MONDAY 30TH MARCH 2015

soft vengeance

South Africa at 20 logo

South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour. 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of democracy and freedom in South Africa. To commemorate this landmark date, South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour, a season of South African cinema, is taking place from October 2014 to April 2015 at venues across the UK, bringing the diversity, creative innovation and technical brilliance of South African cinemas to British audiences. Today’s film: Soft Vengeance: Albie Sachs and the New South Africa (15) – a touching portrait of the lawyer, writer, art lover and freedom fighter, set against the dramatic events leading to the overthrow of the apartheid regime. The screening will be introduced by Lizelle Bisschoff, director of South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour. 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688: discounts may be available if you buy tickets for several films in this season – ask at the Box Office. South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour continues at the Filmhouse on Tuesday 31st March and Wednesday 1st April 2015: see listings.

grandmother divided by monkey

Grandmother Divided By Monkey Equals Outer Space: American born, Edinburgh-based writer Nora Chassler launches her new novel. set in New York City in 1982. The Martians – Carrie, Eli, their mother Viv and her teenage boyfriend Arni – live in a one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. Around the corner the psychic Miss Rosa’s neon rose glows above the street. Keener on recounting the past than predicting the future, Miss Rosa befriends the Martians one by one, and shares a part of her story with each of them – a story that resonates disturbingly with their own lives. But the Martians have other things to worry about…. 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free: all welcome – donations also very welcome!

BoardMaker example

Autism Edinburgh: BoardMaker Lab. A practical information session for parents and carers whose children have autism spectrum disorders, with staff from ASL Services, Edinburgh City Council. Find out how boardmaker software works and how it can support your family life. The software contains thousands of Picture Communication Symbols, which can be used with anyone who may need additional support with communication, especially children and adults  with autism spectrum disorders. 1.30pm, Wester Hailes Library, 1 Westside Plaza. To book a place please email Melissa.hollingshead@edinburgh.gov.uk or call the library on 0131 529 5667.

still-alice-poster

For Crying Out Loud: screenings for parents/carers and their babies under 12 months, with a maximum of 2 adults per baby. Babychanging, bottle warming and buggy parking facilities available. This week: Still Alice (12A): when she receives a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, linguistics professor Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) and her family find their bonds thoroughly tested. 11am,  Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 per adult.

TER north to Fife St Giles (1)

Lunchtime Concert: Highland Park Orchestra, USA. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Image by Seamus Killick
Image by Seamus Killick

Seamus Killick: Jwoy. New paintings and other works by the recent Edinburgh College of Art graduate and St Margaret’s House resident. Opens tonight at 7pm, then usual opening hours, Forest Cafe, 141 Lauriston Place.

st mary's cathedral

Celtic Growing:  an exhibition of woodcarvings by Mike Appleby. Mike has always been fascinated by wood, and originally made furniture and toys, from there developing an interest in Celtic crosses. One of the traditions of knotwork is to have a ribbon running unbroken through the pattern, and that has parallels to the use of labyrinths in other religious traditions. From the crosses Mike moved on to other Celtic design, much of which involves bas-relief and figurative carving, including animals; he then started high relief and three-dimensional work. Mike has a particular fondness for wood that has been used before, as it has its own stories to tell; the life of the tree, the life of its previous uses and users, and the life of the sculpture it becomes. Resurrection Chapel, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Ends 5th April 2015.

2001 A Space Odyssey

Cameo Culture Shock: 2001: A Space Odyssey (U). Culture Shock brings you the best in cult and genre films. 2001 is an epic science fiction film produced and directed in 1968 by Stanley Kubrick; in 2014 the British Film Institute re-released the film as part of its blockbuster Science Fiction project. Critic Robert Ebert described Kubrick’s masterpiece as ‘a stand alone monument, a great visionary leap, unsurpassed in its vision of man and the universe’.  8.30pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.

