Cover image - Self Portrait (of us all) as the Devil (2009) by Graham Fagen, developed from the main character in Killing Time, a collaboration with Graham Eatough, Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) in 2006. Shown as part of PhotoDalkeith, Dalkeith Palace until 27.9
Edinburgh’s weekend starts here…
Thursday – Photo Dalkeith / Playtime with Phil Bancroft Trio
Friday – Dave Rowntree / PILGRIM / Caledonia Dreaming – 50 Years of Scottish Punk
Saturday – Heroin film screening / 1896-2026: An Epic of Electronic Music and its Technology / November Group – Afternoon Originals / Woe is Us.
Tuesday - Down to Earth - Celebrating 30 years of the Columcille Centre / Photography Scotland 2026
Wednesday – Loud Women Edinburgh present Second Idol + SheBeat + Von Dodds + YIOTA
Scroll down for details… Don’t shoot the messenger…
Here all week
Scott Lawrie Gallery, Chuckie Pend. Until 29.8. Mon-Sat. 11am-6pm.
Jake Chapman - Nicesis: the Unwellness of WellBeing
New work by Brit-art provocateur, designed to repel and attract in equal measure…
Studies in Photography, William Street. Until 29.8. Wed-Sat 12 noon-5pm. https://studiesinphotography.com/pages/cadence-ten-years-of-studies-in-photography
Cadence - Ten Years of Studies in Photography
To mark a decade of Studies in Photography, as the organisation leaves its William Street home, an exhibition bringing together 20 photographers to celebrate both.
Mote 102, Ferry Road. Until 30.8. 11am-5pm. https://mote102.com/events/from-the-ground-martha-ellis-susie-wright/
Martha Ellis & Susie Wright - From the Ground
From the Ground brings together the work of Martha Ellis and
Susie Wright in a celebration of plants and the quiet beauty found
in the natural world. Drawings, prints, sculptural works and ceramics
invite us to pause and reconsider the everyday plants and flowers we so
often pass by without a second thought.
Brown’s of Leith, Custom Lane until Aug 30, 4pm. Tickets - https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mayflies SOLD OUT
Mayflies
Grid Iron Theatre’s hit staging of Andrew O’Hagan’s novel sets itself in a Leith warehouse space which doubles up as assorted 1980s Manchester music venues in a thrilling look back in languor at how a group of teenage Ayrshire boys became men.
Tay Street Gallery, Tay Street. Until 30.8. Thu-Sun – 1pm-5pm. Preview 15.8 – 2pm-5pm. Free
Thank Fuck for Artists
Lily Ashrowan Sam Ainsley John Ayscough Emily Bates Beagles & Ramsay
John Brown Sarah Calmus Mark Haddon Hannah Dove Kevin Harman
Paul Kier Cathy Orton Sienna Ponting Mark Purves Elaine Speirs
Rowan Mace Billy McCall Chad McCail Toby Messenger Maggie Hills
lain Irving
Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street until 31.8. 10an-6pm. https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6700/
The Craigmillar Tapestry
Marking 60 years since the first Craigmillar Festival, celebrate the power of art as a catalyst for social change. Twenty incredible tapestry panels have been stitched by local residents in Craigmillar and Niddrie, telling the rich and diverse story of the community. The panels are stitched to a very high standard, reflecting the great talent in Craigmillar.
Studio Bar, Assembly George Square Studios. Until 31.8. 10am-5am. Free. https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/the-worst-record-covers-in-the-world
Steve Goldman - The Worst Record Covers in the World
The return to Edinburgh of Steve Goldman’s superlative collection of terrible record covers that makes you wonder what record company art departments were on when they greenlit these. What they might sound like is another matter entirely.
Embassy Gallery, Ferry Road. Until 6.9. Thursday: 4-7pm; Friday: 12-5pm; Saturday: 12-5pm; Sunday: 12-5pm. Opening 15.8 – 7pm. https://embassygallery.org/events/culture-vultures/
Culture Vultures
‘Culture Vultures’ is a musical written by Donald Campbell and Helen Crummy first performed as part of the 1977 Craigmillar Festival. The inaugural Festival took place in 1964 and was organised by the Peffermill Mother’s Group. Success of ensuing festivals led to the formation of the Craigmillar Festival Society in 1969, which became an internationally recognised community arts group that operated year round.
City Art Centre, Market Street until 27.9. 10am-5pm. Tickets - https://cultureedinburgh.com/events/sandra-george-start-from-the-level
Sandra George: Start from the Level
Sandra George (1957-2013) was an artist who devoted her life to working with communities, documenting and developing vital social-action projects for over thirty years. Sandra believed deeply in the power of art and collective endeavour to inspire and lift people up. Through this work – and her career as a freelance photographer – she was rarely without a camera in her hand. The legacy she has left is a powerful and empowering archive: a first-hand social history through her distinctive lens.
Start from the Level showcases the central areas of interest in Sandra’s life and work: from community, identity and activism, to home, family and the lives of young people. Including over 200 photographs, alongside personal artefacts, this is the largest exhibition of the artist’s work to date and is accompanied by the first ever catalogue of her work.
This project is produced in partnership with Craigmillar Now, an arts and heritage centre based in Craigmillar, who hold Sandra’s collection in their community archive.
