The List

The Stand Comedy Club sponsors five new comedy acts for Edinburgh Fringe Ifrah Qureshi, Matthew Gallagher, Chris Rutter, Amanda Dwyer and Jack Brookmyre are the first beneficiaries of the comedy club’s mission to nurture local talent

The Stand have joined the push for greater social mobility within the Fringe with a new programme aimed at nurturing grassroots talent during a famously expensive time of the year.

The five selected are Ifrah Qureshi, Matthew Gallagher, Chris Rutter, Amanda Dwyer and Jack Brookmyre.

Paul Copeland on Kai Reesu’s recording studio: ‘If we made bad music the neighbours would tell us to shut up’ A happy accident brought Scottish nu-jazz quintet Kai Reesu together with LA rapper Jurnalist. Fair to say they’ve never looked back and scooping the SAY Award

‘If we made bad music the neighbours would tell us to shut up faster.’

We caught up with Kai Reesu members Jurnalist and Paul Copeland a few months after their well-deserved win at the Scottish Album Of The Year Awards.

Pick up your copy free from all good stockists across Glasgow and Edinburgh or read it now ⤵️

📸 Trudy Stade, Craig McIntosh, Cameron Brisbane, Harrison Reid, Louise Thomas

Also in this issue:
✨ We catch up with Kai Reesu as they enter an exciting new phase in their artistry
✨ Story Platform is bringing the laughs in our glowing review
✨ Singer-songwriter Isa Gordon scoops album of the month
✨ Murray Robertson casts his eye over the hotly anticipated shooter Marathon

🎭️ As Glasgow International Comedy Festival gets fired up, our cover star for March’s issue is stand-up and spectacular storyteller Marjolein Robertson, who told us about the magic of folktales, the joy of language, and the pain of mining comedy from traumatic experience.

Gorillaz: The Mountain album review – Songs for the departed Gorillaz successfully balance weighty subject matter and a whopping line-up of guests artists on new album The Mountain, transforming grief into a musical celeb

Gorillaz successfully balance weighty subject matter and a whopping line-up of guests artists on new album The Mountain, transforming their grief into a celebration of those they've lost.

Musicals hitting Scottish stages in 2026 There’s nothing like a musical to set the heart a-soarin’. And Scottish stages are filled with them across 2026. Why don’t you gravitate to this little lot?

Get ready to set your heart a-soaring in 2026. Scottish stages are jam-packed this year with musicals that will keep you singing all year long.

Singles in your area: February 2026 We plonk another batch of amazing Scottish songs in your eyeline, including new releases from Wojtek The Bear, Carla J Easton, Bratakus and Middle Class Guilt&n

As we battle through another inordinately grey month, take heart that February’s single-release calendar has been heaving, featuring indie bangers from Carla J Easton and Broken Chanter, woozy psych from Middle Class Guilt and Manuela, bristling punk from Bratakus, and much more.

Hester Musson: The Night Hag book review – Night terrors unleashed Musson has created a page-turner in this historical mystery of demonic proportions

Hester Musson's second novel, The Night Hag, is sure to keep readers up at night, offering a historical mystery that leaves us guessing whether supernatural forces are at play.

Our Shared World art review: A broad range of impressions Our Shared World is a diverse and experimental delight as over 100 artists respond to a universal message in differing ways. Claire Sawers admires this often ma

More than 100 artists have participated in this wide-ranging exhibition which champions a universal perspective.

Find out why Claire Sawers thinks Our Shared World is a ‘diverse, enjoyable group show.’

Everybody To Kenmure Street film review: A heartening true story A real-life portrait of people power in Glasgow, featuring performances from Emma Thompson and Kate Dickie

A real-life protest in Glasgow is given a blow-by-blow retelling in this riveting documentary about people power.

Find out why we awarded Everybody To Kenmure Street five stars.

Mohammed Moussa on The Face Before You: 'In my poems, hope will always persist' Mohammed Moussa believes the fragmented and urgent nature of poetry resonates with meaning more than other forms of writing. He tells Allan Radcliffe that verse

'In my peoms, hope will always persist... reminding myself, and the reader, that change is possible one day.'

Palestinian poet Mohammed Moussa uses verse to express the horrors of Gaza while maintaining a positive outlook for a better future in his new book, The Face Before You.

Matthew Kelly on Waiting For Godot: ‘The more I read it, the more I think it’s a joyful thing’ Longtime friends George Costigan and Matthew Kelly are the latest duo to tackle the theatrical holy grail of Waiting For Godot. The pair talk to Neil Cooper abo

Longtime friends George Costigan and Matthew Kelly are the latest duo to tackle the theatrical holy grail of Waiting For Godot. The pair chatted to us about their drama school days, working together over the years and why they believe Beckett's classic is about all of us.

Adam Stafford on his role in Matilda: ‘It’s the best bit isn’t it, being the baddie?’ To kick off our theatre special, Kelly Apter ventured south to witness one of the 21st century’s finest new musicals. She chats to some of the grown-up stars of

We ventured south to see Matilda The Musical, where the adult cast members shared stories about the show's young pranksters, glorious harmonies and the pure joy of being a baddie.