Resonate-2015-Website-Image_show_info

Resonate 2015: From Studio to Stage. Over 200 pupils from ten Edinburgh schools showcase their dance, drama and music projects, filling The Queen’s Hall stage with creativity, energy and excitement. 6.30pm, The Queen’s Hall, 85-89 Clerk Street. Tickets cost £4/£2 and can be purchased from the Box office in person, online here or by calling 0131 668 2019. Transaction fees apply to online and telephone bookings. Resonate is a collaboration between The Queen’s Hall and the City of Edinburgh Council’s Children and Families Arts & Creative Learning Service, taking place at The Queen’s Hall 9-30th March 2015. It is made possible by support from the Inches Carr Trust.

The Drumbrae Library Hub

Your Neighbourhood: City Centre and Leith – find out more about care and support services in your area. 10am-4pm, Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drumbrae Drive. Also at same times at the Central Library, George IV Bridge, on Wednesday 1st April.

visions-of-edinburgh at Henderson's

Visions of Edinburgh: an exhibition of contemporary landscapes of Edinburgh by David Grigor. 10% of all sales will go to support The Royal Blind School. 8am-10pm Monday to Saturday, Henderson’s Restaurant, Hanover Street. Free entry: ends September 2015.

The Edinburgh Reporter Central Library entrance

Edinburgh City Archives: if you are interested in finding out more about your family history, local history or a local business – or perhaps you have records that you don’t know what to do with – come along today to find out more about the City Archives and chat to one of the City Archivists. 10.30am-12.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge.

TUESDAY 31ST MARCH 2015

1994 The bloody miracle

South Africa at 20 logo

South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour. 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of democracy and freedom in South Africa. To commemorate this landmark date, South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour, a season of South African cinema, is taking place from October 2014 to April 2015 at venues across the UK, bringing the diversity, creative innovation and technical brilliance of South African cinemas to British audiences. Today’s film: 1994: The Bloody Miracle (15) – as South Africa celebrates the 20th anniversary of the advent of democracy, it is difficult to believe the ‘Mandela miracle’ almost didn’t happen. In an orgy of countrywide violence, some were intent on derailing the first free elections. Now, for the first time, those responsible for countless deaths and widespread mayhem explain how they nearly brought South Africa to its knees. The screening will be introduced by Lizelle Bisschoff, director of South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour. 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688: discounts may be available if you buy tickets for several films in this season – ask at the Box Office. South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour continues at the Filmhouse on Wednesday 1st April 2015: see listings.

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Discover Urban Art: a charity art project delivered by a talented, creative group, who will provoke and inspire with stories of  the challenges of life in the city. Musicians, painters, designers, performers and dancers will collaborate to deliver this unique exhibition. Launch tonight 6.30-10pm, then open to the public 10am-7pm on Wednesday 1st April, Gayfield Creative Spaces, 11 Gayfield Square. All profits will be donated to The Teapot Trust, an Edinburgh-based charity helping children with chronic diseases through professional art therapy.

the trial by john mayer

Edinburgh Reads: Meet the Author – John Mayer. The retired advocate and author talks about his debut novel The Trial, a gripping crime thriller in the Scottish Noir tradition; advocate with a past Brogan McLane fights to clear his name when he is accused of the murder of a High Court Judge. 6.30-8.30pm, Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.

Triptych: Sharon Lloyd and Paul Hodgson
Triptych: Sharon Lloyd and Paul Hodgson

Holding up a mirror to Bordon’s women: Paul Hodgson, artist, and Sharon Lloyd, fashion and beauty scholar, will discuss the photographic triptych made in response to Paris Bordon’s Venetian Women at their Toilet. The challenge of constructing a visual narrative that would embody contemporary identities raised many questions about fashion media expectations and the ambiguities of beauty. Hodgson and Lloyd will explore the nature of the working process, alongside their interpretations of Renaissance imagery as it appears in the finished triptych. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

central library 3

Your Neighbourhood: City Centre and Leith – find out more about care and support services in your area. 10am-4pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge.

