Unless El Niño crashes on our shores by Friday, temperatures should be on that crisp cusp of autumn, and so outdoor events are a little less frequent in our weekend round-up. It remains, however, testament to Scotland’s ability to punch above its weight on the cultural stage that this sliver of cultural recommendations features a metric ton of festivals, socially aware exhibitions, tantalising new cafes, and more. Even somewhere as relatively small as the southside of Glasgow, as bigged up by our special guest Dylan Beck, is teeming with a head-spinning amount of culture. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, enjoy yourself and stay safe. 

AROUND TOWN 

Author: Evie Glen 

This Friday 25 September, at Dissenter Space in Edinburgh, three culture makers rise from the ashes of the Fringe to bring you a night of experimental music. Between them, Blaw, Otis Jordan and Pat’s Soundhouse cover everything from angst guitar music to leftfield folk and mouth organ soundscapes. 

It’s another busy weekend in Glasgow. Start your Sunday (27 September) with the inaugural pub quiz hosted by community radio legends Subcity. There’s music from 3pm then quizzing from 6pm at the inimitable Hug And Pint. When you’re all quizzed out, head to Nice ‘N’ Sleazy for a folk night freshly reincarnated from the sorely missed Flying Duck Folk Club. All abilities and all styles are welcome to jam or to listen. 

MUSIC

Author: Danny Munro 

There’s no time for a witty intro this week as we’ve a lot to get through. First up is Sonica (until Sunday 4 October), an 11-day audiovisual festival taking place throughout Glasgow over the next two weekends. A celebration of all things experimental, Sonica is not the type of festival to cram its line-up with household names. Rather, one must place one’s trust in the curation team, who have assembled a well-considered line-up of boundary-pushing audio and visual virtuosos. One pick from the burgeoning programme is ‘Plants Can Dance’, a free nine-day exhibition at Tramway, during which producer Brian d’Souza (Aka Auntie Flo) will use the process of ‘biosonification’ to generate ambient music from household plants. I believe esoteric is the word.

Across George V Bridge, The Anderston Pyramid is hosting The Pyramid Weekender (Friday 25–Sunday 27 September) as part of its involvement in Rip It Up, a BFI-led UK wide celebration of the nation’s vibrant history of youth rebellion and expression. Co-curated with Ken McCluskey of The Bluebells, the Pyramid will be showcasing an assortment of music films, live performances and will give punters the chance to pose for a portrait with their favourite memorabilia, courtesy of Street Level Photoworks. 

One can remain on a post-punk tip after The Pyramid Weekender with Sports Team, who are headed to La Belle Angele on Sunday 27 September. The London alt-rockers will be headlining DIY Alive festival in London next weekend and are stopping by in Scotland's capital as part of the DIY Alive Tour, meaning Edinburgh listeners can catch the six-piece without having to fork out for a trip down South. What a weekend!

STAGE 

Author: Rachel Morrell

If John Swinney’s signature sparked a cry of ‘Freedom!’ from you last week, there’s a belter from The Broons playwright Rob Drummond that’s right up your high road. Wallace (until Saturday 26 September) is a reimagining of the iconic Scottish knight’s tale (told through genre-bending rap lyrics) that will visit Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre before embarking on the next leg of its crusade.

There’s a legendary literary revolt walking the planks, as Olivier-award winning Guy Masterson's solo adaptation of Animal Farm (Friday 25 September) comes to Peebles. Performed by Sam Blythe, this Fringe favourite will transport you to Orwell’s novella, which reflects on human (and animal) nature with an all-too-familiar sense of corruption. 

In Perth there’s a love letter to surviving the everyday with Matthew McVarish’s Remember You Are Beauty Full (until Saturday 3 October) which looks at the woven stresses of working-class life as Alanah, played by rising star Julie Cullen, navigates her best friend’s wedding, a grieving neighbour and a graffiti artist trying to grab her attention.

SCREEN 

Author: Kevin Fullerton

If the Macklemore/Ed Sheeran saga has taught us anything, it’s that even mainstream media’s anger at the ongoing genocide in Gaza has become almost entirely unfiltered. Those hoping to understand the human face behind the humanitarian crisis can visit Falastin Film Festival, which is holding a variety of screenings across community spaces in Dundee from Thursday 24–Sunday 27 September. 

