1 THE Howl & The Hum recently dropped a brilliant (and timely) new single, Thumbs UP, a haunting and brilliant song about toxic masculinity and tokenistic gestures. I’m a huge fan and the song was released ahead of their tour which reaches Scotland this week. Unfortunately they are only hitting Glasgow this time around, so don’t miss them. The gig is in the mighty King Tuts Wah Wah Hut on Tuesday. Grab your tickets for the gig, they really are an essential band to see live whilst you can see them playing relatively intimate spots. Buy tickets and find out a wee bit more about this top band at www.thehowlandthehum.com/tour-dates
2 NOT this week, but I’m giving you a wee heads-up as tickets go on sale today for Doc ‘n’ Roll Scotland, the music documentary festival, that features a whole host of rock and roll music documentary films. The festival is being held in Glasgow from November 1-4 and Edinburgh November 5-11 and is sure to sell out. Screened at the GFT in Glasgow and the Cameo in Edinburgh. Go on, be the early bird. Info at www.docnrollfestival.com
3 IT’S the most wonderful time of the year. Ho ho ho. Nope, not Christmas but Edinburgh Cocktail Week … hic. £4 cocktails at more than 100 bars and all your favourite Edinburgh establishments are getting involved – Tigerlily, Skybar, Barologist, Candybar, The Raeburn and many, many more. Go along and enjoy old favourites and new inventions, showcasing their best mixologists. As always there will be an amazing line up of DJs, live music and tasty street food. The event is held at Festival Square, Lothian Road, Edinburgh until Sunday. Weekends are the most fun. Get yourself a girls’ – or boys’ – day out. www.edinburghcocktailweek.co.uk
4 GLASGOW’S own Jack Henderson, songwriter of note, has just dropped his new record and the best thing you could do this week is listen to it. He’s a songwriter to discover and never forget. This guy has worked with the greats, Patti Smith, Tom Waits and even my own true love Leonard Cohen. Joe Strummer was a huge fan, so get on it. I saw him on stage with Patti once. Genius. www.facebook.com/jackhendersonofficial
5 AFTER the year that dare not speak its name Grampian Pride is back with a glittery shiny bang. With even more rainbows and glitter, the parade will be taking over Aberdeen’s city streets on Sunday, October 24. The parade will leave from Holburn Junction at 11am and finish at Marischal Collage at 12pm. For more information, including Covid safety and wristband and merchandise details head over to www.grampianpride.org
6 FOR the Dundonian arty types, local artist Lewis Deeney has a showing of his abstract portraits. You are invited to experience Everyone And No One, the first solo show by this emerging artist. The exhibition is an accumulation of a year of artistic exploration and philosophical inquiry into our collective relationship with technology and the ways in which it is changing our understanding of what it means to be human. Open daily. 10-4, until November 10. Showing at Dock Street studios.
7 LEVEL 42 and Hipsway (pictured) don’t need any lessons in love. Run to all your family and organise a gang to go and see this blast from the past on their all new tour, hitting Aberdeen Music Hall today. I’d pay the money just to hear
Hipsway belt out The Honeythief, an all-time favourite of moi. Tonight 7:30pm. www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/level-42-from-eternity-to-here-plus-special-guests-hipsway/book/259204/
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