Greenhouse at OOTB

Greenhouse: an exhibition of works by Edinburgh College of Art 4th Year Painting, Photography and Sculpture students Iona Roberts, Sarinda Devine, Eve Stotesbury, Yoli McKean, Sky Su and Ned Armstrong. Launch tonight at 7pm, then 10am-5pm daily, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Ends 4th April 2015.

greenhouse

WEDNESDAY 1ST APRIL 2015

miners shot down

South Africa at 20 logo

South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour. 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of democracy and freedom in South Africa. To commemorate this landmark date, South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour, a season of South African cinema, is taking place from October 2014 to April 2015 at venues across the UK, bringing the diversity, creative innovation and technical brilliance of South African cinemas to British audiences. Today’s film: Miners Shot Down (15) (In English and Zulu with English subtitles). In August 2012 mineworkers in one of South Africa’s biggest platinum mines began a wildcat strike for better wages. Six days later the police used live ammunition to brutally suppress the strike, killing 34 and injuring many more. Using the point of view of the Marikana miners, this film follows the strike from day one, showing the courageous but isolated fight waged by a group of low-paid workers against the combined forces of the mining company Lonmin, the ANC government and their allies in the National Union of Mineworkers. What emerges is collusion at the top, spiralling violence and the country’s first post-apartheid massacre.  The screening will be followed by a discussion on the ongoing struggle for human rights in post-apartheid South Africa, featurng a panel of experts and chaired by Lizelle Bisschoff, director of South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour. 8.35pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688: discounts may be available if you buy tickets for several films in this season – ask at the Box Office.

penicuik yarn group

Yarn Group: an informal group – bring your knitting or crochet, share experiences, have a chat and get help with problems. 10am-12 noon today and every Wednesday, Penicuik Arts Centre West Street. Entry by donation.

incredible power of light exhibition

Incredible Power of Light: Vulcan is a laser facility 10,000 times more powerful than the National Grid; it can deliver pulses of light of up to one petawatt of energy. A replica of this amazing laser forms the centrepiece of this new exhibition, celebrating the International Year of Light 2015, along with interactive exhibits, animations, hardware and displays that tell the story of how lasers impact on our daily lives. 10am-4.30pm (last entry – closes 5pm), Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays), Main Hall, The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Ends 30th April 2015. Free. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of children’s workshops and talks for adults and young adults throughout April: for full details click here. Part of Edinburgh International Science Festival 2015.

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Righteous Muslims: a joint project between Sukkat Shalom: the Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community, Marchmont St Giles Church and the Muslim Women’s Association of Edinburgh. During the Second World War many Muslims, especially in south-east Europe, sheltered Jewish neighbours from the Nazis. Some are honoured as Righteous Muslims by Yad Vashem. Faith Matters, a Muslim civic organisation, has created an exhibition telling some of the stories; it has been displayed in many places in the UK, and this is its first showing in Scotland. Launch tonight at 6pm, then 10am-4pm Monday to Friday, Butterflies Cafe, Marchmont St Giles Parish Church Centre, 1a Kilgraston Road. If you would like to attend the launch, please email contact@eljc.org. Ends 12th April 2015.

the scottish gallery

The Scottish Gallery – New Exhibitions: (1) Katie Downie: Estuary. Following three months of travel through Australia and Japan, artist Katie Downie presents bright new ink and watercolour paintings from Outback river source to the coast, pictorial diaries and oil paintings. ‘This new body of work marks a serious development in the artist’s deep encounters with both the built and the natural river lands around the edges of the Pacific Rim’. (2) Eugenie Vronskaya: Still Point in a Turning World. Highlands-based painter Vronskaya studied icon painting from an early age and was the first Russian student to enrol for the Masters course at the Royal College of Art. She has since exhibited worldwide. ‘Vronskaya has few rivals in Britain for sheer draughtsmanship’ John Russell Taylor. (3) Cutting Edge: Modern Hungarian Glass. An exhibition showcasing 16 Hungarian glass artists, including both emerging and established makers; curated by Attila Sik of Prism Gallery, Birmingham. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street. All exhibitions end 28th April 2015.

Will Pickvance
Will Pickvance

Lunchtime Concert: Piano Speak with Will Pickvance. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

a short history of tractors

Craigmillar Library Book Group: currently reading A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. 6.30pm, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road. All welcome: a copy of the book may be obtained from library staff.

