Edinburgh Culture Minute 🪩 9 - 15 September 2026
Summer 2027 Castle Concerts news, How to be Hopeful with Caitlin Moran, an evening with David Shrigley, travel chat with Michael Palin & Chris Broad + this week's creative jobs
👋 Welcome to the 141st 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 to keep the Minute ticking over!
👀 Most-viewed links from the previous Edinburgh Culture Minute:
- 🔮 September's The Skinny, featuring its annual student guide.
- 🎟️ Tilda Swinton in Man to Man at the Traverse (on sale today).
- 🎭 Brian Ferguson: 'Seven ways to improve the festivals'.
- 🎭 This year's Scottish International Storytelling Festival programme.
- 📆 Vast range of creative community events in The Good Egg Project newsletter.
🗞️ News
🎭 The King's Theatre has been woven into the script of this winter's pantomime, Pinocchio, when it returns to the theatre for the first time since 2021. - Thom Dibdin has the details and an interview with Gail Watson.
🇵🇸 Tonight (Wednesday) at Pianodrome in Bruntsfield, a global line-up of writers gather for a Palestine solidarity night, hosted by Lighthouse Bookshop. The event is also the launch of Alycia Pirmohamed’s debut non-fiction work Shorelines, which won the Nan Shepherd Prize. The evening will feature readings from Hannah Lavery and Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, plus music from Miwa Nagato-Apthorp and Curlew. - Tickets via Lighthouse Bookshop.
🔊 Community radio station EHFM is planning a record fair on Saturday at Leith Depot. - Dig into the stallholder details here.
⭐️ Never mind a five star review, how about a ten star review? "Only four and five-star reviews are of any use to companies and there are so many of those they become pretty meaningless," writes Lyn Gardner in an opinion piece in The Stage, adding: "I’d prefer to do away with stars completely. But they are here to stay, so I wonder – and this might be an utterly crazy idea – that awarding a wider range of stars (maybe up to seven or 10) in a festival context might help differentiate the brilliant from the pretty good and, more importantly, the good from the just OK."
Lyn Gardner
🎟️ Big tickets this week
🏰 The temporary amphitheatre seats have not long been taken down but next summer's Castle Concerts are starting to be announced. First, it's Jack Savoretti & James Morrison on Saturday 17 July 2027. - Tickets on sale on Friday.
🎸 Just announced: Peter Hook and The Light (Interzone 2027) will play the Corn Exchange on 22 May next year, with support from The Wedding Present, Chameleons and Armory Show. - Tickets.
🎤 Michael Ball brings his 'Glow' tour to the Usher Hall tonight (Wednesday). - Tickets.
🎸 John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) is at The Voodoo Rooms tonight. - Tickets.
🎷 On Friday at the Queen's Hall: Marking 100 years since the birth of sax and jazz legend John Coltrane, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra will be joined by acclaimed soloist Emma Rawicz for a night of Coltrane-inspired music. - Tickets.
🎸 Described as 'Scotland's finest and possibly only Weezer tribute act', Beezer will perform the Blue Album in full at People's Leisure Club on Saturday night. - Tickets here.
🎼 Sunday: Join the National Youth Choir of Scotland for a landmark 30th anniversary celebration alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. - Usher Hall, tickets.
📙 Bestselling author Rebecca F. Kuang will be at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday for the Edinburgh launch of her new novel Taipei Story. Chaired by Katie Goh. - Tickets available via The Portobello Bookshop.
🎹 Renowned fiddler, composer and producer Aidan O’Rourke of Lau will be at Pianodrome Bruntsfield on Wednesday. He's performing with a trio performing as part of Tree Song, an 18-month creative project centred on composing, performing, and sharing new music in an open and collaborative way. - Tickets here + more Pianodrome events here.
🎸 Death Cab for Cutie play the Corn Exchange on Sunday 20 September, with support from Pool Kids. - Tickets here.
