AROUND TOWN

Edinburgh’s legendary Out Of The Blue Flea Market (Saturday 27 January) returns, delivering environmentally-friendly retail therapy to beat back those winter blues. Stock up on cosy jumpers, warm coats, cheering jewellery, plus antiques and other treasures.

Featuring hundreds of incredible whiskies alongside some spirit-lifting live music, the Scottish National Whisky Festival (Saturday 27 January) prides itself on being the definitive whisky tasting and Scottish cultural showcase and will be swinging by Glasgow’s SWG3 this weekend.

If you fancy stretching those legs while learning all about Edinburgh history then why not check out Mercat Tours’ Secrets Of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile Walking Tour (various dates)? Includes skip-the-line entry to Edinburgh Castle.

MUSIC

Butler, Blake & Grant and Harley Kimbro Lewis (Sunday 28 January) sees the two trios join forces for a hell of a show at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre. It features Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Bernard Butler (Suede) and James Grant (Love and Money), alongside another formidable, newly formed combo: Martin Harley, Daniel Kimbro & Sam Lewis.

Saint Luke’s & the Winged Ox in Glasgow plays host to Becky Sikasa and Vanives (Sunday 28 January). Sikasa is one of the most acclaimed voices of UK neo-soul, while the alt/pop Glasgow-based Vanives are a band known for mixing things up with work that spans multiple genres.

Non-conformist American singer-songwriter Dorian Electra (Sunday 28 January) will be painting Glasgow red when they rock up at SWG3 as part of their Fanfare world tour. Expect fun and flamboyance in spades.

STAGE

In Gareth Mutch: Belter (Sunday 28 January) at Edinburgh’s The Stand, the rising Scottish comedy star will be clinging to the last year of his 20s and telling you all about his random encounters, difficult dad, vaping obsession and more.

As storms blow and the winter chill takes hold, it’s the perfect time of year for spooky stories. Perth Theatre and Concert Hall have a trio of terrific tales from the masters of ghostly tales, EF Benson and MR James. Featuring award-winning actor Gerard Logan, Hauntings (Saturday 27 January) takes you on a terrifying journey into the world of the supernatural.

If you’re looking for something much sweeter then Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: The Musical (until Sunday 4 February) should go down a treat. New numbers from the songwriters of Hairspray mingle with old faves like ‘Pure Imagination’ in this family friendly extravaganza.

SCREEN

Two lost souls come together in the beautifully strange and emotionally stirring romantic drama All Of Us Strangers, from ace director Andrew Haigh (Weekend, 45 Years), featuring award-worthy work from Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal and Claire Foy.

Alice Walker’s unforgettable novel The Color Purple becomes an eye-catching, often dynamically executed musical featuring an impressive cast of actors and singers, including the now Oscar-nominated star of Orange Is The New Black, Danielle Brooks.

Serving as a companion to Band Of Brothers and The Pacific and produced by Steven Spielberg himself, military mini-series Masters Of The Air hits Apple TV+ this week. It stars actors of the moment Austin Butler, Callum Turner and Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan.

PODCASTS

Eight-part podcast The Godmother tells the remarkable story of Black female prosecutor Eunice Carter, who had a pioneering role in the trial of the century: that of 1930s mobster Lucky Luciano.

Returning this week is The Louis Theroux Podcast, which sees the iconic interviewer strike up some no doubt fascinating conversations with the likes of Sharon Stone, PinkPantheress and Baz Luhrmann. Up first it’s Paul Mescal.

TCM’s resident movie buff Ben Mankiewicz is the smooth-talking host of the Talking Pictures podcast, in which he chats with some of the world’s best filmmakers about their work and the movies they love. Nancy Meyers and Steven Soderbergh kick things off.

VISUAL ART

Sett Studios in Edinburgh is the location for Sluggish (Friday 26 January – Sunday 4 February), an exhibition by Ot Pascoe and Joel Davidson, comprising of uncomfortable and whimsical sculptural works.

Newhailes Squared 2024 (until Sunday 11 February) is a public art show set within the country house’s courtyards, which features the results of a call for pieces of art inspired by Newhailes itself. Featuring work from locals, visitors, schools, care homes and more.

Marking the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum’s 150th anniversary is the first joint exhibition of David and Robert Mach MACH2 (until Sunday 7 April), bringing together the brothers’ colourful and thought-provoking pieces, heavily influenced by the Pop Art movement.