1. A Gig, a gig, a gig, a socially distanced, seated at separate tables gig, but a gig nonetheless ... and what’s more it’s my pal’s band. The mighty Bluebells (Bobby Bluebell pictured below) with Lola In Slacks and Mark W Georgsson at SWG3 today. It’s an outdoor gig under a canopy, with food and drink available through the app. Click here for more details and to buy tickets and look for the yard sit down sessions. Today at 6pm. Over 14s only.
2. The SAY awards (Scottish Album of the Year) are online this year, of course, and as of tomorrow fans can vote for their favourite to go from the longlist of 20 to the shortlist and the chance for the winning artist to collect a cool £20k. In this time of Covid-19 it’s more important than ever that we celebrate and support our local culture and musicians. Log on to www.sayaward.com and have your say. Entrants include Lewis Capaldi, SHHE, Comfort, Bossy Love and more.
3. Tune in to Jambo! Radio throughout the month of October to listen to the roundtable cultural discussion How Can We Change The Consequences Of Racism When It Is Rooted In Systems And Slavery? This event will host some of the top Scottish black leaders discussing solutions to create a system that is anti-racist in Scotland. Panellist will include: Sir Geoff Palmer, Scotland’s first black professor; Mukami McCrum MBE, retired equality manager for Scottish Government; Graham Campbell, the first Afro-Caribbean councillor at Glasgow Council City; Regina Bews, school of African culture; Eunice Olumide MBE, Scotland’s first black model; Amanda Baker, author and poet; Sean Reid, black and Scottish comedian, and Lisa Williams, founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. From today and throughout October 10am to 11.30am.
4. As part of Wigtown Book Festival Rosemary Goring takes a fresh look at the life of Scotand’s most famous monarch Mary, Queen of Scots, and how she has been interpreted through the ages. Has she been good for Scottish women or have her mistakes been used posthumously to support the idea that women are not capable of holding positions of power? This year’s lecture is introduced by Magnus Magnusson’s daughter, the broadcaster and novelist Sally Magnusson. Today, 3.30pm
5. Normally a wee treat reserved for East coast types, but this year the rather special Portobello Book Festival is online. Today at 2pm it features a chat about Letters From Lockdown, written by a group of people in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Through the Making Connections course the group quickly made bonds with each other and the wider world as well as on paper.
6. This year Ayrshire plays host to a virtual Tamfest – the annual all things Tam O’ Shanter shenanigans This much-loved festival is inspired by Rabbie’s poem and heads online for its 2020 edition, with activities and workshops hosted on its YouTube channel, a virtual procession and much more.
7. During lockdown, Glasgow Women’s Library’s armchair Drama Queens have been busy rewriting fairy tales. Somehow, one of them turned into a real tale for these strange times. Join online for the world premiere of this timely new play Drama Queens: In Our Own Words ... Cummings and Goings. After watching the prerecorded, socially distanced film, chat to the writers and cast about the cathartic fun of getting their frustrations down on paper. Thursday 7pm to 8pm, women only, 18+
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