The Herald comment & analysis
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Comment and analysis from HeraldScotland.com - the home of Scottish politics and debate on the biggest issues facing Scotland
There’s something thrilling about Brighde Chaimbeul's piping, says @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'Brighde Chaimbeul pushes the pipes into thrilling new territory at St Luke’s'
Brighde Chaimbeul, Celtic Connections. St Luke’s, Glasgow. Brighde Chaimbeul throws us all in at the deep end. Seated onstage at St Luke’s on…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:39 PM
There’s something thrilling about Brighde Chaimbeul's piping, says @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
“The expansion of Finnieston and the introduction of all these hospitality businesses have been part of the growth of Glasgow’s economy as a whole,” McGeady explains. “We do the same thing up the road in Yorkhill." @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'We don't want to end up as another forgotten Glasgow community'
“When you take that away and these businesses close, what do you have? Another forgotten community in Glasgow,” says the owner of Corner Shop.…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:11 PM
“The expansion of Finnieston and the introduction of all these hospitality businesses have been part of the growth of Glasgow’s economy as a whole,” McGeady explains. “We do the same thing up the road in Yorkhill." @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
My own experience of family estrangement is uncomfortably close to that of Beckham, says @neilmackay.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
I've been in Brooklyn Beckham's position - and he's right to ditch his parents
In the face of the Beckham family's public falling out, Neil Mackay reflects on his own experience with those close to him, suggesting blood is not…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:38 PM
My own experience of family estrangement is uncomfortably close to that of Beckham, says @neilmackay.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
These five Scottish acts will be coming soon to a boutique festival near you – or, more likely, a sticky-floored music venue somewhere. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @brianjaffa.bsky.social
Five Scottish bands and musicians you need to watch out for this year
Here are five Scottish acts to watch out for in the year ahead, coming soon to a boutique fest near you or a sticky-floored music venue
www.heraldscotland.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:02 PM
These five Scottish acts will be coming soon to a boutique festival near you – or, more likely, a sticky-floored music venue somewhere. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @brianjaffa.bsky.social
Sir Ian Rankin has an interesting take on the decline of reading @ianrankin1.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Ian Rankin says interior decor to blame for decline of reading - not social media
Crime writer Ian Rankin says interior decor is to blame for decline of reading - not social media. So, how does he figure that one out?
www.heraldscotland.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Sir Ian Rankin has an interesting take on the decline of reading @ianrankin1.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Most of us like renewables. But that doesn’t mean any old renewables, any old place says environment writer @vickyallan.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'How much wind is enough?' It's okay to ask the question, says Vicky Allan
Even if you're a big fan of renewables, it's still okay to ask the questions, 'How much onshore wind is enough?' And, 'How many battery parks are…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Most of us like renewables. But that doesn’t mean any old renewables, any old place says environment writer @vickyallan.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'This Scottish Cold War yarn has an unexpected period charm that’s in marked contrast to the gritty backdrops of Deighton and Le Carré or the jet-setting exploits of Ian Fleming.' Review @heraldscotland.bsky.social
When spies and lovers roamed Fife's romantic coastline
A character-driven thriller straddling the genres of espionage and romance, White Raven by Maggie Ritchie is a refreshing depiction of the Cold War,…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:14 PM
'This Scottish Cold War yarn has an unexpected period charm that’s in marked contrast to the gritty backdrops of Deighton and Le Carré or the jet-setting exploits of Ian Fleming.' Review @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'When it comes to Britpop there’s an argument to be made that Suede were the first,' says @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @suedehq.bsky.social @florencephotos.bsky.social @fatmdaily.bsky.social @raye.bsky.social @belleandsebastian.bsky.social @sleafordmods.bsky.social
10 gigs to book now for February from Raye to Suede and Florence + the Machine
Get your tickets now: 10 gigs to book now across Scotland for February from Raye to Suede and Florence + the Machine - Fat Boy Slim returns
www.heraldscotland.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:23 PM
'When it comes to Britpop there’s an argument to be made that Suede were the first,' says @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @suedehq.bsky.social @florencephotos.bsky.social @fatmdaily.bsky.social @raye.bsky.social @belleandsebastian.bsky.social @sleafordmods.bsky.social
Mhairi Black on her acting rile in Counsels. 'Once I got the scripts I realised that my character is a cynical, jaded and tired police officer who is fed up with the corruption and the system failing. “I was like: ‘I get why you thought of me’.' @brianjaffa.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Mhairi Black on why playing a 'cynical and jaded' TV detective has come naturally