My Comedy Hero: Daniel Foxx on French & Saunders In another edition of comedians describing their favourite funny person, Daniel Foxx takes on two icons of sketch comedy

We’re always curious about who makes the comedians themselves giggle. This month Daniel Foxx shared his admiration for Jennifer Saunders' ability to pull off the gay icon hattrick.

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You film review: Unflinching portrait of motherhood Rose Byrne shines as a resentful mother and psychotherapist on the edge in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Emma Simmonds rates the Australian’s performance as a car

Rose Byrne shines as a resentful mother and psychotherapist on the edge in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. We rated the Australian’s performance as a career high in a film that makes some bold choices.

Laurence Di Sotto on Woolkind: ‘I’ve always been attracted to this idea of Scottish but not Scottish’ Woolkind founder Laurence Di Sotto talks ethics, sustainability and bold creations with Isy Santini

‘I’ve always been attracted to this idea of Scottish but not Scottish’

Laurence Di Sotto discusses the role of ethics, sustainability and bold design in the creation of his knitwear brand, Woolkind.

The Testament Of Ann Lee film review: A baffling one-off Amanda Seyfried leads the choir in this ambitious (and very curious) musical about a real-life 18th century cult

Mona Fastvold’s eccentric musical A Testament of Ann Lee dives into the life of the woman who founded the Shakers, a radical religious movement that made its way from England to America in the 18th century.

Peaches on her new album: 'People need to be who they need to be' Sculptures of jizzing fountains and double masturbatory sex toys are par for the course in the life and work of Peaches. As the upfront Canadian punk artist mak

Sculptures of jizzing fountains and double masturbatory sex toys are par for the course in the life and work of Peaches. As the upfront Canadian punk artist makes a thunderous return, she chatted to us about why we all need a little more lube in our lives.

Terminator 2D: No Fate game review – Retro arcade fun Evocative pixel art, era-perfect techno and old-school difficulty make this a heartfelt (if fleeting) T2 tribute

We kept ourselves entertained this gloomy February with Terminator 2D: No Fate. Featuring evocative pixel art and era-perfect techno, it’s a heartfelt (if fleeting) tribute to everyone's favourite murderous time-travelling robot.

Ben McQuaid on Welcome To G-Town: ‘We wanted it to be big and splattery and fun’ Fresh from completing their media studies degrees at Stirling University, the McQuaid brothers talk to Eddie Harrison about horror inspiration, sliming their ca

'We felt like we were talking to Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey.'

We caught up with the McQuaid brothers as they launch their first feature film, Welcome To G-Town, to chat about horror inspiration, low-budget filmmaking and premiering on home turf at @glasgowfilmfest.bsky.social.

Bar Files: Singer-songwriter Lou Mclean In which creative folks reveal their top watering hole. This month, a talented songwriter tells us about a pub brimming with seafront charm

'It’s a great pub right on the waterfront: cosy, nice food, great beers and absolutely stunning views out onto the Forth. A good spot for cute wintertime dates, takeaway beers in the summer or maybe even writing your album.'

Check out Lou Mclean's favourite watering hole ⤵️

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Guide To Scotland's Festivals 2026 has landed and features a comprehensive list of cultural happenings for the year ahead.

We've teamed up with @scotsman.com to include a free copy our Guide in its Saturday 21 February edition. Pick it up at newsagents across Scotland this weekend.

Pick up The Guide To Scotland’s Festivals from good stockists across Scotland or read it online now.

Brought to you by @creativescots.bsky.social with support from Event Scotland.

Inside the issue:
✨ Top tips for festivals worth knowing about
✨ The Scottish sports events to catch in 2026
✨ A round-up of Edinburgh’s packed August festival season
✨ More than 450 Scottish festivals and events listed chronologically, month by month

The Guide To Scotland’s Festivals is out now, giving you the lowdown on a huge number of festivals taking place this year. Whether you’re searching for a long weekend of chart-topping tunes, a family friendly getaway or a celebration of cinema, there’s a festival for every taste.

Wuthering Heights film review: Modern ghost(ing) story Emerald Fennell portrays an obvious love for the original text as her in-your-face adaptation sizzles, scars and simmers

Sexual awakening and savagery intertwine with irreverent humour in Emerald Fennell’s sumptuous interpretation of Emily Brontë’s gothic romance.

Harry Ross on The Great Wave: 'When you listen to the music, you can almost taste the tea' The librettist explains how the famous work of Katsushika Hokusai inspired composer Dai Fujikura

'When you listen to the music, you can almost taste the tea'

Harry Ross explains how the famous work of Katsushika Hokusai inspired composer Dai Fujikura in the Scottish Opera's latest commission, The Great Wave.

Arooj Aftab announces UK tour dates for 2026 The award-winning composer of Night Reign will hit venues in Edinburgh, London, Manchester and more this June

Arooj Aftab, the Grammy Award-winning songwriter, has announced a tour of the UK, with dates in Edinburgh, London and Liverpool included in the run.

Theatre 118 closes its doors in less than a year The innovative theatre group has suddenly lost its performance space

Theatre 118, a grassroots theatre company based in Glasgow, has been forced to close its doors after less than a year in its performance space at the former office block 118 Osborne Street. A statement from the group said: ‘Theatre 118 isn't finished — we're just between buildings.’