events with guests including the award-winning English writer and director David Hare, the much-loved Welsh comedian Rob Brydon and star of the compelling Gothic drama The Secret of Marrowbone, actor George MacKay, as well as the Opening and Closing Gala premieres of the previously announced Puzzle and Swimming with Men. View the full programme of events and ticket prices at edfilmfest.org.uk.
Upside Doon Music Festival
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway, Saturday
Headlined by Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble playing a solo set, the event returns with a refreshing mix of Scottish and local acts. Upside Doon is the National Trust for Scotland’s only regular outdoor music festival. Held in the atmospheric gardens the family-friendly festival doubled in size last year, and is on track to be a success in 2018. Tickets are £18.50 for adults. Buy at burnsmuseum.org.uk.
Summer Activities
The National Wallace Monument, Stirling, Ongoing
The world-famous landmark has announced a calendar filled with family-friendly activities, designed to educate and entertain over the summer months. Expect live actor performances, scenic walks and immersive exhibitions. Discover the story of William Wallace in “Scotland’s National Hero,” relive the main events of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in “A Battle Won” and meet medieval soldiers in “Tales from the Battlefield.” Visitors are encouraged to climb the 246 steps up to the Crown and take in the breath-taking 360-degree view of central Scotland and the Highlands to the north. Visit nationalwallacemonument.com to see the planned activities and ticket information.
Dirty Dusting
Motherwell Concert Hall, Today
A heartwarming, feel-good comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles and smiling every time you answer the phone, follow the story of Gladys, Elise and Olive who are about to be “put out to pasture” by their overzealous office manager Dave. Feeling they have little chance of gaining employment elsewhere, the ladies have to boost their falling income - with hilarious results. Tickets are £23 from culturenl.co.uk.
The Bluejays: Rock & Roll Revolution
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Sunday
An electrifying and authentic tribute to the Rock ‘n’ Roll era, hear breathtaking renditions of some of the biggest ‘50s hits: Rock Around The Clock, That’ll Be The Day, Tutti Frutti, Summertime Blues, Johnny B. Goode, Stupid Cupid, Wake Up Little Susie, A Teenager In Love and many more from the songbooks of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Connie Francis, Eddie Cochran and Little Richard. Tickets are £24.75, with booking fee, from pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com.
Jazz Festival
Various venues, Glasgow, Until Sunday
Taking place over five days with over 50 shows and more than 250 musicians, this event incorporates community and education concerts and workshops that educate people of all ages in jazz music, allowing them to experience live jazz music. To see the full programme of events and to buy tickets, head to jazzfest.co.uk.
Bricktropolis
Dick Institute Museum, Kilmarnock, Until July 22
This interactive LEGO® brick show towers over the competition with over 20 stunning models of world landmark towers and buildings, each with an awe inspiring scale that’s never been seen in Scotland before. Visitors can experience the history of human endeavour in the built environment, taking them from Stonehenge through to the landmarks of Kilmarnock, London and New York and on to the skyscrapers of Shanghai and Dubai. Walk among the towering structures onto the Selfie Zone and then interact with key models. Admission id £5 for adults and £2 for children. Head to eastayrshireleisure.com for more information
Southern Exposure
Summerhall, Edinburgh, Until Sunday
This brand new, ten-day series called takes place in the popular art space’s central courtyard. Expect music from Scottish legends to ambient jazz, a completely revamped take on the annual FestivALE, an outdoor ceilidh and film screenings in what has been dubbed Summerhall’s “most ambitious project yet either side of the Edinburgh Fringe.” Visit summerhall.co.uk for more information and top get in touch with the venue about tickets.
Xerxes
Byre Theatre, St Andrews, Tomorrow until Sunday
Offering a contemporary take on Handel’s classic tragicomedy, Byre Opera’s production is sung in Nicholas Hytner’s English translation reuniting the director-and-designer team of Tania Holland Williams and Gregor Donnelly who collaborated on The Turn of the Screw for Byre Opera two years ago. The performances feature a period-instrument orchestra led by the Fitzwilliam String Quartet and conducted by Michael Downes. Tickets are £19 from byretheatre.com.
Billy Ocean
Inverness Leisure, Sunday
Don’t miss the biggest black recording star Britain has ever produced, one who has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime. Ocean has collected a pile of Gold and Platinum records across the world and hit the number one spot worldwide on pop charts. With bits including When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going, Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car and Stop Me (If You’ve Heard It All Before), relive Ocean’s extraordinary career as both artist and songwriter. Tickets are £39.60, with booking fee, from ticketmaster.co.uk.
DON’T MISS…
Bard in the Botanics
Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, Until July 28
This event sees a range of productions every summer in beautiful and historic Glasgow gardens. Scotland’s only annual outdoor Shakespeare festival this year sees in the “Star-Cross’d Lovers” season. Celebrating the occasion of the 454th anniversary of the Bard’s birth, Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Much Ado About Nothing and Edward II are all the productions lined up on the bill. Visit bardinthebotanics.co.uk for more information and to book tickets.
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