The former SNP politician said she was asked to audition for drama part after being spotted performing stand-up comedy.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Mhairi Black on her acting rile in Counsels. 'Once I got the scripts I realised that my character is a cynical, jaded and tired police officer who is fed up with the corruption and the system failing. “I was like: ‘I get why you thought of me’.' @brianjaffa.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
It’s easy to be an armchair general knowing you don’t have to take the blame if it turns out you were wrong, says @becmcq.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Ignore the squeals from Greens and Lib Dems, Sir Keir - your approach is right one
American president Donald Trump’s threats of a tariff war against the UK and other countries which oppose US annexation of Greenland are a test of…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:01 PM
It’s easy to be an armchair general knowing you don’t have to take the blame if it turns out you were wrong, says @becmcq.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Review: “The father of my daughter texted me tonight to say that she would be here at the gig. ‘Please don’t talk about sex.’ So, here are some songs about sex.” @kathrynjoseph11.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'There is possibly no swearier a performer in Scotland right now than Kathryn Joseph'
Review: Kathryn Joseph & Lomond Campbell, Celtic Connections, Oran Mor, Glasgow, Four stars
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Review: “The father of my daughter texted me tonight to say that she would be here at the gig. ‘Please don’t talk about sex.’ So, here are some songs about sex.” @kathrynjoseph11.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'Be sure as well to keep your eye on the gravy boat' - wise advice from theatre critic @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Bold new Burns show lifts the lid on the bard’s contradictions
Theatre, The Burns Project, The Georgian House, Edinburgh. The sins of rhyme, as Robert Burns calls his craft in this new dramatisation of the…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:32 PM
'Be sure as well to keep your eye on the gravy boat' - wise advice from theatre critic @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'It’s going to break my heart when reading goes. But as long as we still have a lively culture we might get through. If we just become screen-fed zombies, we won’t' @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social
This woman is right - we are becoming post-literate screen-fed zombies
The digital world isn’t just reshaping how we tell stories, it’s changing the very nature of the stories we tell - and not in a good way, our…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:52 PM
'It’s going to break my heart when reading goes. But as long as we still have a lively culture we might get through. If we just become screen-fed zombies, we won’t' @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social
"I don't think anybody’s made a better album”, says Alan McGee, a man who famously knows about such things, “than Primal Scream’s Screamadelica”. @heraldscotland.bsky.social
When Primal Scream made one of the 500 greatest albums of all time
‘I DON’T think anybody’s made a better album”, says Alan McGee, a man who famously knows about such things, “than Primal Scream’s…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:57 PM
"I don't think anybody’s made a better album”, says Alan McGee, a man who famously knows about such things, “than Primal Scream’s Screamadelica”. @heraldscotland.bsky.social
I’ve a soft spot for evergreen fir, spruce and pine, particularly on days when they are adorned with glistening frost or a dusting of freshly fallen, powdery snow. As balms for the soul go, I can highly recommend it, says @susanswarbrick.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Five magical winter woodland walks with great places for warming food
It’s no secret that I’m partial to a tree-lined stroll. Even through the winter months, when deciduous varieties are devoid of leaves, there is…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:33 AM
I’ve a soft spot for evergreen fir, spruce and pine, particularly on days when they are adorned with glistening frost or a dusting of freshly fallen, powdery snow. As balms for the soul go, I can highly recommend it, says @susanswarbrick.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
One for the fans of Lorraine Kelly - which is surely most of us. @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey is a joy to behold,' says Alison Rowat
Lorraine Kelly heads to Norway for a three‑part Channel 4 travelogue filled with fjords, folklore, icy dips and plenty of cheeky humour. Reviewer…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:53 AM
One for the fans of Lorraine Kelly - which is surely most of us. @heraldscotland.bsky.social
One parent told the BBC that the autistic Barbie made her five-year-old feel special, as she too wears ear defenders. Other parents have been more critical, suggesting that Barbie is offensive. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social
Marissa Macwhirter: Why the new autistic Barbie is a step in the right direction
Unsurprisingly, the release of the first-ever autistic Barbie earlier this week has whipped up a bit of a frenzy around where representation ends,…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:33 PM
One parent told the BBC that the autistic Barbie made her five-year-old feel special, as she too wears ear defenders. Other parents have been more critical, suggesting that Barbie is offensive. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social