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Lounge Act feat. Caroline Gilmour, The Woods (aka Johnny McFadzean) and Frida Ecklund. A trio of talented singer-songwriters making great strides on the local scene. 7.30pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Free.

Image: National Library of Scotland
Image: National Library of Scotland

National Library of Scotland Guided Tour: A guided tour of the building and an introduction to the Library’s collections and history. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is essential as numbers are limited: reserve your place online here or by calling the Library on 0131 623 3734. Please inform the Library of any special access requirements.

hendersons-front

Edinburgh College of Naturopathic Medicine: a drop-in session with Gayle Fitzpatrick, who will answer your questions about studying with CNM. 1-3pm, Henderson’s Restaurant, Hanover Street.

john cairney

The Importance of Being: actor John Cairney talks about his unique life and his thoughts on spirituality and human connections. Cairney’s words underline the importance of recognising the gift we have simply in living, and how crucial it is to appreciate each moment of our lives. ‘A philosophical look back at a life well lived’. 2pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required, either online here or by calling the Library on 0131 623 3734.

victoria bar

Staff Works: an exhibition of art works from the staff of the Boda Bars. Preview tonight from 7pm, then usual opening hours, Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk,

cabaret voltaire Gettup

The Gettup: diminish your midweek blues with DJs Thom and Pagowsky, who bring you the very best in Disco and Deep House. 9pm-3am tonight and every Wednesday, Cabaret Voltaire, 36 Blair Street. Free entry.

THURSDAY 2ND APRIL 2015

Image: www.TheAutismNews.com
Image: www.TheAutismNews.com

Edinburgh Reads: The Curious Incident Giant Book Group Event. To mark World Autism Day a panel of speakers, including Cerin Richardson (Festival Theatre) and Matthew Day (Autism Initiatives), will discuss some of the challenges faced by people living with autism. To enjoy this event fully you are advised to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time beforehand, so that  you can participate in small group conversations prior to the panel discussion; copies of the book should be available in all city libraries. There will be a draw for two pairs of tickets to a performance of the stage version of the book, kindly donated by The Festival Theatre, and Cerin will be sharing some of what is involved in translating ‘the page to the stage’. Individuals and books groups all very welcome.  6.30-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but please book via eventbrite here.

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Scotland-Russia Forum: sparkling Russian/English conversation over tea and cakes – no charge apart from any food or drinks you may wish to buy. No booking needed – just turn up, you will be warmly welcomed. 11am, Summerhall Cafe, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall.

autism awareness stand up night at Banshee Labyrinth

World Autism Awareness Day Charity Fundraiser: Science Fiction Double Feature! A night of paranormal stand-up comedy in ‘the most haunted pub in Edinburgh’, featuring Des O’Gorman and Ross Hepburn – two quality shows back-to-back, each comedian ’embracing the films of nostalgia, inspiration and devotion’. 7.30-10.30pm, Banshee Labyrinth Chamber Room, 29-35 Niddry Street. £2 on the door: all proceeds to Autism Awareness. For more information please contact Autism Initiatives’ Community Fundraiser and PR Officer: Holly.Child@aiscotland.org.uk

greyfriars music for Holy Week concert

Lunchtime Concert: Music for Holy Week. Music by Handel and Purcell, performed by students from the University of Edinburgh’s Reid School of Music, with Emma Aitken (soprano), Katy Cavanaugh (oboe), Beatrice Langford-Powell (violin) and Henry Pemberton (tenor), accompanied by Gina Baker (piano). 12 noon-12.45pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free. A concert as part of the Spark Greyfriars Festival of Worship and the Arts 2015.

white shadow

Africa in Motion Film Festival Special Screening: White Shadow (15). Not only an ancient tradition but still a modern-day practice, the underground trade in albino body parts still exists in Tanzania, a country with one of the highest percentages of albinism in the world. In Noaz Deshe’s film Alias, an albino youth on the verge of adolescence, must learn to navigate a world in which he is not just an outsider, but actual prey. ‘Despite the pervasive, often harrowing amorality of this world, it’s one not entirely bereft of hope’. In Swahili with English subtitles. The screening will be introduced by Justine Atkinson, Director of Aya Distribution. 8.35pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.

