The Skinny

Scottish Live Music Highlights: December 2025 – The Skinny As the year begins to wind down, so too do band tour schedules – but there are still some highlights.

As the year begins to wind down, so too do band tour schedules – but @tallahbrash.bsky.social has compiled some top December gigs with artists like Mermaid Chunky, Idlewild, Jacob Alon and more...

La bohème @ Festival Theatre: opera review – The Skinny Scottish Opera's La bohème dazzles with a delicious sense of excess, and uses its enduring story to draw compelling parallels to the contemporary.

"Dazzles with a delicious sense of excess"

Our ★★★★ review for @scottishopera.bsky.social's production of La bohème is now live

Scottish Film Events: December 2025 – The Skinny Lots of Christmas movies screen this month – but they aren't all cosy. Plus, Charlie Shackleton is on tour with his ingenious Zodiac Killer Project and Louise Weard presents part two of her DIY epic…

This month, expect some choice Christmas flicks at @glasgowfilmtheatre.bsky.social, there's a slate of Stephen King adaptations at @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social, and @weard.moe brings her labyrinthine postmodern epic Castration Movie to Scotland

Cover-Up review: powerful portrait of Sy Hersh - The Skinny Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus deliver a portrait of legendary investigative reporter Seymour Hersh that's incomplete but powerful in its exposure of the rotten heart of US journalism.

for the December issue of @theskinnymag.bsky.social, I reviewed Laura Poitras' COVER-UP. While it could interrogate the interrogator more, it's still a pretty necessary look at journalistic independence for these times

www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-rel...

Scottish Art Highlights: December 2025 December offers Afrofuturist photography, a meditative film about land dispossession and a survey of Scottish portraiture.

December brings Armenian filmmaker Alex Sarkisian to @timespanhelmsdale.bsky.social, and it's not too late to see @shenxin.info's Highland Embassy at @collective-edin.bsky.social

All this and more in @rachelashenden.bsky.social's round-up!

Rethinking Roots: Shen Xin on Highland Embassy - The Skinny We speak with Isle of Skye-based artist Shen Xin about the ecological and spiritual themes running through their new exhibition at Collective in Edinburgh.

With their new exhibition Highland Embassy on display at @collective-edin.bsky.social, we catch up with @shenxin.info

Spotlight On... Vagrant Real Estate - The Skinny Aberdonian producer Vagrant Real Estate may have just produced the most Scottish record of 2025 – we catch up with Nick Cronin to find out more.

Dropping on St Andrew’s Day, Vagrant Real Estate's new album Neither Collar Nor Crown features an incredible 25 Scottish artists from across Scottish hip-hop and beyond

We catch up with Nick Cronin, the man behind the Vagrant Real Estate moniker, to learn more

Scotland's Best Events This Week (27 Nov-4 Dec) - The Skinny Fruitmarket's festival of new and experimental music returns for its third edition this weekend. Elsewhere, Oklou plays Glasgow's QMU and there's a Palestine fundraiser with lots of EHFM DJs

Get ready for the weekend with our Zap! events guide – in this edition, @fruitmarket.bsky.social's experimental music fest, Scottish Ballet's Snow Queen, #FairSaturday, Soundhouse at @traversetheatre.bsky.social + more

www.theskinny.co.uk/things-to-do... #edinburgh #glasgow

Peter Cat @ Mash House, Edinburgh: live review - The Skinny Peter Cat bring a challenging but alluring soundscape to The Mash House to launch their new album, Starchamber.

'The band forms a brain and a sound that is challenging but alluring, and never boring...'

4 stars for Peter Cat's theatrical art outsider pop, as the Glasgow outfit launch their new album Starchamber

www.theskinny.co.uk/music/live-m...

Pillion review: surprisingly tender BDSM romance - The Skinny Alexander Skarsgård is a sexy, Knausgaard-reading biker and Harry Melling is his eager-to-please boyfriend in this sweet, funny and kinky portrait of a dom-sub relationship.

