🪩 Edinburgh Culture Minute: 1 - 7 October 2025
Artists fighting cuts, birthday parties for Idlewild, The List and The Skinny, on stage with Top Hat & War Horse, this week's creative jobs + hot tickets including The Cure
Welcome to the 102nd weekly Culture Minute: a round-up of Edinburgh’s local creative news, events, jobs and opportunities.
If I’ve missed anything please get in touch. Thanks to everyone who contributes!
👀 The most-viewed links from last week’s Edinburgh Culture Minute:
- 🖼️ ‘Women lead the way’: National Galleries of Scotland reveals 2026 shows.
- 🧠 ‘Rethinking Burnout: A Creative Perspective’ event (on Tues 7 Oct).
- 📚 This month’s events at Lighthouse bookshop.
News:
🖼️ This month’s 13th annual Out of Sight Out of Mind art exhibition at Summerhall could be its last due to funding cuts. The organisers spoke to Jane Bradley in The Scotsman.
🎤 The programme for next month’s Push the Boat Out Poetry festival will be announced tomorrow on National Poetry Day. - Keep an eye on the event’s site here.
📝 ‘The Future of Scottish Arts Journalism’ is the topic for the next in the Creative Sectors series on Monday 13 October from 5.30pm at CodeBase. (If you’re going, I shall see you there - please say hello!) - Tickets are here.
👗 Dovecot Studios has announced its next exhibition: The Biba Story: 1964–1975. Opening on 6 February 2026, the exhibition will look at: ‘how the fashion phenomenon Biba blossomed to become the world’s first lifestyle label, sparking a revolution in how people shopped and how Biba earned its spot as the brand that epitomises 1960s and 1970s fashion.’ - Tickets and a selection of opening weekend events are available here.
🎟️ Newly announced events + this week’s big tickets:
🎸 The Cure have been announced to play the Summer Sessions at the Royal Highland Showgrounds on 23 August next year. Mogwai, Slowdive and Just Mustard are supporting. - Tickets go on sale on Friday.
🇵🇸 On Saturday some of Scotland’s most acclaimed musicians will come together at The Queen’s Hall at a fundraiser for those suffering in Gaza. On the line-up: Kathryn Joseph, Jacob Alon, Alexi Murdoch, Aidan O’Rourke, Dean Owens, Harben Kay & Juliette Lemoine. Concert organiser Douglas Robertson says: “This concert is a show of solidarity with the people of Palestine and a call for justice, peace, a Palestinian homeland and the prosecution of those who enabled this barbarism.” - Tickets are here.
🎸 Indie icons Dodgy play The Liquid Room on Thursday. - Tickets here.
🎹 Tom Hickox plays The Caves on Thursday. - Tickets here.
🎸 The Edinburgh Indiepop Alldayer is on Saturday at The Mash House, with doors opening at 1pm. - Tickets are here. The organisers say:
“This is our love letter to indiepop: a one-day celebration packed with bands we adore, handpicked to offer something for everyone. We’re proud to support the Scottish music scene while also bringing brilliant acts to Edinburgh who don’t get invited nearly often enough. It’s run by music fans, for music fans and not-for-profit, event built on passion, community, and a whole lot of heart.”
💣 Tickets for this year’s Skalloween event hosted by Bombskare are on sale now.
🎸 Better Lovers, the supergroup featuring current and former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die, are playing The Mash House on 25 October. Tickets are said to be going fast.
🎸 Two titans of UK indie rock are in town next week:
Ash play The Liquid Room on Friday 10 October. - Tickets here.
Local heroes Idlewild play The Liquid Room on Wednesday 8 October, launching their new album. - Tickets are here.
The band’s frontman Roddy Woomble spoke to The List about the band’s 30th anniversary, which you can read online here.
📰 Speaking of The List, this month marks the magazine’s 40th anniversary - an incredible achievement in print. - Staff and contributors from past and present share their memories here.
🎉 Meanwhile The Skinny is celebrating two decades in print by bringing back some of the magazine’s ‘most nostalgic article formats out of retirement’. - Have a read here.
🎵 Another big birthday: Sing in the City has two 15th anniversary shows at the Usher Hall on Saturday. - Tickets are here.
⮑ Founder Kirsty Baird says: “The show is more than just a gig. It’s a celebration of everything we stand for - community, connection and the power of singing your heart out. We want everyone in the Usher Hall to feel part of something special.”
📚 This month’s Blackwell’s Book Quiz is on Monday 6 October from 6.30pm. - Tickets here.
📙 ‘Putting the ‘boo’ into book tour’, Garth Marenghi is at The Queen’s Hall on 1 November. - Tickets here.
📝 Supporting local writers to hatch, The Good Egg Project events return this month, including a two-sentence horror writing workshop. - Get involved here.
🎤 Stand-up sensation and social media star Kae Kurd returns to the Monkey Barrel Comedy venue on Thursday with his new show: ‘What’s O’Kurd’. - Tickets are here and the rest of the venue’s listings are here.
👀 If this edition is too long and gets cut off in your inbox, read it online here.
🎭 What's on Edinburgh's stages this week?
- Here’s All Edinburgh Theatre editor Thom Dibdin with the shows of the week…
Another busy week sparkles into business with a braw Top Hat (★★★★☆ Tip-Top) tapping all over the Playhouse stage (ends Sat: Tickets) and continues with the brilliant War Horse (★★★★★ Magnificent) at the Festival Theatre (Thurs - Sat 11 Oct: Tickets). Guaranteed crowd pleasers, both.