Memoirs of a Feminist Mother

Memoirs of a Feminist Mother: Carol Fox, the lawyer known in Scotland for successfully fighting mass equal pay cases for low paid women, launches her book, a memoir of her positive decision to become a single parent by choice. Carol obtained fertility treatment in London in the early 1990s and her daughter was born in 1992, following battles against judgemental attitudes that seem almost vindictive to most of us now.  Carol’s story has attracted media coverage, sparking debates on motherhood and the right to be a single parent in the UK; it will be of interest to a wide audience of women, young and old, mothers and non-mothers, as it records changing social attitudes over the past 25 years. 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free: all welcome – donations also very welcome!

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Live Music Now: Grainne Brady and Ryan Murphy. Grainne Brady and Ryan Murphy are a duo from Ireland playing traditional Irish music: their programme is entitled The Irish During The Great War, and mixes regular favourites with tunes reminiscent of the war and its aftermath, such as The Homerule and Easter Rising. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free: no booking required.

Image: www.ucl.ac.uk
Image: www.ucl.ac.uk

Edinburgh College of Art Thursday Research Seminar Series: Derek Jarman Gets Medieval. Chaired by Dr Robert Mills (UCL), whose recent work has looked at Jarman’s engagements with medieval art and literature, with a particular focus on the artist’s conceptions of time and history. The seminar will be followed by drinks in the Minto House Common Room. 5.15pm, Lecture Room 1, Minto House, University of Edinburgh, Chambers Street. All welcome: free.

Vassily-Kandinsky

Books in Focus: Kandinsky’s Klange. The ‘Books in Focus’ series focuses on artists’ books held in the special collections of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This session will look at Wasilly Kandinsky’s book Klange, published in Munich in 1913. Klange means ‘sounds’; the book contains a series of woodcuts that trace Kandinsky’s journey into abstraction, together with writings and poems exploring his ideas about art. 11.30am-12.30pm, Reading Room, Scottish Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Free but places are limited and booking is essential: please email gmainfo@nationalgalleries.org or call 0131 624 6268.

bakersfield youth symphony orchestra tour poster

Lunchtime Concert: Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra, Bakersfield, California, USA, with director Maxim H Eshkenazy. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

the last treasure hunt

The Last Treasure Hunt: Edinburgh author Jane Alexander launches her debut novel. At the age of thirty, Campbell Johnstone considers himself a failure; when he tries to rekindle his relationship with former friend and rapidly rising Hollywood star Eve Sandler, a single shocking night changes everything in ways he could never have predicted. When the dust settles, Campbell’s life is transformed – but at what cost? The Last Treasure Hunt examines our obsession with fame and celebrity – ‘a modern media morality tale with bite’. The evening will be chaired by Peggy Hughes. 7-9pm, St Stephen Centre, St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite here.

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Scottish Poetry Library Translation Workshop: Gaelic Poetry with Aonghas MacNeacail. The Gaelic poet, songwriter, scriptwriter, broadcaster, translator, journalist and librettist will share two or three of his own poems, with literal translations. With Aonghas’s help, attendees will (individually or in pairs) then create English translations from the literal versions. The translations and the process of translating will then be shared and discussed. There is no need to able to speak or read Gaelic, or to have translated before, to attend the workshop, although those with experience are welcome. 6-8pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be booked via eventbrite here. For more information please contact jennifer.williams@spl.org.uk.

old chain pier exterior

The GTs Live @ The OCP: an evening of fantastic foot-stomping music! 9pm, Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.

pat kane

Pat Kane: Culture, Sustainability and Political Change in Scotland. An evening with The Common Weal board member, musician and writer. 7pm for 7.30pm, Area C Coffee House, 239-241 Leith Walk. Hosted by The Common Weal Edinburgh North & Leith. Please note venue is cash only. BYOB (corkage applies).

nothing ever happens here poster 2

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents Paws + Algernon Dog + Le Thug. For over 18s only. 8pm-1am, Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1581.

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Lach & Friends: Duglas T Stewart (BMX Bandits), McGuire and The Pure Gallus. 8pm, Woodland Creatures, 260-262 Leith Walk. £5 on the door.