Daily / Nightly…
Thursday 27.8
Dalkeith House, Dalkeith Country Park. Until 27.9. Fri-Sun, 10am-4pm. https://www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk/event/photodalkeith/
Photo Dalkeith
PhotoDalkeith returns for its third year with PhotoDalkeith RSA200 in partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy to mark its bicentenary. The exhibition celebrates Scotland’s rich photographic heritage and the evolution of photography as an art form.
The Outhouse, Broughton Street Lane. Onstage 8.15pm. Pay on the door.
Phil Bancroft Trio
Playtime invites the best, most consequential and soulful Scottish tenor saxophonist/composer/band leader/educator Phil Bancroft. Phil is one of the bench marks in the UK Jazz scene and brings the true tradition of jazz improvisation to this gig.
Dedicating years of passionate research in to this art form he is now at the zenith of his playing and with the finely tuned, highly responsive rhythm section of Tom Bancroft (drums) and Mario Caribé (double bass) this promises to be a night of highly creative energy as well as beautiful melodic invention.
Friday 28.8
La Belle Angele, Hastie’s Close. 28.8. 1pm. Tickets –https://la-belleangele.com/calendar/
Dave Rowntree of Blur – No one You Know Live
Through unheard stories alongside candid photos from his new bestselling
book, Dave Rowntree shares the tales behind Blur’s formative years. From their early friendships in Colchester, to world tours, he offers rare insight
into the moments that shaped one of the major defining bands of the 1990s.
Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. 5pm. Tickets - https://www.eca.ed.ac.uk/event/pilgrim
PILGRIM
Edinburgh University Ensemble in Residence present New Works
Sequoia, Edinburgh University's Ensemble in Residence, present three newly commissioned works for violin, cello and electronics, written by PhD composition students, who take pilgrimage as their starting point.
Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Futures Institute, Lauriston Place. 8.30-10.30pm. Tickets - https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/caledonia-screaming-50-years-of-punk
Caledonia Dreaming – 50 Years of Scottish Punk
Grant McPhee Q&A with Nicola Meighan plus
Alex Ferguson + Ken McCluskey + James King + Mick Slaven + Campbell Owens + Stuart Kidd + Douglas MacIntyre
Saturday 29.8
Norton Park, Albion Road. 1.30pm. Tickets -
Local Cinema and WHALEArts present
Heroin (1983)
Peter Carr’s trilogy of films looking at Edinburgh’s heroin blight were first shown on ITV over 3 consecutive nights in 1983. They wrren’t seen again until 2025 when they were screened for the first time in 43 years at North Edinburgh Arts, close to where they were filmed. Since then, the Local Cinema initiative has picked up the films, screened here followed by a discussion.
C Alto, Quaker House, Victoria Terrace. 29-30.8. 2.55pm. Tickets – https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/1896-2026-an-epic-of-electronic-music-and-its-technology
1896-2026: An Epic of Electronic Music and its Technology
The Riventron Factory from Poland presents a music-video show starting with the TelHarmonium, the Theremin, and the Moog modular synthesizer (featured at Abbey Road by The Beatles), along with the Mellotron and Emerson's LP. A multitude of songs by famous artists: Tomita, Vangelis, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Jarre, Eno, Ultravox, Human League, Depeche Mode, Prodigy, Daft Punk, Orbital, Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, up to IA. Over 50 virtual instrument sounds from that era: ARP 2600, miniMoog, Solina String, Yamaha DX7, C80, EMS, Roland Juno60 and Novation Bass Station 2 and many more.
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Palmerston Place. 3.30-4.30pm. Tickets – https://www.cathedral.net/event-details-registration/afternoon-originals-november-group-string-quartet-2026-08-29-15-30
Afternoon Originals present
November Group – Fragments in Time
Scars guitarist Paul Mackie presents the latest iteration of his contemporary classical quartet, November Group, to perform his composition, Fragments in Time, featuring poetry by Mira Knoche.
Leith Social Club, Great Junction Street. 5pm-late. https://ra.co/events/2494674
Woe is Us.
WOE (Women of Electronica) are back with another day party and this time it's a Fringe extravaganza! Escape the show madness and come down for a dance. Expect bangers all night long. Our last party was packed full of good people, everyone is welcome.
Tuesday 1.9
Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street. 1-5.9. 10am-5pm. https://www.outoftheblue.org.uk/events/down-to-earth
Down to Earth
Celebrating 30 years of the Columcille Centre
Columcille is a day service for people with additional support needs.
The exhibition shows a selection of work produced by people who attend workshops in art, crafts, print, painting, and pottery.
Various venues and times . 1.9-20.12. https://photo-networks.scot/
Season of Photography Scotland 2026
Season of Photography 2026 is a celebration of photography with the aim to highlight and promote photography exhibitions and events taking place across Scotland. The Season will embrace exhibitions and events at galleries, national and regional museums, photography festivals, Higher Education institutions and artists-run initiatives. It will feature a range of contemporary and historical work.
Wednesday 2.9
Banshee Labyrinth, Niddry Street. 7.30pm. Tickets – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/loud-women-edinburgh-second-idol-shebeat-yiota-von-dodds-tickets-1994965754274
Loud Women Edinburgh present
Second Idol + SheBeat + Von Dodds + YIOTA
LOUD WOMEN returns to its Edinburgh home bringing Sydney post-punk force Second Idol to Scotland, fusing post-punk, goth, grunge and alternative rock into intense, emotionally charged performances drenched in venom and melancholy. They’re travelling all the way from Sydney on tour, so we’re giving our Australian friends the warmest possible Scottish welcome: four brilliant bands, one allegedly haunted pub and enough noise to raise the dead.