IS your wall calendar looking a bit sparse for 2009? Then check out our low-down of the hottest events taking place at a theatre, art gallery, cinema and live music venue near you.
IS your wall calendar looking a bit sparse for 2009? Then check out our low-down of the hottest events taking place at a theatre, art gallery, cinema and live music venue near you.
Time-travel through a blockbuster exhibition about Doctor Who, go Walking With Dinosaurs, watch a Take That treble at Hampden or leap into the new Scottish Ballet HQ at Tramway.
MAUREEN ELLIS picks out the highpoints of 2009.
JANUARY
Until 24: The Wizard of Never Woz, Pavilion; Until March 31: Alien Wars, The Arches; 11: Anton & Erin Cheek to Cheek, Royal Concert Hall; 14-17: Be Near Me, Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock. World premiere of National Theatre of Scotland play starring Ian McDiarmid.
15-Feb 1: Celtic Connections, various venues. Sixteenth annual celebration of traditional music. www.celticconnections.com 18: New Kids on the Block, SECC.
19: Pussycat Dolls, SECC.
19-24: Fame, King's Theatre. Starring 2007 X Factor finalist Beverley Trotman.
21: Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year 08, City Chambers.
22: Grace Jones, Clyde Auditorium.
23: Youssou N'Dour, Royal Concert Hall.
23-25: Burns Night lighting on City Chambers, George Square.
27: Sharleen Spiteri, O2 Academy.
27: Southside Central Glasgow Community Champion Awards event, Destiny Church, 1120 Pollokshaws Road.
27: Co-op Insurance Cup semi-final Rangers vs Falkirk, Hampden Park.
28: Co-op Insurance Cup semi-final Celtic vs Dundee Utd, Hampden.
30-31: NME Awards Tour with Glasvegas, O2 Academy.
31: Aviva International Indoor Athletics, Kelvin Hall.
FEBRUARY
4-7: Stellar Quines presents Baby Baby, Tron Theatre.
5: RSNO Naked Classics The Orchestra's Star Turn!, Royal Concert Hall.
5-7: I Was There' Story of Glasgow's Apollo, Clyde Auditorium.
6-14: Scottish Opera's La Traviata, Theatre Royal.
7-May 4: Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes exhibition, Burrell.
10-21: Sunshine on Leith, King's.
12-15: Strictly Come Dancing Live, SECC.
12-22: Glasgow Film Festival - Great Scots!
14-15: Russell Brand, Clyde Auditorium.
18: Dylan Moran, Pavilion.
19: NME Awards Tour 09 with Tricky, The Arches.
24: Snow Patrol, SECC.
24-28: High School Musical, Clyde Auditorium.
25: The Ting Tings, O2 Academy.
26: The Wombats, Barrowland.
28: Fair Trade Experience, Royal Concert Hall.
MARCH
4-5: Franz Ferdinand, Barrowland.
6: The Killers, SECC.
6-8: Davis Cup Tennis, Braehead Arena.
6-14: Aye Write! The Bank of Scotland Book Festival, Mitchell Library.
10-14: HMS Pinafore, Theatre Royal.
Starring Coronation Street's John Savadent.
12-29: Glasgow International Comedy Festival, various venues.
www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com 14: Lily Allen, O2 Academy.
15: Co-op Insurance Cup final.
15-16: X Factor Live, SECC, and 21-22 at Braehead Arena, with Alexandra Burke.
17-18: Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show, Braehead Arena.
23-28: Boeing-Boing, Theatre Royal. With Corrie's Susie Blake and Hollyoaks' Sarah Jane Dunn.
25-April 4: National Theatre of Scotland: Be Near Me, Citizens' Theatre.
26: Metallica, SECC.
28-Jan 4, 2010: Doctor Who Exhibition, Kelvingrove Museum.
28: Netherlands v Scotland, Amsterdam Arena. World Cup qualifier.
30: Same Difference, Concert Hall.
31: David Byrne, Concert Hall.
APRIL
1: Scotland v Iceland, Hampden. World Cup qualifier.
4-Sep 20: Inspired, Mitchell Library. Major exhibition on the life and work of Rabbie Burns.
6-11: Little Shop of Horrors, King's Theatre. Starring Sylvester McCoy.
11-12: Pink, SECC.
13-18: Hot Flush, King's Theatre. With Lesley Joseph and Sam Kane.