FRIDAY 3RD APRIL 2015

durufle requiem

Durufle Requiem: conducted by Rupert Forbes, Director of Music, and accompanied on the organ by Sheila Chisholm. The Requiem (Op 9) was commissioned by the Vichy regime in 1941; Durufle completed it in 1947, dedicating it to his father. It is written for SATB choir with mezzo-soprano soloists. 7.30pm, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lutton Place.

merlin-glow

Meet the Brewer: Broughton Ales offer free tasters of Dark ‘N’ Cloudy Oatmeal Espresso Stout, Dark Hunter, Proper IPA, Merlin’s Ale and 6.2 IPA. 7pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Free.

scott methven child's play poster

Scott Methven: Child’s Play – A Retrospective Playtime. A new collection of work by Scott Methven, who works predominantly in Indian ink, oil pastel and ceramic paint to create multi-layered, exploratory and often surreal works.  Launch 7.30pm tonight with bubbly and nibbles, then usual opening hours, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Ends 30th April 2015.

four Corners at Bongo Club

Four Corners: good time soul music for dancing and the perfect start to your weekend –  ‘a rapturous blend of soulful dancefloor music, new and old, from right across the map’. Deep funk, jazzy breaks, afro-latin and dub reggae with DJs Simon Hodge, Astrojazz and Johnny Cashback. 11pm-3am, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. £3 before midnight, £5 after. 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’.

AND BANNER

Edinburgh College of Art Friday Lecture Series: AND Publishing. Eva Weinmayr is a London-based artist with a long-standing engagement with independent publishing. She is a founder member of AND, an independent publishing platform exploring the creative and social possibilities of print-on-demand technology and new modes of distribution. Eva has exhibited internationally, and since 2010 has run The Piracy Project, an international exhibition and publishing project, with Andrea Francke. 11.30am-1pm, Lecture Theatre 22, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place

SATURDAY 4TH APRIL 2015

dugs in pubs 2015

Dug Day: new name but the same doggy fun! A great way to socialise your wet-nosed friend and meet other dog owners from the area. 12 noon, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Free.

Afternoon+TeaHumanitarian Aid for Ukraine: a fundraising afternoon tea with a glass of bubbly or juice, sandwiches and home baking. 4pm, Ukrainian Club, 14 Royal Terrace. Tickets cost £8 (children £4) and can be obtained by contacting Senia Urquhart on 07920 854 136 or Lesia Demianczuk on 07939 460 500 or emailing ScottishUkrainians@gmail.com.

Mary, Queen of Scots (in white mourning), Francois Clouet, 1561: NGS
Mary, Queen of Scots (in white mourning), Francois Clouet, 1561: NGS

Portrait Gallery Thematic Tour: Seven Queens of Scotland. Former Senior Curator Susanna Kerr will examine the style of royal portraiture from the 16th to the 21st century. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free: no booking required.

reindeer safari

Edinburgh International Science Festival: Reindeer Safari. Experience the city as a reindeer. Hear about the reindeer’s way of life from Timo Jokitalo, Eeva Kemppi, Minja Mertanen and Veera Turunen, members of Finnish live arts collective Other Spaces, then walk – quietly and collectively as a herd would – through Edinburgh. On your return, the materials and ‘data’ collected on the walk will be displayed to the public as an art piece, with the chance to ask questions of the organisers and participants. This piece won the Finnish Environmental Art Piece of the Year in 2011 and has been taking its participants on a wayfaring experience through the semi-urban landscapes of today ever since. It opens up new ways to experience the city and its natural spaces, allowing the senses to sharpen as the group experiences the borderline between nature and human culture. Bring walking shoes, a backpack, water bottle and weather-appropriate clothes – no costumes! For ages 14+. 11am-4.30pm, Old Lab, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Festival Box Office on 0844 557 2686.

rhyme time

Polish Rhymetime! For young children and babies and their parents and carers. 11am, Piershill Library, 30 Piershill Terrace. All welcome!