'Harry Lighton’s debut feature Pillion, named for the passenger backseat of a motorcycle, is about the ride of your life that comes with surrendering control...'

Our film of the month, #Pillion is out this weekend - here's @xuanlintham.bsky.social's review

www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-rel...

The Skinny at 20: The state of Scottish clubs – The Skinny Chatting to venues old, new, and shuttered across the country, The Skinny shares the current state of Scottish clubs through the very eyes of those keeping their doors open.

"Scottish clubbing is at a crossroads..."

From our 20th anniversary issue a few months back, we talked to the folk behind some of Scotland's best clubs to take the temperature of the scene

www.theskinny.co.uk/clubs/interv... #edinburgh #glasgow

Braw or Naw? with Ayo Adenekan – The Skinny Guide to Christmas It’s been a big year for Edinburgh comic Ayo Adenekan – he shares his hefty set of Braws and Naws for our Christmas and Hogmanay guide.

Thumbs up for vintage markets, traybakes and the Glasgow Subway; downs for the demise of much-loved restaurants and the concept of Xmas in mid-November

Edinburgh comic Ayo Adenekan shares his festive Braw or Naw list for our Christmas and Hogmanay Guide

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery film review - The Skinny Daniel Craig is back as Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s third instalment in his Knives Out series. While not quite as sharp as the earlier films, there's still much fun to be had in this mystery…

'Josh O’Connor’s Father Jud affirms the actor’s leading man credentials, and his ease with physical comedy is a highlight...'

Benoit Blanc is back but JO'C steals the show in #WakeUpDeadMan, Rian Johnson's latest Knives Out mystery

www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-rel... @carmenchloie.bsky.social

Hayley Zalassi's Hogmanay Playlist - The Skinny Ahead of her appearance at Edinburgh's Street Party this Hogmanay, Glasgow DJ Hayley Zalassi picks 12 tracks to see in the New Year with.

From Wham! to Jeff Mills to classics by Bob Sinclar and Calvin Harris, Hayley Zalassi shares a 12-track playlist ahead of her slot at Edinburgh's Hogmanay

Nourished by Time @ Art School, Glasgow: live review - The Skinny Marcus Brown, aka Nourished by Time, puts in a party-starting performance in Glasgow.

Apathy and anxiety haven't felt this hedonistic for a while – ★★★★ for Nourished By Time at the Art School in Glasgow

www.theskinny.co.uk/music/live-m...

Feels on Wheels: Harry Lighton on Pillion – The Skinny Pillion dives into the sub-dom relationship between a meek traffic warden (Harry Melling) and a hunky biker (Alexander Skarsgård). We meet writer-director Harry Lighton.

Pillion dives into the sub-dom relationship between Harry Melling's traffic warden and Alexander Skarsgård's hunky biker. We chat to its writer-director Harry Lighton...

www.theskinny.co.uk/film/intervi...

Blue Moon review: Linklater's anti-biopic of Lorenz Hart – The Skinny Richard Linklater pulls another all-nighter in this anti-biopic of Broadway songwriter Lorenz Hart set over one momentous evening.

'Blue Moon occasionally loses itself in hefty, but Ethan Hawke's textured, theatrical performance will have you wanting a seat at the bar right next to him.'

Stefania Sarrubba on BLUE MOON, Richard Linklater's anti-biopic of Broadway songwriter Lorenz Hart

www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-rel...

The Skinny's 2025 Christmas Gift Guide From coffee to candle holders, sleep masks to sauces to cinema tickets, The Skinny team share some of their gift ideas and wishlists.

From coffee to candle holders, sleep masks to hot sauces to cinema memberships, the team share some of their festive gift ideas and wishlists...

Lorde @ OVO Hydro, Glasgow: live review - The Skinny On her long-awaited return to Glasgow, Lorde delivers the costume changes and bombast of an arena pop show with intimacy and vulnerability.

