Folk Film Gathering: the world’s first folk film festival starts today! The inaugural programme explores the use of folk tale and storytelling in film, rhapsodic mixes of cinema and song and a particular focus on women’s stories and perspectives. Each feature will be preceded by a related short by a contemporary Scottish filmmaker. Today’s film is Play Me Something (15) ‘one of the great unsung gems of Scottish cinema. Beginning with the arrival of a mysterious stranger at Barra airport, Timothy Neat’s film stages a playful celebration of oral storytelling and international solidarity that roots Scottish folk tradition within a truly global perspective’. Tilda Swinton stars. Plus short When the Song Dies by Jamie Chambers. 8.40pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.
Lunchtime Concert: Hydrokoret (Hydro Choir) (Oslo). Hydrokoret is one of Norway’s leading company choirs, with a varied repertoire. Conductor and musical director: Trond Dahlen. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free. The choir will also perform at the Pleasance, 60 The Pleasance on Saturday 2nd May: tickets for this event cost £6/£4 and are available from the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Bookbug: for young children and their parents and carers. 10.30-11am, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. Also at same time on Saturday 2nd May 2015.
Syn Festival Edinburgh starts today! A volunteer run multi-arts festival promoting Scottish-based Greek artists and artists exploring Greek themes. Today’s events: 7pm, Greek Dance Performance by the Edinburgh Greek Dance Group, 8.15pm, Workshop on Greek Dance – join the instructors as they teach you a simple Greek folk dance, 9.15pm Traditional Greek Live Music with Duo Hyperborea, Boozilia the Band and Niavent. Teviot Row House, 13 Bristo Square. Free admission. All events are open to the public; the festival continues until 9th May. For more information see the festival’s Facebook page here.
Christian Aid Art Sale: paintings, photography, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics and embroidery. 7.30-10pm tonight and 10am-12 noon tomorrow (Saturday 2nd May), Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, West Mayfield. Tickets for tonight’s evening event cost £10 and include refreshments; tickets for Saturday morning’s viewing are £5 and include coffee & cake. For tickets, or for more information about submitting items to the sale, please contact David Ewans on 0131 667 3598 or email david.ewans31@btinternet.com.
The Scottish Gallery: New Exhibitions. (1) Derrick Guild Mother Figures (2) Angie Lewin A Natural Selection – new watercolours from the Scottish designer and printmaker (3) Nel Linssen at 80 – a showcase of works by the pioneer of paper jewellery, each piece of which is ‘a complex mathematical puzzle’ (4) Tsubusa Kato A World of White – a solo exhibition by the Japanese potter, in collaboration with Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street. All exhibitions end 30th May 2015.
International Glaucoma Association/SIGN Glaucoma Patient Guidelines: speakers include Dr Roshini Sanders (Chair, Guideline Development Group), Russell Young (CEO International Glaucoma Association), Karen Graham (SIGN Patient Co-ordinator) and Ian Clement (Patient Rep, Guideline Development Group). 1.30-4pm, Edinburgh Methodist Church Hall, 25 Nicolson Square. All very welcome – tea and coffee provided. For more information or advice please contact John Hughes, IGA Scottish Manager, on 07875 31 29 45 or Sightline on 01223 64 81 70.
Neu! Reekie! #UntitledOne: the launch of the Neu! Reekie! inaugural poetry anthology and double compilation album, featuring Liz Lochhead, William Letford, Jenni Fagan, Kirsty Logan, Miriam Gamble, Aidan Moffat, Kevin Williamson and Michael Pedersen. 6-10pm, La Belle Angele, 11 Hasties Close, off Guthrie Street. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be booked via Brown Paper Tickets here.
Health In Mind Social Group: a new drop-in group for everyone aged 65+ in the Colinton Area. Come along for tea, chat and a different topic each fortnight, meet new people and enjoy a fun activity – today: learn how to work your mobile phone. 10am-12.45pm, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. For more information ask the library staff, call Natasha on 0131 225 8508 or email cc@health-in-mind.org.
Boys and Pastel: the Brussels-based Swiss artist Nicolas Party presents his first major solo exhibition in a UK public gallery. The formal Georgian interior of Inverleith House will be transformed into a contemporary gesamkunstwerk with the most expansive installation of Party’s decorative wall paintings to date; a selection of short films will also be screened within a specially designed space. Open preview tonight 6-8pm, all welcome (access to the preview will be via West gate/John Hope Gateway), then 10am-5.30pm Tuesday to Sunday, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Ends 21st June 2015. There will be a talk and tour by the artist at 2pm on Sunday 3rd May 2015.
Nothing Ever Happens Here, Lost Map Records and Tradfest Present Rozi Plain + eagleowl + Supermoon: alt/folk singer-songwriter Rozi Plain launches her third album Friends, with support from two Edinburgh acts and DJ-ing from Pictish Trail. For over 18s only. 9pm-3am, Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and may be booked here.
Gerry Smith: Text-Based Artist. A new exhibition by Gerry Smith, whose influences include OULIPO and the Fluxus artists. 2-7pm Wednesday-Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Interview Room 11, 38 Castle Terrace. Ends 16th May 2015. Interview Room 11 is an artist-run gallery and project space located in the centre of Edinburgh; it is part of ForestCentre+.
North Edinburgh Theatre Project Presents Friday Night Cafe Cabaret. A pop-up fundraising event, with acts including human puppets, poetry, stage combat and comedy! 7.30pm, North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court. Tickets cost a suggested minimum of at least £2, and may be obtained from NEA on 0131 315 2151.
28th International Isle of Bute Jazz Festival! Want to get away this holiday weekend? The Isle of Bute Jazz festival has been running since 1988, and features a strong focus on New Orleans and traditional jazz, with a sprinkling of more modern styles. There is a train service from Glasgow to the ferry, all venues are within walking distance of Rothesay (where the ferry docks on the island), and there is camping available. Tickets may be purchased online here; prices vary.