the atelier of raoul de keyser, 2013. image Hilde D'Haeyere

Raoul De Keyser: Curator’s Tour. Curator Paul Nesbitt and Exhibitions Officer Chloe Reith lead an in-depth discussion on the work of Raoul De Keyser and the current exhibition Paintings 1967-2012. 2-3pm, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. The exhibition continues until 12th April 2015.

cowgate pop-up market #2

Cowgate Pop-Up Market #2: a one-day, pop-up, multi-venue arts/flea market – art, craft, fashion, music and food, with a dozen Cowgate venues (Movement, Opium, Sneaky Pete’s, The Bongo Club, Dropdick Murphy’s, Three Sisters, Brewdog, The Mash House, La Belle Angele, City Cafe, Cabaret Voltaire and Pilgrim) opening their doors. 1-5pm, Cowgate. Free entry.

printmaking - lithography at Edinburgh Printmakers

Alastair Clark: Lithography Demonstration. Artist and master printer Alastair Clark will introduce his new gallery installation Star Clusters, commissioned by Edinburgh Printmakers for the exhibition Dark Matters. Alastair will then give a demonstration of the printmaking technique used to create the work, the process of lithography. 2-3.30pm, Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street. Tickets £3 or two for £5 (EP Members free): places are limited so please book in advance via eventbrite here. Dark Matters is a collaborative project between Edinburgh Printmakers, the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and Edinburgh University, curated by artist David Faithfull; it continues until 23rd May 2015.

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Edinburgh International Science Festival: Forage on the Farm. Experience the delicious delights of the farm, and find out what it takes to get fresh ingredients from the field to your plate: take a tour around the farm with some foraging on the way, and once your basket is full you’ll have the opportunity to cook up a tasty treat in the kitchen and challenge your palette with an eggy taste test! 2-3.30pm today and every day until 19th April 2015, Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road. Tickets cost £6/£4 (under 3s free) and may be purchased online here; please remember to book a free ticket for any child under 3 years.

Image: Five Chinese Lanterns on Silk - Deborah Cumming
Image: Five Chinese Lanterns on Silk – Deborah Cumming

Open Eye Gallery: New Exhibitions. (1) The Living Mountain – Edinburgh painter and calligrapher Susie Leiper presents an exhibition in tribute to Nan Shepherd and the mountains of Scotland; (2) New Works – Edinburgh-based artist Deborah Cumming’s still life paintings offer vibrant colour, texture and fine detail. 10am-4pm today then 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, Open Eye Gallery, Abercromby Place. The Living Mountain ends 22nd April 2015; New Works ends 20th April 2015.

Oscar and the Highland Castle

Puppet Animation Festival 2015: Mousetale Puppets Present Oscar and the Highland Castle. Answering a call for help, Oscar the mouse leaves his attic home and heads for Loch Ness, where he finds Incy Wincy Spider among the ruins of an old castle. Mysteriously swept back in time, Oscar joins Incy’s campaign to free the castle from English rule and restore Scotland’s independence! For ages 4+/family. 11-11.40am, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court. Tickets cost £4/£3/£2 and can be booked by calling North Edinburgh Arts on 0131 315 2151, emailing admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk or in person. Please note this show takes place in the dark: please call the centre in advance if this is your child’s first time at a UV performance.

st cuthbert's organ 2

St Cuthbert’s Organ Recitals: Morely Whitehead (Morningside Parish Church). A devotional performance of Alan Ridout’s Stations of the Cross, interspersed with readings. 12.30-1.15pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road. Free: retiring collection.

Mosque seen from George Square

Edinburgh Central Mosque Dads and Toddlers Group: stories and play in an Islamic environment for babies and children up to the age of 5 and their Dads. 10am-12 noon today and every Saturday, Exhibition Hall, Edinburgh Central Mosque, 50 Potterrow. For more information please email tajzareenok@gmail.com.

