How does he do it? The moment Christopher Nolan rocks up with another three-hour long mind-expanding epic, people who struggle to look up from their phones for more than three seconds are suddenly rapt with attention. Whatever magic he conjures, we’re fully on board. Anyway. If Matt Damon looking pensive isn’t your bag, our culturally minded SFTW team have plenty more recommendations to make your weekend a winner. Plus, rising stand-up Eva Peroni is sitting in our hot seat to divulge the gigs she’s excited about. Whatever you end up doing this weekend (and let’s be honest, it’ll probably be World Cup-related), we hope you enjoy yourselves. 

AROUND TOWN 

Author: Evie Glen 

On Friday 17 July, enter the hollows of Edinburgh’s Banshee Labyrinth for an esoteric club night to launch issue six of Ascetic Practices, a print-only zine for all things goth. With DJ sets from Sacred Keys, Philomenah, The Nightlark and Moth Girl, this one is for fans of EBM, postpunk, darkwave and synthpop or, with tickets starting at £3, anyone wanting a cheap night out.

On Saturday 18 July, No Pride In Genocide offer a community-led alternative to Glasgow Pride, which remains firmly against the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Join their sit-in on Glasgow Green from 11am, where there will be stalls, speeches, workshop, letter writing, kids’ activities and a community picnic, among other celebrations.

You can find out more about the various ways in which many have argued Glasgow Pride is complicit in the genocide in Palestine, through corporate partnerships with the likes of Coca-Cola and JP Morgan, on No Pride In Genocide’s Instagram page. 

MUSIC

Author: Danny Munro 

There is an overwhelming glut of activity taking place in Scotland, and writing this is doing nothing to nullify my FOMO. After last week’s selection of intimate gigs, we’re kicking this week off on a high-key note with Caribou. The Canadian electronic guru is headed for SWG3’s frankly massive Galvanizers Yard on Friday 17 July, and the weather forecast suggests that he, his four-piece band and the sizable crowd should all stay dry. Down the road in southside, pop innovator Gary Numan is taking over Queen’s Park Arena (Friday 17 July). This one is fairly pricey, but that eyeliner of his won’t pay for itself. 

Taking over the capital on Saturday is the Cowgate Block Party (Saturday 18 July), in which legendary venues Sneaky Pete’s and Mash House play host to a plethora of exciting emerging artists. A highlight from this busy bill is ones-to-watch ugly ozo, two sisters who will be thrashing out their cathartic pop-rock numbers in Sneaky’s at 7.30pm. Now, time to iron my Spain top…

STAGE 

Author: Rachel Morrell

It might feel eerily quiet in the run up to the Fringe, but in the world of the stage things are not always as they seem. Starting in the mystical realms of Michael Flatley’s imagination, with costumes that leave nothing to ours, Lord Of The Dance makes its triumphant and energetic 30th anniversary celebration a dazzling one at Edinburgh’s Playhouse (until Sunday 19 July) before setting off on the next high-flying leg of its world tour. 

Steering away from sequins and serving up a side of sarcasm, you can find BAFTA-winning comedian Stewart Lee in Inverness, battling the beasts in his mind and introducing us to the woke werewolf within in Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf at Eden Court (Friday 17 July)

Then, to round up our ferocious fairytale weekend, follow your nose to Glasgow’s Byres Road as the air is filled with the alluring scent of steak and a refreshing beer. A Play, A Pie And A Pint continues the magic at Òran Mór and takes us on a lunchtime visit to Grandma’s house for the final weekend of their summer panto Big Bad Riding Hood (until Sunday 19 July).

SCREEN 

Author: Kevin Fullerton
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is the cinematic behemoth blotting out almost everything else in this week’s film-watching calendar, perhaps rightly so given Nolan’s wholehearted commitment to the cinema-going experience. His Homeric epic has been shot using special IMAX cameras and film stock, meaning the Glasgow Science Centre is the only venue in Scotland to watch it in its true form (despite various branding exercises, it remains the only real IMAX screen in the country). But this is Nolan we’re talking about, so it’s going to look mighty expensive no matter where you catch it. Just don’t stream it on your phone; you’ll only make him sad.

