AROUND TOWN

Take a stroll around some of Scotland’s most iconic castles, abbeys, forts and palaces with the family friendly Easter Eggsplorer Trails (Friday 18 – Monday 21 April) with the possibility of a chocolatey reward. Participating venues include Edinburgh Castle, Craigmillar Castle, Aberdour Castle and Gardens, and more.

The second iteration of The Biscuit Factory Beverage Festival (Friday 18 & Saturday 19 April) takes place this weekend, bringing exceptional beer, boutique spirits, fine wine and other drinks to the heart of Leith over three three-hour sessions.

At Edinburgh’s Out Of The Blue Drill Hall you can experience Easter with a twist at their HelloArt Easter Fusion Market (Saturday 19 April), where Asian culture meets the Easter Bunny. Featuring stalls, interactive workshops and food options aplenty.

MUSIC

Edinburgh’s The Pitt will be celebrating the season in style with their Spring Hoolie (Saturday 19 April), a trad, family-friendly party playing live Scottish tunes and ceilidhs all day long. Featuring music from Juniper Function Band and DJ sets from An Dannsa Dub, BoxNRG and Dara Dubh.

Meanwhile, Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland Ballroom will play host to rising Scottish star Brooke Combe (Saturday 19 April), our April cover star who has just released her breakthrough album, Dancing At The Edge Of The World. Support comes from The Joy Hotel and James Emmanuel.

And he’s best known as the older brother and Grammy-winning collaborator of his megastar sister, Billie Eilish, but FINNEAS (Sunday 20 April) is winning increasing acclaim for his work as a solo artist. Expect tracks from his second album, For Cryin’ Out Loud!, and more when he rocks up at Glasgow’s O2 Academy.

STAGE

Taking to the stage at Glasgow’s epic OVO Hydro for two nights is superstar comic Peter Kay (Friday 18 & Saturday 19 April) who will be bringing his phenomenally popular Better Late Than Never Again tour to the city.

Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre will be cracking the whip with musical classic Calamity Jane (until Saturday 19 April), based on the much-loved Doris Day movie and starring West End actor Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Previewing this weekend is Dundee Rep’s thrilling new production of Doubt: A Parable (until Saturday 10 May), the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning masterpiece from John Patrick Shanley, famously adapted into an Oscar-nominated film.

SCREEN

From Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler, Sinners is a 1930s-set supernatural horror in which the director collaborates with Michael B Jordan yet again. Jordan plays twin brothers who find themselves facing off against evil. Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell and Wunmi Mosaku co-star.

British filmmaker Alex Garland follows up Civil War with more conflict in Warfare, co-written and directed with Ray Mendoza, based on Mendoza’s experiences as a Navy SEAL. It stars D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter and Cosmo Jarvis.

And returning to small screens this week is The Last Of Us. Based on the popular video game franchise, it follows Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as they tangle with zombies and humans in a post-apocalyptic America. Apple Cider Vinegar’s Kaitlyn Dever is amongst the newbies.

PODCASTS

Now available on BBC Sounds are some of the best episodes from The Adam Buxton Podcast. Joining Adam for a chat are the likes of Richard Ayoade, Daisy May Cooper, Joe Lycett, Zadie Smith and Steve Coogan.

Podcast The Girlfriends follows up its stories of women coming together to fight for justice with more tales of women winning in The Girlfriends: Spotlight, with host Anna Sinfield looking at a new case of those who have survived abuse each week.

In The Affair… with Anna Williamson the presenter tackles the taboo topic of infidelity, looking into the causes, emotions and consequences, with each episode approaching a real-life affair from multiple angles.

VISUAL ART

Kicking off at Dundee Contemporary Arts this week is Acts Of Creation: On Art And Motherhood (Saturday 19 April – Sunday 13 July), a major group exhibition curated by Hettie Judah and featuring the work of more than 60 artists, which approaches motherhood as a creative enterprise.

Families can make their own art together this Easter in the National Galleries’ Modern One. In Shape, Colour And Joy: Family Art Afternoons (until Friday 18 April) you and your little ones will be encouraged to play with patterns, create shapes, mix colours and more, inspired by the art of Everlyn Nicodemus, whose work is currently on display.

And finally, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop are hosting Camila Ospina Gaitán: Unconquered Natures – Tropicalism (until Tuesday 17 June). This new commission examines the logic of colonialism through the lens of an orchid collection as Camila transforms the space into a nursery of rare specimens.