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Retrograde: live DJ set of deep cosmic grooves with an old school flavour. 9pm, Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk.

tron-vs-tronLateLab – Tron v Tron: Legacy. Kick off the 2015 Latelab season by playing Light Cycle to decide which film, Tron or Tron: Legacy gets the Atmosphere treatment in a special expanded cinema event to complement the Games Master exhibition. Be transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer, where interaction between programmes, good and malicious, is the only way to get back out. Behind the smoke and mirrors, watch out for the bits and bytes. Sean Williams and Matt Collings will be mixing a new 5.1 soundtrack for the audience in the auditorium. For adults and over 14s only. 7.30-10pm, Auditorium, National Museum of Scotland (entry via Lothian Street). Tickets cost £10/£8 and may be booked online here (transaction fees apply). Latelab is a collaboration between the Edinburgh International Science Festival and New Media Scotland, in association with the National Museum.

SUNDAY 5TH APRIL 2015

redhall walled garden Easter

SAMH Redhall Walled Garden Easter Extravaganza; a fun-filled afternoon in the beautiful garden, with an Easter quiz and trail, children’s activities, cream teas and plants for sale. 12 noon-4pm, Redhall Walled Garden, 97 Lanark Rd. Entry by donation. Redhall Walled Garden is a Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) service dedicated to mental health and wellbeing for all.

shaun the sheep the movie

Filmhouse Junior: screenings for a younger audience – this week Shaun the Sheep: The Movie (U). When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small.

61 Fountainhall Road copyright Andrea Jones
Image copyright Andrea Jones

Scotland’s Open Gardens: 61 Fountainhall Road. Large walled town garden in which trees and shrubs form an architectural backdrop to a wide variety of flowering plants. Several alpine beds, and three ponds, with and without fish, which have attracted a lively population of frogs. 2-5pm, 61 Fountainhall Road, EH9 2LH. Admission £4, of which 40% goes to Froglife (a national wildlife charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles) and the net remaining to Scottish Gardens charities. Also open at same times on Sunday 12th April and various dates throughout the summer: see SG’s website for details.

Art-Maker-Andy-McGregor

Art Maker – April: join the art maker club and make your own masterpieces with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. For ages 4-12. 2-4pm (drop-in), Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.  Supported by the Friends of NGS.

lauriston castle 2

Easter at the Castle: have fun in an idyllic setting and try a host of crafts and woodland trails – enjoy Easter cake and lots of other treats, and watch out for lost bunnies! For families: please note that children cannot be booked onto this session alone, they must be accompanied by at least one paying adult. 10am-1pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. £5 per person: bookings must be made via the Usher Hall Box Office, either in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

time warp

Time Warp: DJ Lexo presents Time Warp-Party Non-Stop, an eclectic mash-up of music and film, DJ Lexo (ex Scottish Student DJ Champion) has been DJ-ing in clubs since the age of 17, and now brings his new live video show to Edinburgh. Music videos from diverse genres (hip hop, rock and dance) are mashed up and the sampled origins of today’s popular music are explored, brought together and re-edited live. Film and TV show samples are thrown into the mix with the best of their soundtracks, along with the music that inspired them. This is an audio-visual performance on two giant screens and may contain explicit content. 11pm-3am, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. Tickets cost £5 on the door. 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’.

scifest

Edinburgh International Science Festival: SciMart. A farmers’ market with a scientific twist, bringing together over thirty food producers (including Chillilicious, Dunbar Bakery, Build Rwanda, Kelvin Valley Honey, Ninja Buns and Rock Rose Gin), researchers and chefs to reveal the science behind some of our foodstuffs. There will be a full programme of talks and treats (click here for details), with demonstrations from award-winning Edinburgh chef Paul Wedgewood and a mini-restaurant of food surprises for younger visitors. 11am-4pm, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £5 (under 12s free) and may be purchased online here or by calling the Festival Box Office on 0844 557 2686.

nitekirk 5

Nitekirk: a creative, drop-in experience of church. ‘A place of welcome, a space for stillness, a pause on your journey, an open door’. Come and go as you wish, join in activities, songs and quiet conversation, or just sit in silence. This month’s theme is Surprise. 6-8pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. This month Nitekirk is piloting the practice of holding two gatherings per month: the second will be on Friday 17th April.

St Giles’ At Six: an organ recital. Peter Backhouse plays Widor Symphonie VI. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

TER St Giles

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