🎸 Jacob Collier will be supported by Sam Amidon at The Queen's Hall on Sunday 20 September. - Tickets.
📗 Caitlin Moran discusses her book 'How To Be Hopeful' (A Year of Attempting to Feel Less Awful About the World) at The Queen's Hall on Tuesday 22 September. The special guest is Mhairi Black. - Tickets.
The event organisers say:
"How to be Hopeful is Caitlin’s story of how, over the course of a year, she realised that “waiting to feel hopeful again” just won’t work: being hopeful is a decision. It’s something - like laundry - you have to do. How To Be Hopeful is the diary of how one person started to do hopeful. To celebrate the release of her brand-new book, Sunday Times Bestselling author Caitlin Moran will be heading out on tour accompanied by special guest hosts."
🥁 Queen songwriter, drummer and singer Roger Taylor is performing at the Usher Hall on Tuesday 22 September. - Tickets.
🎸 Two iconic voices of indie: James Walsh (Starsailor) & Ben Ottewell (Gomez) will be playing at The Voodoo Rooms on Wednesday 23 September. - Tickets.
🎤 There are about 30 tickets left for Nish Kumar: 'Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy' at The Queen's Hall on Saturday 26 September. - Tickets.
🎸 Marillion and Haunt The Woods play the Usher Hall on Tuesday 29 September. - A handful of tickets remain.
🖼️ Artist David Shrigley will be at the Traverse Theatre for a special evening celebrating his new book, Creative Writing, on Thursday 8 October. Tickets for An Evening with David Shrigley, in conversation with Michael Pedersen, are via The Portobello Bookshop.
🇯🇵 Chris Broad, author of the number one bestseller 'Abroad in Japan', will be in Edinburgh to discuss his new book 'Journey Across Japan' at the Tom Fleming Centre for Performing Arts, Stewart's Melville College) on Friday 25 September. - Tickets via Topping Books.
🇵🇭 Monty Python hero Michael Palin returns to Edinburgh to discuss his travels across the Philippines next month. - The Queen's Hall, 12 October.
🎭 What's on Edinburgh's stages this week?
⭐️ Here's Thom Dibdin of All Edinburgh Theatre:
It's back into full theatre mode this week, as the LYAMC set their traditional start to the Autumn season up at the Church Hill Theatre, while there are three significant shows touring to town.
Best of all, of course, will be the young dreamers of the LYAMC at the Church Hill Theatre with Bugsy Malone the Musical (Thur-Sat: tickets). A couple of adult amateur companies have tried it of late, but it really needs a young company to do it justice.
Sticking with the musicals, High Society flies into the Playhouse (ends Sat: tickets). With main romantic leads Helen George and Julian Ovenden stranded at the wrong end of the country due to yesterday's air traffic control glitch, Tuesday's press night was a bit underwhelming: A "★★★☆☆ Slow burner", says our reviewer.
The Festival Theatre welcomes Silence of the Lambs (ends Sat: tickets), certainly not a musical, but which, bizarrely, has Jodie Foster in common with Bugsy. The big reviews have been a bit meh about the production, but it has good word of mouth. Our Hugh is off to taste the flava beans tonight.
For the wee ones there are a couple of long-running classics, but of very different ilks. The Lyceum has the 25th anniversary tour of The Gruffalo (Thur - Sun: tickets), the musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's must-read children's picture book.
While the Church Hill Theatre hosts Artie's Singing Kettle (Sun: tickets). Artie has been the face of the Singing Kettle for ten years now, and what's not to love about that.
Finally, for those planning next week's outings, SIX The Musical arrives at the Festival Theatre (opens Tue: tickets), and Annie is at the Playhouse (opens Tue: tickets).
Full details of these and all future productions are on Æ's listings pages, all linked here.
📌 Edinburgh Culture Minute Community Noticeboard
🎨 Opening Event: Pauly Pocket EVERYTHING MUST GO!
