1 For all you reggae fans (including the editor or this newspaper) ... happy days. Playground of Sound is coming to BAaD in Glasgow this May bank holiday for two full days of musical celebrations. Some of the biggest reggae, dancehall, afrobeat, soul, funk, house and disco artists are coming, so clear the diary, get yourself a ticket and stay locked for more details. Tickets from £25, May 4 and 5 at Baad at the barras, glasgow: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ef/228521
2 SNP conference is the big draw this weekend. Edinburgh International Conference Centre for party members, press and delegates. Nicola Sturgeon will be talking all things #indyref2 #boom
3 Women in Journalism Scotland are holding a special free May Day Meet Up. WIJ are holding their AGM and then hosting a special in-conversation event with one of Scotland’s foremost journalists. Award-winning journalist and author Melanie Reid will be joining in to discuss her powerful new memoir The World I Fell Out Of with fellow journalist and former colleague, Jan Patience. Also not to be missed is An Exploration of Confessional Journalism: Here Be Dragons, when Reid will lay bare the perils and pitfalls of turning yourself into column fodder. (I fancy this one, as I usually talk about me in columns)
4 Brass, Aye? and the wonderful Tam Dean Burn will be bringing their massed ranks to Perth for a fantastic gig at The Venue. Between their sets will be opportunities for open mics, so bring your guitar, fiddle, harmonica or voice. Free entry at The Venue, John st, Perth Sunday 28th 1530-2000
5 Leith Late Film and Basque Food Crawl: In collaboration with Scotland’s leading Spanish cinema mavericks CinemaAttic, LeithLate presents a Basque short-film and food crawl of Leith Walk bars this April. Each bar will be screening individual short-film programmes from the Basque country’s leading short-film distributor Kimuak, accompanied by traditional Basque pintxos. Pintxos are a Spanish tapas, a common means of socialising and a cornerstone of Basque culture. Entrance to bars, food and films are all free. The free film and food crawl culminates the same evening at Henderson Halls on Henderson Street for an after party For more information see https://www.facebook.com vents/573240673159104/?ti=ia
6 One Day in the Park: The return of the Queen’s Park disco sessions at the bandstand, on Sunday, May 5, from 4pm – 10pm. One Night at the Disco are bringing the good people of Glasgow the opportunity to visit an era of pure decadence, excess, glamour and music that became the blueprint for modern day dance music. Emerging from New York City, disco was a phenomenon that changed music and nightclubs forever. Expect to hear music by artists such as Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, Chic, Sylvester and Donna Summer, complete with glitter bomb face decorators and festival style fun. Tickets £18 @ https://www.facebook.com/events/2273016196355728/?ti=icl
7 March for independence on Saturday, May 4, leaving Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow. The starting time is expected to be 1.30pm but worth checking The National to make sure that doesn’t change. Organisers request that you bring your flags, banners, posters, drums and unicorns. End Westminster rule ... Saoraibh Alba!
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