AROUND TOWN | Events
FRESH MEAT: CAST & CREW MASTERCLASS Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival, this free event gives young folks the chance to ask questions to the cast and crew involved in the second series of pithy Channel 4 series, Fresh Meat. We reckon this one will fill up fast so Meat lovers would be advised to get their tickets promptly. (Lauren Mayberry) ■ GFT, Glasgow, Fri 8 Feb.
Edinburgh Iranian Festival Fri 1 Feb–Sat 16 Feb, Times vary. Various venues, ediranfest.co.uk A welcome return for this volunteer-run biannual cultural festival, which celebrates the heritage and creativity of Iran. This year’s programme features an art exhibition with the theme of ‘Borders’, a music concert in the style of ‘Persian opera’, comedy from Irish-Iranian comedian Patrick Monahan, an Iranian film season at the Filmhouse cinema, and a mini Iranian bazaar with nomadic tents and a teahouse.
✽ Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern
Spirituality and Peace Thu 7 Feb– Thu 21 Feb, Times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 331 4469. For the tenth year the Middle East Festival draws together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, cultures, traditions and communities to celebrate peace and mutual understanding via spiritual, educational, artistic and cultural events. FREE Stories of Scandinavia Sat 9 Feb & Mon 11 Feb, 11am–4pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Two days for families to explore the wonders of Scandinavian folk tales, with workshops, music and storytelling from, among others, Annemarie Krarup, Laura Wang and Aske Ebbesen. Quiz Night Thu 21 Feb, 9–10pm. £12 (members £10). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2937. A quiz night with questions set by the Garden staff. Fish suppers and drinks are available.
Fairs & Markets Miss Spin Presents My Music Crush Sat 26 Jan, 7.30pm–2am. £5. Teviot, Bristo Square, 650 4673. A music, vintage and art event with four bands, 40 THE LIST 24 Jan–21 Feb 2013
DJs, vintage stalls and can-can dancers, all in aid of Maggies Centres and Marie Curie Cancer Care. Sport Auld Reekie Roller Girls: Cherry Bombers v Skatefast Club Sat 16 Feb, 2–5pm. £5 in advance; £7 on the door (under 14s free). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. The Cherry Bombers take on the Skatefast Club for a round of roller derby action. Insane Championship Wrestling: Tramspotting Sun 17 Feb, 7pm–3am. £10. Studio 24, 24–26 Calton Road, 558 3758. The ICW makes its first appearance in Edinburgh for a night of grappling and high flying drop kicks, plus an appearance from the ICW Fierce Females (aftershow party from 10pm).
Talks Try it Oot – Beginners’ Guide to Scottish Music Thursdays 10.30am–12.30pm. £75 (£50). Pilrig St Paul’s Church, Pilrig Street, Leith Walk, 555 7668. Have a go at some traditional Scottish tunes using your voice and instruments provided, exploring the history and culture of Scotland as you do so. FREE Holocaust Memorial Day: Edinburgh Holocaust Memorial Event Thu 24 Jan, 7pm. Broughton High School, 29 East Fettes Avenue, 629 9058. An evening of reflection and discussion to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, with musician Jean-Paul Samputu providing insight into the harrowing effects of genocide in Rwanda. FREE Caledonian Brewery: A History of Survival and Renaissance Fri 25 Jan, 10.30am. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House,
142 Canongate, 529 3963. Head of Marketing and Sales Operations at Caledonian Brewery, Tom Cannon, talks about the key moments in the history of Edinburgh’s last remaining brewery from 1869 to the present day. The Night Sky in February Mon 28 Jan, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Vinod Arumugam and William Taylor explore the night skies of February. No booking necessary. Bright Club: Edinburgh Tue 29 Jan, 8.30pm. £5. The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. The hardworking staff at Edinburgh’s universities are let out for the night to share their tales about the weird, wonderful, and often very funny, world of research. FREE L’Oreille Musicale: Edith Piaf Thu 31 Jan, 6pm. Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. Talk in French looking at the life and career of Edith Piaf, from the streets of Paris to international success and a difficult personal life. This talk marks the 50th anniversary of her death. FREE History of Edinburgh Old Town and the Royal Mile, in Pictures Mon 4 Feb, 10.30am. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. A talk from Peter Stubbs, a member of the Edinburgh Photography Society since 1963, exploring amateur and professional photography in Edinburgh since 1839. Booking essential. FREE Bio-Dilemmas: Staying Human in a Biotech Age Mon 4 Feb, 6.30–8pm. Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, 451 4508. A talk discussing the ethical issues that emerge as technology advances, looking in particular at the progression of biomedical technology (basically, how will we cope
when everyone’s a cyborg?). Email m.boulogne@hw.ac.uk to register in advance. Booking essential. FREE Winter Lecture Series: The Forth Replacement Crossing Mon 4 Feb, 7–8pm. The Royal Scots Club, 29–31 Abercromby Place, 556 4270. Andrew Caskie, consultant Engineer with Jacobs supporting Transport Scotland, gives an overview of the new Forth Bridge currently under construction. Email events@royalscotsclub.com to reserve places. Hollywood Meets Science Mon 4 Feb, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Talk detailing exactly what’s involved in providing scientific advice to a Hollywood blockbuster, with film clips showing which movies have got scientific content right, and which have got it embarrassingly wrong. Wait, so Jurassic Park wasn’t real? FREE Arts and Humanities: National Essentials Wed 6 Feb, 6pm. Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, 221 6000. Professors Jonathan Mills (Director, Edinburgh International Festival) and Christopher Breward (ECA Principal) debate the importance of the arts and humanities. Register online in advance. Booking essential. FREE Edinburgh Ragged University: Bilingualism and Psychology Thu 7 Feb, 7–10pm. Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 38 West Nicolson Street, 667 7533. Two talks from Professor Antonella Sorace and Professor Ray Miller, discussing bilingualism and the benefits of psychology respectively. Galaxies: A Historical Perspective, from Demographics to Modern Sociology Mon 11 Feb, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor