AROUND TOWN

The Glasgow Vegan Markets are returning to Drygate Brewing Co. (Saturday 26 August), with more than 15 stalls showcasing small local businesses. Whether you’re hankering for homeware, delicious food or skincare products, all produce is strictly vegan. 

The Yard’s Dundee Market will also be in full-swing (Saturday 26 August), hosting more than 25 makers at The Steeple. Jewellery, crafts, and handmade soaps will all be on sale at the city’s most diverse up-and-coming market.

If you want to sit back and relax with a few pints this weekend, Giffnock Beer Festival (Saturday 26 August) in Glasgow’s Southside is kicking off at midday with a selection of beers, ciders, prosecco and gins to sample and enjoy. We can’t think of a better place to be as summer draws to a close.

MUSIC

Edinburgh’s finest music festival Connect (Friday 25 – Sunday 27 August) will return to the Royal Highland Centre this weekend, welcoming headliners Primal Scream, Fred again.., Loyle Carner and boygenius to the stage alongside acts like Arab Strap, Young Fathers, Kelly Lee Owens, MUNA and much more.

Big Thief fans will be out in full force when that band’s guitarist and backing vocalist Buck Meek performs at Edinburgh’s Summerhall (Saturday 26 August) and Glasgow’s Stereo (Sunday 27 August), playing material from his latest album Haunted Mountain. 

For a more rambunctious evening of rock-pop, head to Declan Welsh & The Decadent West (Saturday 26 August) at Glasgow’s Rum Shack. The poet and songwriter has amassed a dedicated following thanks to his impressive wordplay and almost infuriatingly catchy indie tunes.

STAGE

As the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) enters its final week, this could be your last chance to watch Bluebeard’s Castle (until Sunday 27 August), a unique opera tackling themes of dementia and ageing.

Engaging with musical theatre from a different perspective is Otto & Astrid’s Joint Solo Project (until Sunday 27 August), a joy-filled exploration of a songwriting duo re-engaging with each other and rocking out for one last time. Here’s what we had to say about the show in our four-star review: ‘Otto & Astrid have enough musical clout to rock as hard as they joke. It is the obvious affection that they have for the absurdities of post-punk fake toughness that allows the show to be more than just a parody.’ Read the full review here.

SCREEN

Indulging in a dose of bittersweet comedy-drama, Scrapper tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who reunites with her absentee father after her mother’s passing. Expect to have tissues at the ready for this one.

Those interested in spotting fresh new cinematic talent should hotfoot it to St Andrews Film Festival: Rising Voices (Saturday 26 August) at Dominion Cinema. This day-long event will include a series of short film screenings with special Q&As throughout the day, with the feature film Mercy Falls headlining in the evening.

PODCAST

The comedians and authors Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd are chatting literature in brand new podcast Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club, described as ‘a space for the lonely outsider to feel accepted and appreciated’. They’ll be calling in help from their celeb pals to discuss books that are special, interesting and, most importantly, very weird.

The evolution of hip hop is being put under the microscope in Can You Dig It?, an Audible Original documentary narrated by Chuck D which charts the genre’s humble beginnings and its ascent to become a multimillion-dollar industry.

It may not be a podcast in the strictest sense, but Radiophrenia is probably the most absorbing and eccentric aural experience you’ll have all week. Broadcasting online and on FM radio for 24 hours a day until Sunday 3 September, this Glasgow-based experimental station will transmit curious soundscapes, poems, field recordings and much more. We’d recommend tuning in and immersing yourself in its eclectic world.

VISUAL ART

Offering a genuinely intimate gallery experience in Edinburgh is Benet Haughton, whose latest exhibition Correspondences (until Saturday 26 August) takes place in his home. His abstract oil paintings question the relationship between reality and the image, and entry is free.

The University Of Dundee’s Duncan Of Jordanstone’s Master’s Show (until Sunday 27 August) is an impressive affair every year, showcasing the work of recent master’s graduates. Around 60 students will showcase work from the world of animation, graphic novels, fine art, product design and more.