13-18: Dorothy Paul, Pavilion.
15-18: Carmen and Cheating Lying Stealing by Scottish Ballet, Theatre Royal.
16-19: Cirque du Soleil presents Quidam, SECC.
17: WWE Raw's Wrestlemania Revenge Tour 2009, Braehead Arena.
17-18: Al Murray, Clyde Auditorium.
17-18: Scottish Grand National Festival, Ayr Racecourse.
23-26: Glasgow Art Fair, George Square.
25: Basement Jaxx, O2 Academy.
26: Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet, Concert Hall.
28-May 9: The Witches of Eastwick, King's Theatre. Starring Marti Pellow.
29-May 30: Scottish Opera Così Fan Tutte, Theatre Royal 30-May 1: Hinterland Festival, various city centre venues. New festival celebrating local music and art.
MAY
2: Bob Dylan, SECC.
2-3: Big in Falkirk, Callander Park.
7-8: Morrisey, Barrowland.
8-9 & 30: Girls Aloud, SECC.
9-10: Motorfair: Official Scottish Motorshow, Knockhill.
10: Resolution Asset Management Women's 10k, Bellahouston Park.
13: Rhydian, Royal Concert Hall.
15 & 23: Leon Jackson, Clyde Auditorium.
15: Gymnastics Grand Prix 2009, Kelvin Hall.
16-24: Burns an' a' That! 2009, various venues in Ayrshire.
19-25: Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, Scotstoun Stadium.
20: UEFA Cup Final, Istanbul.
20-31: Scottish Opera presents Manon, Theatre Royal.
22-24: Subway Festival. Live music and entertainment around the Clockwork Orange.
23-Sep 12: Alexander Stodart: Drawings and Models, Hunterian Art Gallery.
27: Champions League Final, Rome.
30: Scottish Cup Final, Hampden Park.
JUNE
4-5: Derren Brown, Royal Concert Hall.
6: Katy Perry, Barrowland.
10: Silver Bell Racenight with Cash for Kids, Hamilton Park Racecourse.
10-13: Dance School of Scotland, Citizens' Theatre.
12-13: Boyzone, SECC.
13-28: West End Festival. Annual celebration of culture in the West End.
13-14: British GT Championship, Knockhill.
17: Oasis, Kasabian & The Enemy, Murrayfield Stadium.
18: Russell Howard, Royal Concert Hall.
19: Saints and Sinners Racenight, Ayr Racecourse.
19-21: Take That, Hampden.
19-28: Glasgow International Jazz Festival. www.jazzfest.co.uk 21: Glasgow Mela, Kelvingrove Park.
22-Jul 5: Wimbledon tennis championships.
23-27: National Theatre of Scotland present Peer Gynt, Theatre Royal.
30: AC/DC, Hampden Park.
JULY
1-5: Walking With Dinosaurs - Arena Spectacular, SECC. Based on the award-winning BBC TV Series.
1-5: Lazy Town Live! - The Pirate Adventure, Theatre Royal.
4: The Eagles, Hampden.
4: Let's Hang On, Pavilion. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons tribute.
4-5: British Superbike Championship, Knockhill.
5: Family Raceday, Ayr Racecourse.
9-12: T in the Park, Balado, Perthshire.
9-12: Barclays Scottish Open, Loch Lomond.
Mid-Jul: Glasgow River Festival, Clydeside.
16-19: The Open Championship, Turnberry, Ayrshire.
17: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince goes on general release.
18: Loch Lomond Highland Games, Balloch Castle Country Park, Balloch.
20: Glasgow Fair Festival Meeting, Ayr Racecourse.
25: European Pipe Band Championships, Battery Park, Greenock.
31-Aug 1: The Ladyboys of Bangkok, Pavilion Theatre.
AUGUST
August-long: Gourmet Glasgow, various restaurants around the city. Food-related events, celebrity chefs and gourmet evenings.
August-long: Edinburgh festivals. Scotland's capital becomes a hive of arts and cultural activities for the Military Tattoo (7-29), Festival Fringe (7-31), International Festival (14-Sep 6), Book Festival (15-31).
1: Ladies Night, Hamilton Park Racecourse.
7-9: Ayr Flower Show, Rozelle Estate, Ayr.
10-16: Piping Live! Music of the Clans, George Square.