Elsewhere the top tip is Fraser Scott’s Common Tongue “a play aboot imperfect Scots” at the Studio on Friday only (Tickets). Act fast though: a few extra briefs have just been released...
At the Traverse, its returns only for tonight’s premiere of Mull Theatre’s Night Waking (Weds: Tickets). But there is good availability for the just-turned 17 year-old Strange Town’s HER (Thurs/Fri: Tickets). Currently touring Edinburgh’s schools it explores the damaging effects of gender inequality.
At the Bedlam the always inventive EUTC have a short run of Beckett’s absurd tragicomedy Endgame (Ends Fri: Tickets).
For the very wee ones, the always brilliant Starcatchers bring their Laaaunch! to Assembly Roxy (Ends Fri: Tickets), which explores the challenges, perils and pleasures of lying, rolling, stretching, sitting up - and making it to standing - for babies up to 12 months.
Big shows just announced: Karine Polwart’s EdFringe hit Windblown (★★★★★ Beautiful) returns for a short run at the Lyceum (28-30 April 2026: Tickets) and Dirty Dancing will play a week at the Playhouse (27 - 31 Oct 2026: Tickets).
Full details on Æ’s listings pages: all linked here.
📌 Edinburgh Culture Minute Community Noticeboard
📌 “We’re totally psyched to share the poster for our upcoming David Byrne film weekender, taking place 18/19 October! Stop Making Sense (1983) plus djs at the Cricket Club on Saturday, followed by True Stories (1986) at Leith Depot in our usual Sunday slot, this will be a weekend to remember! £8/£5 ono.” - Thanks to Morvern of the Leith Kino team for sharing this.
📌 “Edinburgh artist Sarah Knox is staging her a solo exhibition entitled “Light Within’ which is being held in the Dundas Street Gallery. The exhibition is a new body of work with over 40 paintings focusing on Scotland. Exhibition runs 1-5 October.” - Thanks to Sue McKichan for sharing this.
📌 “This weekend! Watch the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship live in Edinburgh. For the first time, broadcast from Carrbridge Village hall to Griffen Fitness, 3 Balfour Street, Leith, EH6 5BY 10am to 5pm this Saturday (entry by donation to Mary’s Meals) - just pop by.” - Thanks to long-time Minute supporter Tracy Griffen for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 3 October at Whitespace Gallery - STRATA is a ceramic collection exploring the dichotomy between perception and permanence. How we experience the world and how we and the world change over time.” - Thanks to the artists for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 2 October: SCO Season Opener at the Usher Hall, Feat. Beethoven Symphony No. 5. Under 18s go Free!” - Thanks to Derek Gilchrist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th October - The Scottish Youth Film Festival is back for a weekend full of films, fun and fresh talent. The event takes place at Dunfermline Learning Campus with a variety of activities and workshops aimed at anyone between the ages of 12-26. This is a free festival!” - Thanks to Ambika Okhandiar, Event Manager, Scottish Youth Film Foundation for sharing this.
📌 “Friday 3rd October at 1pm - Lola Flexen returns to her home city to perform a piano recital of music by Prokoviev, Boulanger and Koechlin. Suggested donation of £10 for entry. Stockbridge Music Hub at Stockbridge Church, 7b Saxe Coburg St, EH3 5BN.” - Thanks to Clea Friend for sharing this.
📌 “This weekend: The Scottish Youth Film Festival is back for a weekend full of films, fun and fresh talent. The event takes place at Dunfermline Learning Campus with a variety of activities and workshops aimed at anyone between the ages of 12-26. This is a free festival!” - Thanks to Ambika for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday at People’s Leisure Club: We’re thrilled to welcome Malissa - founder of Sisu, our longest resident, and an incredible DJ whose tastes span a wide range of electronica. Her sets are energetic and full of personality, blending modern productions with nods to classic sounds, all delivered with a vibrant edge.” - Thanks to EPiKA Edinburgh for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 4th October at 6pm. Gabriel Latchin Trio launch their Gershwin album ‘The Man I Love’. Tickets are £15 and £10 concessions via the link. Wine will be available for donation.” - Thanks to Clea Friend for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 5 October - Uruguayan comic, Facu Díaz returns to stand-up at Assembly Roxy this Sunday to entertain humanity while everything crumbles and burns around him... Final tickets remaining 🎟️ Show in Spanish.” - Thanks to the venue for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 5th October, 11am–1pm. Get inspired to dress up unique, dazzling and unconventionally this Halloween! Learn about Victorian costume balls with the Historical Crafts Society at 43–45 Easter Road (CATS). Bring a craft and enjoy a relaxed morning of making, chatting, and hot drinks.” - Thanks to Melissa Cruz, Historical Crafts Society for sharing this.
📌 “Monday 6 October: Edinburgh three-piece The Shell launch their debut album with a special one-off concert at The Voodoo Rooms. Expect a unique blend of electronica, jazz, and experimental. With support from modular synth prodigy Obakegaku.” - Thanks to Andrew Ostler (Expert Sleepers) for sharing this.
📌 “Tuesday 7 October - Edinburgh Kevock Choir Open Night, Lasswade High School Centre, EH19 2LA, 7.15-9pm. For anyone interested in trying singing with a popular mixed voice choir, featuring voice exercises, learning music with us, and hearing us perform. All voice ranges welcome, especially men.” - Thanks to Peter Nicholson, President, Edinburgh Kevock Choir, for sharing this.