Something For The Weekend: Taylor Swift, Girls Aloud, Tom Allen, and more
Swiftogeddon may be raining down on Edinburgh, but there's still plenty more arts and culture going on across the central belt. In this week's round-up, we're getting science-y in Glasgow, sleuthing our way through a whodunnit, spending time with a bearded lady, and more
AROUND TOWN
As pop titan Taylor Swift descends on Edinburgh for a trio of gigs, the city is getting into the Swifty spirit and preparing the warmest of Scottish welcomes. Check out the Taylor Swift Fan Hub at Forever Edinburgh, with links to an ‘Edinburgh Taylored Taste Trail’ and more. Don’t know your Folklore from your Reputation? Our blagger’s guide will see you right.
The Leith Festival (Saturday 8–Sunday 16 June) is back this weekend with its Gala Day, featuring live music, drumming circles, storytelling and a pageant. Fun for all the family seems guaranteed.
Promising a packed programme of mind-expanding events both online and in-person, the Glasgow Science Festival (until Sunday 16 June) returns. Get stuck into activities across the city at Riverside Museum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, University of Glasgow, and plenty of other venues.
MUSIC
OK, we’ve already mentioned her, but it’s not every day that Taylor Swift (Friday 7–Sunday 9 June) rolls into town. She’ll be packing out the terraces of Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium for the aforementioned gigs, which are part of her worldwide Eras Tour. If you haven’t bagged your spot yet then resale tickets are still popping up.
Lovers of pop bangers are certainly spoilt for choice this weekend with the mighty Girls Aloud (Saturday 8–Monday 10 June) gracing Glasgow with their presence, as part of their reunion tour. Expect all the hits plus tributes to their late, great bandmate Sarah Harding. Check them out at the OVO Hydro.
Also at the OVO Hydro this weekend are Mancunian rock legends James (Friday 7 June), who are promoting their 18th studio album, Yummy, with support from another blast from indie times past, Razorlight.
STAGE
He pops up constantly on our telly these days but in Tom Allen: Completely (Saturday 8 June) the acerbic host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired will be returning to the stand-up stage to share some updates on his life. The Edinburgh Playhouse hosts.
Following on from the original whodunnit Cluedo 2: The Next Chapter (until Saturday 8 June) sets its own murder mystery in the swinging 60s, with Casualty’s Jason Durr and Strictly winner Ellie Leach amongst the suspects. Catch it at the Theatre Royal Glasgow.
Making its way to Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre is Sunset Song (until Saturday 8 June). Co-produced with Dundee Rep Theatre, it’s a contemporary spin on the story of one of Scotland’s most loved literary heroines, Chris Guthrie.
SCREEN
In romantic drama Rosalie a beautiful bearded lady causes a stir in a small French mill town. Stéphanie Di Giusto turns a period story into something strikingly relevant, with Nadia Tereszkiewicz excelling as the spectacularly hirsute heroine. Catch it in cinemas.
Will Smith hopes to regain his box office crown and restore his ailing reputation with another theatrical release, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, which reteams him for the fourth time with his partner in (investigating) crime, Martin Lawrence.
Debuting on Paramount+ this week is Alison Ellwood’s Cyndi Lauper doc Let The Canary Sing which tells the Brooklynite’s story with contributions from the singer herself, as well as Billy Porter, Patti LaBelle and Boy George.
PODCASTS
The latest incarnation of BBC Sounds’ Gangster is ‘The Story Of Viv Graham’. It digs into the unsolved murder of a Tyneside enforcer and former boxer who cultivated a fearsome reputation.
It’s a tumultuous time in US politics in the lead up to this year’s higher-stakes-than-ever election. If you want the lowdown on what’s going on then now might be the time to check out The Rest Is Politics: US. Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci are your guides.
The latest series of the Kew Gardens podcast Unearthed, Nature Needs Us, explores how plant and fungal knowledge can be harnessed to change our world for the better. Taking listeners on a journey from soil to sky, it addresses issues like biodiversity loss and climate change.
VISUAL ART
Fall in love with Edinburgh’s independent art scene in NT Art Month (from Thursday 6 June). It brings together workshops, talks, demos and social events with lots of chances to pop into the participating galleries to witness some wonderful work.
Opening at Glasgow’s Tramway this weekend is Delainia:17071965 Unfolding (Friday 7 June–Sunday 13 October), an exhibition by Delaine Le Bas presented within an expansive, layered installation that aligns their experiences as a Romani person with perspectives on land, movement, gender and discrimination.
And finally Potfest Scotland (Friday 7–Sunday 9 June) returns to the glorious grounds of Perth’s Scone Palace this weekend, with dozens of studio ceramists available to chat to and buy from direct.
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