On her return to Glasgow, #Lorde balanced arena-size spectacle with crowd connection and a confessional air

www.theskinny.co.uk/music/live-m...

Manipulate Festival reveals 2026 programme - The Skinny The Edinburgh animation, puppetry and visual theatre festival has announced its 2026 programme.

Animation, puppetry and visual theatre festival @manipulatearts.bsky.social has announced its 2026 programme, with world premieres in its theatre strand + a new film competition

www.theskinny.co.uk/theatre/show... @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social @dancebase.bsky.social
@traversetheatre.bsky.social

Music Now: New Scottish Music

just added to our New Scottish Music playlist, tracks by @simoneseales.bsky.social Maz & The Phantasms @slimecitymusic.bsky.social Cara Rose & Kai Reesu and loads more...

SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/playlist/6r1...
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/playlist?lis...

#newmusicfriday #scottishmusic

Our new album 📈 NATIONAL RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT 📉 is available to stream, download, buy, and ignore now!

12 bangers. All annoying.

"It's really f**king good" - 10/10 @godisinthetvzine.bsky.social

"Sarcastic, frantic, hefty, and above all fun" - @theskinnymag.bsky.social

The links 👉 slime-city.com

A couple of cool lads, in a very cool room, talking about the coolest artform of them all.

We were very cold forgive all the Poirot chat and references to tubi dot com

Gaelic vocal trio Sian on archives, storytelling, and translation Music Now: The music podcast from The Skinny · Episode

In the latest episode of our new music podcast, we catch up with Gaelic vocal trio Sian to talk touring, translation, and retelling stories from the archives

SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/episode/6ZJS...
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hikx...

Heads Up: 32 events to catch this Christmas & Hogmanay - The Skinny Our pick of the markets, light shows, screenings, pantomimes, clubs and gigs across Scotland that are sure to bring you cheer this festive season.

It's that ti-

*Don't say it...*

It's beginning to look a lot like Chri-

*Like what?*

WE'VEGOTANXMASGUIDEOUTNEXTWEEKHERE'STHEEVENTSGUIDE [dodges hail of mince pies]

www.theskinny.co.uk/things-to-do... [ft @trontheatre.bsky.social @thebotanics.bsky.social @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social + more]

Spotlight on... Simone Seales: The Skinny With their debut album Dearest out this weekend, we catch up with cellist and poet Simone Seales.

With debut album Dearest out tomorrow, we catch up with cellist and poet Simone Seales for this week's new music spotlight...

www.theskinny.co.uk/music/new-mu... @simoneseales.bsky.social

Pillion, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and What Makes a Good Whodunnit? The Cineskinny · Episode

A fresh episode of @thecineskinny.bsky.social out now: Peter and @jamiedunnesq.bsky.social talk through PILLION, WAKE UP DEAD MAN + various Poirot-adjacent whodunnits.

Oh, and Tubi. Surprising amount of Tubi chat.

SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/episode/6kJV...
APPLE: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Iona Zajac - Bang: album of the month - The Skinny Bang confirms Iona Zajac as one of Scotland’s most fearless and intriguing new voices.

Iona Zajac's distinct brand of folk intimacy and raw experimentation reaches its highest heights so far on her debut album...

Bang is our November album of the month, it's out on Friday, here's our review

Ask Anahit: In The End – The Skinny In this month's advice column, one reader asks how to feel chill in a relationship that feels temporary.

'Ultimately, none of us know what is going to happen.'

It's a bold gambit for our *advice* column to take, but in the context of a question re: relationships that seem inherently temporary, it's a good shout...

Alex G @ Barrowlands, Glasgow: live review - The Skinny Philly's lo-fi indie hero Alex G delivers a rousing set to a crowd of clearly dedicated (if not entirely attentive) devotees at the Barras.

'At times, he appears to be channelling a mixture of Billy Corgan, Jeff Buckley and Elliot Smith, all to great effect.'

Our review of Alex G's Barrowlands show earlier this week...