15: The World Pipe Band Championships, Glasgow Green.
19: Norway v Scotland, Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo. World Cup qualifier.
19-22: Spongebob Square Pants, Theatre Royal.
22-23: Scotland's Festival of History: Lanark Racecourse, Lanark.
27-30: European Tour: Johnnie Walker Championships, Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire.
28-30: Retrofest, Strathclyde Country Park.
29: Cowal Gathering, Dunoon, Argyll.
29-30: Kirkintilloch Canal Festival, Forth and Clyde Canal, Kirkintilloch.
SEPTEMBER
1-30: 40 Years of Scottish Ballet exhibition, Tramway. Exhibition to coincide with the official opening of the company's HQ at Pollokshields.
1-5: Singin' in the Rain, King's Theatre.
5: Scotland v Macedonia, Hampden Park. World Cup qualifier.
5-6: Great Scottish Run and Junior Run, George Square and Glasgow Green.
5-6: British GT Cup & Scottish Championship Car Racing, Knockhill.
9: Scotland v Netherlands, Hampden. World Cup Qualifier.
15-20: Lord of the Dance, Clyde Auditorium.
Mid-Sep: Doors Open Day, various venues, Glasgow. The public can peek through the keyholes of some of the city's interesting and unusual buildings for one weekend.
16: Coldplay, Hampden.
17-19: Ayr Gold Cup Festival, Ayr Racecourse.
20: Flower of Scotland Family Day, Hamilton Park Racecourse.
21: Final Fling, Hamilton Park Racecourse.
Late Sep: Merchant City Festival. The very best in Scottish and International performance.
OCTOBER
4 & 18: Scottish Championship Bike Racing, Knockhill.
8-10: Scottish Ballet's Autumn Season, Theatre Royal. Performance of new work including Rubies, WorkwithinWork and In Light and Shadow 9-10: Cliff Richard & The Shadows, SECC.
11: Paul Potts, Royal Concert Hall. Winner of Britain's Got Talent.
16-25: Biggar Little Festival, biggar-little-festival.com 20-21: Pink, SECC. Rock chick returns.
23: October raceday, Ayr Racecourse.
23: The Fantastic Mr Fox is released in cinemas.
26: Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Royal Concert Hall.
31: Ghouls and Goblins Raceday, Ayr Racecourse.
NOVEMBER
Nov-long: Glasgay!, various venues. Celebration of gay music, theatre, comedy, art, dance, film and literature.
5: Glasgow Fireworks, Glasgow Green.
8: Speed Sunday Car Trackday, Knockhill.
8: T-Rextasy, Pavilion.
12-14: Sydney Devine, Pavilion.
Mid Nov-early Jan: Winterfest Glasgow, various venues including George Square. A winter festival centred on George Square and featuring Glasgow On Ice outdoor skating rink, fireworks, ceilidhs and more.
18-22: Scottish International Badminton Championships 2009.
20: Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie, goes on general release.
22: Jack Jones, Royal Concert Hall.
23: The Best of British Mediumship with Colin Fry and TJ Higgs, Royal Concert Hall.
23: UB40, SECC. Return of the band who opened the SECC in 1985.
28: Homecoming Live, SECC. A major gala performance of Scottish music with line-up still to be announced.
DECEMBER
Early Dec-Jan 2010: Panto season begins in Glasgow - oh, yes it does! - with the city's top theatres turning over their programmes to elaborate costumes, sweetie showers and singalongs. The King's (0871 297 5454), Pavilion (0141 332 1846), Tron Theatre (0141 552 4267), Citizens (0141 429 0022), The Arches (0141 565 1000), SECC (0870 040 4000) and Oran Mor (0141 357 6200).
2: Festive Cheer Raceday, Ayr Racecourse.
6: Speed Sunday Car Trackday, Knockhill.
10-Jan 3: Disney's Beauty and The Beast, Clyde Auditorium.
12-31: The Nutcracker by Scottish Ballet, Theatre Royal. Festive production directed by Ashley Page.
Late Dec-mid Jan 2010: Christmas and New Year Carnival, SECC. The thrills and spills of the fairground returns to the SECC for rides and family attractions.
31: Glasgow's Hogmanay, George Square. Rings the bells of 2010 with live music, revelry and merriment. Thousands of revellers descend into George Square to bring in the New Year in style.
