10 unmissable events happening in Edinburgh and Glasgow this July

• The List
• 29 June 2018

Including TRNSMT, Kelburn Garden Party and Bard in the Botanics

The end of June brought with it some of the hottest temperatures Scotland has ever experienced and it looks like the Scot scorchio will continue into July. To help you make the most of the heat we've compiled a list of 10 events you can't miss in Edinburgh and Glasgow this July.

Rip it Up
It's an exhibition, a book, some gigs, a TV documentary series and a tour. Rip it Up: The Story of Scottish Pop is set to dominate the rest of this year as we celebrate our musical heritage from the 1950s up to the present day. Everyone from Alex Harvey to Annie Lennox, and the Proclaimers to Primal Scream will be honoured in the NMS exhibition while Summerhall hosts Emma Pollock, Stanley Odd and Be Charlotte in a one-off extravaganza.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Fri 22 Jun–Sun 25 Nov; Summerhall, Edinburgh, Sat 23 Jun.

TRNSMT
Across two weekends, Glasgow Green will be throbbing to an astonishing array of rock and pop acts including Arctic Monkeys, Jessie J, Interpol, Liam Gallagher, Wolf Alice, Franz Ferdinand, CHVRCHES, and Queen + Adam Lambert.
Glasgow Green, Fri 29 Jun–Sun 1 Jul; Fri 6, Sun 8 Jul.

Fiesta x Fold
This magical music festival summer keeps on rolling with a brand spanking new event which veers more towards the soul / dance / funk / electronic base as (deep breath) Nile Rodgers, Chic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pointer Sisters, Morcheeba, Laura Mvula and Goldfrapp give it their all.
Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, Sat 30 Jun-Sun 1 Jul.

Wilson Dixon
He may seem like a laidback guy, but country legend Wilson Dixon sure is hurtin' inside. His ex-wife is causing him grief while he's struggling to keep an angry horse happy. Character musical comedy at its finest, y'all.
The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 1 Jul; The Stand, Edinburgh, Sun 1, Tue 3 Jul.

Edwardian Ghost Stories / Victorian Séance
Those Edwardians and Victorians knew a thing or two about being spooky, and here come two events which should have you quaking in your boots. An afternoon recreation of MR James telling tales by the fire is followed by an evening of paranormal activity.
Lauriston Castle, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Jul.

Milkshake! Live
An astonishing array of kiddies' favourite characters are gathered on one stage courtesy of Channel 5's Milkshake!, including Fireman Sam, the Little Princess, Noddy, and Bob the Builder.
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thu 5 Jul.

The Bridge
The end of an era is dawning as Scandic Noir's crown jewel heads for its no-doubt shattering finale, with the fates of Saga and Henrik swinging in the balance.
BBC Two, Fri; seasons 1–4 box set released on Mon 2 Jul.

Eve Fowler
Yet another coup for Dundee as the DCA hosts the first major European exhibition of this LA-based artist's work with posters, prints, billboards, paintings and installations utilising the words of Gertrude Stein.
DCA, Dundee, Sat 9 Jun–Sun 26 Aug.

Kelburn Garden Party
A long weekend of fun lies ahead on the grounds and glen of a 13th century castle with music from Goldie, Ibibio Sound Machine, A Guy Called Gerald, and Auntie Flo, plus there's kids' entertainment from Let's Circus and the Lullabies Collective.
Kelburn Castle, Largs, Fri 29 Jun–Mon 2 Jul.

Bard in the Botanics (chosen by Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of) writer-performer Isobel McArthur)
July can be the cruellest month if you're a theatre-loving Scot. Companies are in rehearsal for their festival shows and many buildings go quiet as the front-of-house staff nervously brace themselves. Plus audiences are reluctant to take a gamble on new work if it means sitting in a dark room during what might be their only taps-aff-pertunity that year. Luckily, you can have your cake and eat it (along with the rest of your picnic) at Bard in the Botanics. In the beautiful gardens, classics we've seen a thousand times make great watching, but I'm so pleased to see the bold decision taken of staging seldom-performed Edward II. Not because Marlowe's better than Shakespeare (probably no one is) but because this story about two male heads-of-state in love was written over 400 years ago and, if well-adapted, might have much more to teach us about humanity than we realise.
Bard in the Botanics, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Wed 20 Jun–Sat 28 Jul.