Also in festival territory, the inaugural Leith Short Film Festival will take place on Saturday 26 September at The Pitt. Consisting of screenings, industry chats and networking sessions and live music, it looks set to be an enjoyable day for cinephiles, film insiders and aspiring filmmakers alike. 

Scotsman Picture House’s Fizz & Flick strand is always an indulgent treat, and it seems particularly well suited to the new Sense And Sensibility adaptation (Sunday 27 September), starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as the lovelorn Dashwood sisters. Brunch and fizz is included with your ticket.

EAT & DRINK 

Author: Ailsa Sheldon

It’s been open a month now but I’m determined to make it to The Lea Rig Cafe & Bakery on Easter Road this weekend. Run by Ukrainian-American couple Olga and Sam, it's a neighborhood cafe taking inspiration from an American diner. For that, read warm fruit pies, cinnamon rolls and pecan brownies, plus hearty brunch and lunch dishes. Their cosy craft events look like a very wholesome way to spend an autumn evening. 

This weekend is the Gravity Beer Festival at Summerhall (Friday 25 & Saturday 26 September), with 16 craft breweries showing their wares with good vibes guaranteed. All the beer tasters are included in your ticket so go easy folks. For a family-friendly option head west to Govan Graving Docks where The Big Feed returns to put on The Big Family Day Out on Saturday 26 September. It’s a one-day foodie festival with traders including The Chick Kings, Truck Sri, Firedog Tacos and The Crumbleologist. There’s also bars, live music, and free facepainting; it’s not just for kids. 

VISUAL ART 

Author: Greg Thomas

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt currently on show at Tramway, Glasgow is a must-see. A Scottish-born response to a globe-spanning community art project started in the US in 1985, the quilt was begun in the late 1980s by Gourock-born activist Ally Van Tillo (by poignant coincidence, Van Tillo died aged 67 earlier this month). Stitched together by people all over Britain and Northern Ireland, the quilt constitutes a collective narrative of more than 600 lives lost to HIV and AIDS, with each of its 335 panels created by a different individual or group to commemorate loved ones.

The panels have a cumulative creative verve and colour to them which is reminiscent of the best folk art, tempered by the sombre symbolism of each quilt assuming the dimensions of a grave plot. The public programme of events coinciding with the quilt’s Scottish sojourn is well underway, too. On Saturday 26 September, at the Threads Of Resilience: Stitching Stories For The Future workshop, guests will create a new community pennant banner articulating LGBTQIA+ communities’ hopes for the future.

THE HOT SEAT - Dylan Beck

In this week’s Hot Seat, we’re welcoming Dylan Beck, the festival manager and curator for Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival, a Scotland-wide celebration of Eastern European film that this year features rare 35mm screenings, contemporary discoveries, exclusive premieres and anniversary events. So, what’s Dylan up to this weekend?  

It’s looking like another packed weekend, and mine is starting early: I’m heading down to Glasgow Film Theatre for an evening of Polish Comedy Shorts (Thursday 24 September), presented by Borscht Film Club. Later on, I’ll be hitting up the Fundraiser For The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at the Vic, a night out there feels like a proper throwback that I simply couldn’t say no to.

The club throwback theme will continue on Friday 25 September, though in a different form: the Subcity Archives team has put together an exhibition, New Kids On The Block, ‘a community radio station’s ode to the dancefloors of Glasgow’. I’m sure looking back on the spaces that are no more will be bittersweet but it’s a history that feels important to archive and celebrate.

On Saturday 26 September, A Feminist Jukebox Of People Trying To Change The World is on at Glasgow Women’s Library. And later, Listen Gallery are re-opening in their new, purpose-built space, one that’s taken blood, sweat and tears for Riah to make happen. I can’t wait to see what it’s like, and what gorgeous experimental sound and community events are made possible thanks to its continued, if fraught, existence.

Finally, on Sunday 27 September, after invigilating at the Govan Project Space (‘God Please Fuck My Mind for Good’), I will make my way back to Govanhill for the Solidarity Screenings fundraiser at my favourite local, McNeills. After all, I’m a Southsider through and through, and love making the most of what’s on my doorstep. Which also means that, at some point over the weekend, I will inevitably end up grabbing a coffee at Radio Buena Vida and listening to whatever show they’ve got on at that particular time, and, finally, checking out the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibition itself while it’s still on. 

Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival, various venues, Scotland-wide, Tuesday 6 October–Saturday 7 November.

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