Scots musician had a Eureka! moment moment driving through Glen Clova listening to Nigel Kennedy’s multi-million selling 1989 performance of the Four Seasons @heraldscotland.bsky.social
'Vivaldi's Four Seasons gets a Scottish makeover and you can hear it live this month'
The Four Seasons by 18th century Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi is one of the most famous pieces in the classical music repertoire. No surprise,…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Scots musician had a Eureka! moment moment driving through Glen Clova listening to Nigel Kennedy’s multi-million selling 1989 performance of the Four Seasons @heraldscotland.bsky.social
I’m a little on the defensive when it comes to this new trend among kids - who I want to hate because they’re young, though mostly I can’t help quite liking them - for calling folk they deem to be old ‘unc’. As in uncle. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social
Why Timothée Chalamet is wrong over Gen Z ‘unc’ trend
There’s a new fashion among young folk. It’s calling the older generation ‘unc’, short for uncle. Neil Mackay, who has fought ageing with…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:35 AM
I’m a little on the defensive when it comes to this new trend among kids - who I want to hate because they’re young, though mostly I can’t help quite liking them - for calling folk they deem to be old ‘unc’. As in uncle. @heraldscotland.bsky.social @neilmackay.bsky.social
'I spend the next 20 minutes playing with the little water jets and pretending I’ve been chucked into a bubbling, colour-changing witch’s cauldron - and yes, this is very relaxing for me' @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
I tried a £40 bath at Glasgow's new luxury city spa, here's what it's like
This new spa in Glasgow city centre is offering baths for city dwellers who don't have one at home.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:44 PM
'I spend the next 20 minutes playing with the little water jets and pretending I’ve been chucked into a bubbling, colour-changing witch’s cauldron - and yes, this is very relaxing for me' @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Here is what Glasgow City Council is proposing for parking controls, and what happens next, including the consultation, decision-making, and potential timelines. @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
What happens next with proposed parking controls in Glasgow's south side?
Everything you need to know about Glasgow City Council's proposed Parking Control Zones in Battlefield, Strathbungo, and Shawlands.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Here is what Glasgow City Council is proposing for parking controls, and what happens next, including the consultation, decision-making, and potential timelines. @marissamacwhirter.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Emmylou's European Farewell Tour gets under way at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this Friday, as part of the long-awaited 2026 Celtic Connections programme @heraldscotland.bsky.social
One last chance to see Emmylou Harris play to an audience in Scotland
The Americana legend, Emmylou Harris, has been playing dates in Europe since the mid-seventies, and this year she closes a chapter in her…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Emmylou's European Farewell Tour gets under way at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this Friday, as part of the long-awaited 2026 Celtic Connections programme @heraldscotland.bsky.social
The increasing chaos of Fawlty Towers has lost none of its manic edge. Both the machine-gun verbal exchanges and the complex physical routines are delivered with practiced slickness by a 17-strong ensemble. @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Fawlty Towers brings manic mayhem and middle-class absurdity to King’s Theatre
Theatre, Fawlty Towers - The Play, King’s Theatre, Glasgow. Half a century after John Cleese and Connie Booth’s savagely funny portrait of…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:41 PM
The increasing chaos of Fawlty Towers has lost none of its manic edge. Both the machine-gun verbal exchanges and the complex physical routines are delivered with practiced slickness by a 17-strong ensemble. @neilcooper.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Michelle Visage said Dolly Parton has always been an icon for the LGTBQIA+ community. “She has always been a drag queen … from the hair to the dresses to the sequins to the nails.” @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @dpsocialism.bsky.social
'Dolly Parton is a great subject for a documentary. Unfortunately, this wasn't it'
You can pitch her as a feminist icon - although she doesn’t use that word herself - or as a symbol of the American dream. She came from nothing,…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Michelle Visage said Dolly Parton has always been an icon for the LGTBQIA+ community. “She has always been a drag queen … from the hair to the dresses to the sequins to the nails.” @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @dpsocialism.bsky.social
Get yourself some culture - there's some cracking shows coming up in Scotland. Here's our picks of the year from @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @dcadundee.bsky.social @nationalgalleries.bsky.social @vadundee.bsky.social @royalscottishacad.bsky.social
Biba, brutalist buildings and Barbie. The Scottish exhibitions to see in 2026
There’s no shortage of artistic and cultural options around Scotland in 2026. Here are 10 exhibitions worth keeping an eye out for.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Get yourself some culture - there's some cracking shows coming up in Scotland. Here's our picks of the year from @teddyjamieson.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social @dcadundee.bsky.social @nationalgalleries.bsky.social @vadundee.bsky.social @royalscottishacad.bsky.social