Edinburgh Iranian Festival Opening Ceremony: a non-political showcase for world-class Iranian culture, for musicians and artists working both in and outside Iran. Tonight’s event will include an introduction to the 2015 programme, a poetry reading by Rab Wilson of his Scots translation of the Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam alongside a reading in the original Persian, live music from Arezoo Symphony Orchestra and a drinks reception. 8-10pm (doors open at 8, event begins at 8.30), St John’s Church, Princes Street. Tickets cost £5 (under 10s are free but must be kept under parental supervision at all times) and are available from the Traverse Theatre Box Office on 0131 228 1404 or online here.
Harry Potter Party: calling all Muggles, Witches and Wizards! Come and make a wand with Mr Ollivander, brush up on your potions and try a treat from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes Skiving Snackbox! Award for the best costume. 2-4pm, South Queensferry Library, 9 Shore Road.
Faith Eliott Exhibition Launch: Edinburgh based Faith Eliott is a maker of puppets, drawings, sculptures, songs, poems and ‘other such debris’. Come and be the first to see some of Faith’s work and get first dibs on unique pieces. 7.30-10.30pm, Sofi’s Bar, 63 Henderson Street.
Edinburgh College of Art Friday Lecture Series: Agata Pyzik. Polish writer and critic Agata Pyzik writes for various magazines including Frieze, The Wire, The Guardian, New Statesman, Calvert Journal, Icon and New Humanist. In her book Poor But Sexy: Culture Clashes in Europe East and West she looks at the abandoned scenes of history in Eastern Europe, its relationship with the West through historical and political movements, and the development of popular cultural forms. 11.30am, Main Lecture Theatre E22, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. Free and open to all.
Lunchtime Concert: Artisan Trio with Jean Johnson. Aisling O’Dea (violin), Clea Friend (cello), Ed Cohen (piano) and Jean Johnson (clarinet) play Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free and unticketed.
A New International: an evening of songs, stories and cabaret as A New International celebrate the release of their debut album Come to the Fabulon at a gig hosted by Rally & Broad, with Caro Bridges and Mr Twonkey. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. Tickets cost £6 on the door/£5 in advance, and can be booked online here. The Bongo Club is a nightclub, live venue and all-round artistic hub owned by local arts charity Out of the Blue, putting ‘the sounds of the underground and imaginative aspirations before the mighty dollar’.
Four Corners Tenth Birthday Party: Craig Charles (6 Music). Four Corners is one of Scotland’s longest running clubnights, providing a top drawer soundtrack of deep funk, soul, afro beat, latin, disco, rare groove, jazz, hip hop and reggae: tonight it celebrates its tenth birthday with top funk ambassador Craig Charles. ‘Craig Charles’ BBC Radio 6 show is the most popular on the network, and behind the decks he knows how to work a room’. 11pm-3am, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. Advance tickets sold out: 200 will be available on the door (£10) from 11pm, first come, first served.
Balerno Village Screen: Boyhood (15), 7.30-10.15pm, St Joseph’s Centre, Johnsburn Road, Balerno. This month’s screenings will all be preceded by Danny MacAskill’s brilliant new video The Ridge, in which – for the first time in one of his films – Danny climbs aboard a mountain bike and returns to Skye, his native home, to take on a death-defying ride along the notorious Cuillin Ridgeline. Come along and enjoy it on the big screen in all its glory – much better than watching it online! Please register your intention to attend either via BVS’s online booking page (no fees) or by picking up a ticket in Balerno Post Office or the Mill Cafe. Balerno Village Screen is a community cinema offering free admission: it is funded by donations.