Tomorrow, Thursday 10 September - 'EVERYTHING MUST GO! is a solo show by Edinburgh-based artist Pauly Pocket, who has brought together a collection of objects, signs and fragments rescued from Edinburgh's more ordinary urban landscapes. Join us for a drink, this Thursday. All welcome.'
5pm to 7pm | Scott Lawrie Gallery · Tollcross | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🎸 Queer as Punk: Vexations, Affectionate Widows, Wassails
Fri 11 September - 'Queer as Punk presents local queer live music from Vexations, Affectionate Widows, Wassails. Post-psych, gothic folk rock, alt-rock.'
7pm to 10pm | Leith Depot · Leith | £12 otd, £9+bf adv - More details here, shared by Queer as Punk.
🎨 Art Walk Weekends week 2
Sat 12 September - 'Looking forward to the second weekend of ArtWalk Weekends in Portobello. Artist walks, Artist talks, Artist demos, Tapestry stitching workshop, Clothes Collection pop up and a Portrait photography workshop. Plus Art Houses and Art in Shops.'
10am to 6pm | Portobello - More details here, shared by Art Walk Weekends.
🎉 Port Of Leith Distillery - The Loft Party - Terry Hunter (Chicago)
Sat 12 September - 'Terry Hunter (Chicago) Local Business Payback Offer - 50% OFF! Local Edinburgh businesses, enjoy half-price tickets for yourself, your team, & friends. Join us at The Loft Party Leith for a special night of house, disco & boogie. LTD Availability'
7.30pm to 1am | Port of Leith Distillery · Leith | £14 - More details here, shared by Luvin'Leith Events.
📖 An Evening with Kyla Cobbler: 'Happy, Thank You. More, Please.
Sun 13 September - 'Join Kyla Cobbler for an in-conversation about her hilarious and honest memoir, Happy, Thank You. More, Please. You will receive a copy of Happy, Thank You. More, Please on the night.'
3pm to 4pm | Assembly Roxy · Old Town | £29.25 - More details here, shared by Roxy Theatre.
🏺 Forming Space, Handmade Vessels by Garvald Edinburgh Makers [Until 07 Oct]
Sat 19 September - 'A new, large exhibition by Garvald Edinburgh artists and makers exploring the vessel through craft and visual art. Across a range of disciplines the makers present the vessel as functional, sculptural and expressive form.'
11am to 5pm | Summerhall Arts · Southside | FREE - More details here, shared by Garvald Edinburgh.
🎹 Vienna and Beyond
Sun 27 September - 'Internationally acclaimed pianist Angela Hewitt joins Dunedin Consort in Edinburgh this month for a programme of music influenced by the cosmopolitan musical life of 18th century Vienna with music by Mozart, Haydn, CPE Bach and Martines.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | The Queen's Hall · Southside | £20-£42; concessions - More details here, shared by Dunedin Consort.
📚 Publish Scotland's Silent Reading Group
Mon 28 September - 'Come along to our Silent Reading Group on 28 September! We'll provide an hour of solid reading - with no assigned book - and a chance to chat with fellow friendly readers. This month, our guest author is Olga Wojtas! Free drink with every ticket.'
6pm to 8pm | Fruitmarket Cafe · Old Town | 4 - More details here, shared by Chantelle Streete, Publishing Scotland.
🎶 Jubilo would love to welcome you to our open rehearsals - 'Local choir, Jubilo, will be hosting open rehearsals on 20th and 27th September. Join us as we prepare for 2026/2027 concerts including Spring 2027's Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana alongside Brahms’s Song of Destiny.' - More details here, shared by Jubilo.
🎨 Free events at National Galleries of Scotland - 'Our Autumn Events programme features dozens of talks, panel discussions & concerts that are free to access. Take a deeper dive into our Gwen John & Catherine Opie exhibitions. Join in person or online, watch back anytime 📺' - More details here, shared by National Galleries of Scotland.
