SPRING FESTIVALS
THAT’S FIFE Various venues, Fife, Sat 1–Sun 30 Apr The kingdom pulls in some impressive names for its comedy festival. Headliners this year include Russell Kane, Uncles, Alan Davies, Liz Lochhead and Chris Ramsey.
BUZZCUT Pearce Institue, Glasgow, Wed 5–Sun 9 Apr, glasgowbuzzcut.wordpress.com Cutting-edge performance art festival created in December 2011 in response to the shock cancellation of the well- established New Territories festival. Buzzcut is all about sharing: food, ideas and homes. See preview, page 100.
COUNTERFLOWS Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 6–Sun 9 Apr, counterflows.com Counterflows marries the local to the international with artists from around the world collaborating with homegrown talent in spaces across Glasgow.
BIG DOG FESTIVAL Various venues, Dumfries, Fri 7–Sun 9 Apr, wigtownbookfestival.com A new children’s book festival in Dumfries taking place during the Easter holidays. Authors taking part include Mairi Hedderwick, Vivian French, Debi Gliori and Abi Elphinstone. The programme also includes film, music and theatre. Big DoG is devised and organised by Wigtown Festival Company.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF
MIDDLE EASTERN SPIRITUALITY AND PEACE Various venues, Edinburgh, until 9 Apr, mesp. org.uk This international festival draws together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, cultures, traditions and communities to celebrate peace and mutual understanding via spiritual, educational, artistic and cultural events.
TERMINAL V Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Sun 16 Apr, terminalv.co.uk Edinburgh’s biggest ever electronic music festival lands on Easter Sunday, with Adam Beyer, Kerri Chandler, Charlotte de Witte, Ivan Kutz and more.
Look Again Festival 26 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2017
PUPPET ANIMATION FESTIVAL Scotland-wide, until Sat 15 Apr, puppetanimationfestival.org The UK’s largest and longest established annual performing arts event for children pulls some strings to present a feast of puppet- based entertainment, working with local authorities, organisations and venues throughout Scotland. 2017’s programme includes Sir Moustache Bristelby and the Ed-Splorers (pictured), The Fisherman and the Seal, Brier Rose, Head in the Clouds, The Little Fawn Caravan, Dinosaur Detectives and All the Little Birds plus film screenings of Brave, Frozen and Inside Out.
SCOTLAND IN SIX: WORLD HERITAGE DAY DUNDEAD HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
2017 Scotland-wide, Tue 18 Apr, digit2017.com Visit one of Scotland’s six iconic World Heritage Sites for a full day of activities to celebrate World Heritage Day. There is medieval and classical music in Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town, the chance to explore the archipelago of St Kilda using Minecraft, yarn bombing in New Lanark, Picts chasing Romans at the Antonine Wall in a 5k race, pop-up festivals from the 1890s at the Forth Bridge and a glow-in-the-dark evening of storytelling, food and music on Orkney.
OUTSKIRTS Platform, Glasgow, Sat 22 Apr, platform-online. co.uk Festival featuring performance, music, art and film at the Easterhouse arts hub.
TRADFEST EDINBURGH Various venues, Edinburgh, Wed 26 Apr–Sun 7 May, tracsscotland.org With a focus on folk arts which encompass a range of music, storytelling, dance, film, literature, talks, crafts and visual arts, TradFest is based at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile, but stretches out to other venues across the city. See preview, page 83.
LOOK AGAIN FESTIVAL Various venues, Aberdeen, Thu 27 Apr–Mon 1 May, lookagainfestival.co.uk A showcase of inspiring and thought-provoking visual art projects, featuring new commissions, exhibitions and talks across Aberdeen.
DCA, Dundee, Thu 27–Sat 29 Apr, dca.org.uk For the fifth year running, Dundee indulges its more bloodthirsty side with a bank holiday weekend of cinematic thrills and scares. With a programme of sneak previews and terrifying classics, the event has an inclusive feel, welcoming suggestions via Twitter and Facebook.
FOLK FILM GATHERING Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Apr–Thu 11 May, folkfilmgathering.com The third edition of this folk film festival puts its focus on songs and labour and their importance to communities around the world. Among the highlights are Killer of Sheep and Another Time, Another Place.
GLASGOW OPEN HOUSE Various venues, Glasgow, Fri 28 Apr–Mon 1 May, glasgowopenhouse.co.uk Emerging and established contemporary artists who live in Glasgow open the doors of the city’s domestic and disused spaces, to reveal a programme of exhibitions, performances and events. See preview, page 108.
BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Sun 30 Apr, beltane.org A modern interpretation of the ancient fertility festival in the spectacular setting of Calton Hill, this year celebrating its 30th anniversary. Beltane Fire Society performs the story of the death of winter and the birth of summer via dance, drumming, debauched acrobatics, giant-puppetry and fire.