Want to ogle even more hunky ancient Greeks in leg-baring tunics? Edinburgh’s Cameo Cinema is screening Ray Harryhausen’s classic romp Jason And The Argonauts (Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July). Best known for its ground-breaking stop-motion animation, the charming special effects more than make up for the threadbare story and performances more wooden than a Trojan Horse.

If all that cine-sand gets stuck in your craw, Queens Park Arena’s selection of famously fun outdoor screenings continue with Where The Wild Things Are and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (both on Sunday 19 July). Melancholy childhoods and high-camp singalongs; a solid way to finish a weekend.

EAT & DRINK 

Author: Ailsa Sheldon

In Edinburgh the top noodle-slingers at Pomelo are celebrating five years open this weekend. Get a visit on your summer list if it’s been a while. It’s walk-ins only at lunch for those addictive hand-ripped noodles, or book in for family-style Chinese dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. I’m going this weekend and can’t wait. 

Street food legends Big Feed are taking over Glasgow’s House For An Art Lover this Saturday 18 July for The Secret Disco. Expect an all day celebration of disco – and eating al fresco. Scottish Street-Food Awards champions Smoked Tamago will be there, alongside Firedog, the Little Margarita Truck and sweet treats from Dead Pretty Events.

For something more relaxed, vegan brunch is served, as the Glasgow iteration of Hendersons, an Edinburgh veggie institution, opens in Strathbungo. Exec chef Anna Czapiewska is overseeing the menu across both cities promising ‘thoughtful, creative vegetarian and vegan food.’ And yes, the vegetarian haggis will make an appearance. 

VISUAL ART 

Author: Greg Thomas

Those of you who keep an eagle eye on the royal family’s Instagram account might have noticed Queen Camilla shuffling around the Royal Scottish Academy exhibition Chaos And Control: Printmaking In Scotland Now (until Sunday 26 July). Listen, I’m not going to pass judgement on whether that’ll help with publicity or not. But the point is, this is a rich and expansive survey of the medium’s current practice in Scotland, showcasing almost 50 artists working across a range of techniques and styles.

As a workshop-based medium, printmaking emerges from a network of member-led arts spaces and thrives on collaboration and skills-sharing. Amongst the many great practitioners selected by curator Ade Adesina, keep an eye out for Rachel Duckhouse’s mesmeric geometric compositions, and Ros Lawless’s layered pastel abstracts.

And if you’re in Leith, be sure to drop by Embassy Gallery, which is hosting a community-takeover show for one weekend only called Children Of The Genocide (Friday 17–Sunday 19 July), consisting of paintings and drawings by injured children from Gaza.

THE HOT SEAT

In this week’s boiling hot seat of culture (honestly, it’s unpleasantly sweaty to sit on that thing), we’re welcoming a stand-up wunderkind  who’s rising through the ranks of the comedy scene with jet speed. As she prepares for her Fringe run, Jungled, we’re asking one question: What’s Eva Peroni up to this weekend? 

The World Cup final is this weekend. Have you heard? If you’re like me and pretend to care while only checking the scores online, here are some sick events to free yourself from the glare of obnoxiously large screens.

On Thursday 16 July, Edinburgh welcomes Yorkshire’s finest indie boys, Yard Act, as La Belle Angele hosts a launch party for their new album. You’re Gonna Need A Little Music was written between Los Angeles and Leeds, combining the heat of wildfires and bin fires. The songs already released rip so hard – and not in the infamous Yorkshire way. 

The rest of the weekend is also great for cool-guy music in Edinburgh as the third Cowgate Block Party takes place on Saturday 18 July. If you haven’t always wanted to attend a block party without even knowing what it really is then I don’t trust you. If you have, now is your time.

Eva Peroni: Jungled, Gilded Balloon Teviot: Nook, Edinburgh, Wednesday 5–Sunday 30 August, 4:40pm. 

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