What's on in Scotland, October 2015

Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2015, 8 Oct

The SAMAs returns for its annual awards bash, again appraising the best of the bunch of alternative Scottish talent – among them SAY award-winner Kathryn Joseph up for Best Live Act, local rockers Catholic Action in the Rock/Alternative category, and BDY_PRTS in the running for Best Electronic award. Live sets from Holy Esque, Crash Club, and wecamefromwolves seal the deal. Ooh, and the promised ‘surprises from previous winners’.

Greening Scotland’s Music Festivals Roundtable, 14 Oct

For the diehard eco amongst you, or just the consciously curious, Creative Carbon Scotland host Fields of Green’s autumn roundtable discussion, this edition exploring what roles Scotland’s music festival organisers, audiences, and musicians can play in addressing climate change and environmental sustainability. Boff up on the Fields of Green research project here.

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Glasgow Coffee Festival 2015, 17 Oct

After all the fun of last year, Glasgow’s own artisan coffee darlings Dear Green Coffee Roasters return for the sophomore Glasgow Coffee Festival, where a host of yer favourite artisan coffee roasters – among them Artisan Roast, Brew Lab, and Papercup Coffee Company – will make merry for a day of masterclasses, presentations, competitions, and more. Funds raised go to Socialbite and Girls Gotta Run.

Cat Conservation Evening w/ Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 19 Oct

Probably one of the more unlikely events of the month, but all the better for it, Ian Anderson (aka him of prog rock unit Jethro Tull) joins Edinburgh Zoo for a special evening discussion on small cat conservation, discussing the zoo’s various cat conservation projects from across the globe, as well as sharing his own feelings toward small cat conservation.

Rally & Broad and SHMAFF present…, 23 Oct

The Rally & Broad literary lasses (aka Jenny Lindsay and Rachel McCrum) return to mark the kick-off of their fourth season, teaming up with the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (SHMAFF) for an extra-special ‘we’re back!’ – with guests including rapper Loki in collab with singer/songwriter Becci Wallace, writer/poet Harry Giles, and singer/songwriter-cum-storyteller Chrissy Barnacle. They then hit up Glasgow a few nights later: details here.

Gin Festival Edinburgh 2015, 23 & 24 Oct

Better than a day of gin, and better still than two, the touring Gin Festival makes its way to Edinburgh to host a weekend-long gin splurge across three individual sessions, bringing with them over 100 different varieties of gin to sup in your official ‘Gin Festival’ take-home glass, bolstered by talks from industry experts, a guided brochure, and even a suggested garnish to go with each gin.

Plan B for Utopia, 24 Oct

Premiered at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Dundee-based company Joan Clevillé Dance brings its playful dance theatre piece – Plan B for Utopia – to the wilds of Newlands Activity Centre in Peeblesshire as part of its autumn tour, with performers Soléne Weinachter and John Kendall exploring the notion of utopia via their own inimitable mix of words, dance, and silliness.

Love Brewed in an African Pot, 28 Oct

As Africa in Motion film fest celebrates its 10th anniversary, Love Brewed in an African Pot sees them pair film and food for an authentic African communal dining experience cooked up by Kenyan chef Christine Longstaff. Accompanying your sharing platter starter will be a screening of Kanyekanye, while Love the One You Love will be screened alongside your main of bunny chow (that’s hollowed out bread filled with curry). Veggie-friendly.

The Devil’s Larder, 29 Oct

Edinburgh-based site-specific theatre specialists Grid Iron bring one of their best-loved shows – The Devil’s Larder – to the grand surrounds of 18th century mansion The Haining, on the shores of Haining Loch. Based on Jim Crace's foodie-focused novella, they’ll take over the whole ground floor of the mansion, leading attendees from space-to-space as the dark narrative unfolds in its myriad parts.

Night at the Museum: Hallowe’en, 30 Oct

Getting in the Halloween spirit a day early, Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works in Dundee hosts a one-off torch-lit tour of the restored Victorian jute mill, keeping it suitably spooky with tales of the mysterious and ghostly delving into the mill’s 182-year history. Ticket price includes some (thankfully un-scary) hot chocolate.

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