Going out: Movies
Alien: Romulus
Available now
Set between Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Alien 2, the new Alien film pits a crew of hapless space colonists against the meanest acid-blooded mother in deep space. Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Johnson and Archie Renaud.
Hollywood Gate
Available now
When the US withdrew from Iraq, it left behind billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment, much of which was dismantled. But what was dismantled was put back together again, and this documentary shows how the Taliban evolved into a heavily armed regime during this time.
Hypnosis
Available now
The label “writhe comedy” might conjure thoughts of Peep Show or The Office, but Swedish director Ernst de Geer’s feature debut also incorporates a sense of writhing around itself, as a young entrepreneur is hypnotized and then begins to behave uninhibitedly, much to the dismay of her boyfriend.
Only the river flows
Available now
Police detective Ma (Yilong Zhu) is tasked with investigating the mystery of a series of murders in the small town of Banpo in this adaptation of a short story by Chinese avant-garde writer Yu Hua, set in the 1990s. A contemporary film noir by Wei Shujun. Catherine Bray
Going out: Gigs
Blue sky thinker… Fred again. Photo: Theo Batterham.
Reading & Leeds
21st to 25th August, Lichfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds
Bank Holiday cheer is back again, with Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Blink 182, Fred Again and Jerry Cinnamon topping the bill. If a male-dominated smorgasbord isn’t your thing, Ray, Flo and Dream Wives are also on the bill. Michael Cragg
Francisco Coll
Royal Albert Hall, London, 18 August
In a year of relatively low new music at the Proms, one that stands out is the UK premiere of Francisco Cor’s Cello Concerto, the latest in a series of works Cor has written for the talented Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta. Andrew Clements
Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival
August 23rd to 26th at each venue
Eric Bibb, the charismatic singer and guitarist steeped in vintage blues but with a modern sensibility, will perform on Friday’s opening night. Other guests include saxophonist Camilla George and post-bop piano virtuoso Monty Alexander.
Mitsuki
Victoria Park, London, August 18th
All Points East continues its headline slot with TikTok’s unlikely superstar. Topical ballad My Love Mine All Mine is expected to be the highlight, but there’s more to Mitski than soft sadness. Supporting guests include Ethel Kane and Beabadoobee. MC
Going out: Art
Let’s Watch TV… Tiger TV with 3-4 year olds at Woodford Hal’s Church of England Primary School, Northamptonshire. Photo: National Gallery, London
Take a photo
National Gallery, London, until 1 September
Of all the paintings from the National Gallery, one that is perfect for inspiring children to create their own artwork is Henri Rousseau’s Surprise! This 1891 painting of a tiger roaming a rainforest is fun and “childish” with its bold colours. See the reactions it has elicited from young artists.
El Anazzi
Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, until 29 September
This West African dream-weaver is a trash salvage and poet of found objects, a successor to Robert Rauschenberg and Kurt Schwitters. El Anazzi sculpts or paints (it’s hard to say which) everyday objects like labels and bottle caps, combining them into shimmering, intricate veils of beauty.
Lift it up
Science Museum, London, until 1 September
This exhibition on the science of music is summer fun for all ages, featuring an improvising musical robot called “Haile,” a Turing test that guesses whether music is human-composed or AI-generated, and a digital glove that allows musicians to magically control sound.
house
Stills Gallery, Edinburgh, until 5 October
Ukrainian photographers explore the concept of home at a time when the homes of people under Russian attack – and the homeland itself – are under attack. Photos by Polina Polikarpova, Andriy Rachinsky, Elena Subach, Igor Tchekachkov, Alexander Chekhmenev, Daria Svertilova and others are snapshots of ordinary lives struggling to endure in wartime. Jonathan Jones
Outing: Stage
Sisters acting… Ugly Sisters. Photo: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
Ugly Sisters
Underbelly, Edinburgh, until 25 August
Picking one show from the Fringe’s 3,000 is nearly impossible, but for bold ideas and brilliant talent, try Ugly Sisters. Edinburgh Untapped winners Laurie Ward and Charlie Cowgill explore sisterhood and transphobia. It’s sure to be a hit this summer. Kate Wyber
Fern Brady
The tour runs from August 20th to November 20th in Edinburgh.
Brady was already a celebrated stand-up comedian when she published her autobiography, Strong Female Character, in 2023, but the success of the book gave her a major career boost. Now she’s back with a new show, I Gave You Milk to Drink, about the disappointment of dreams coming true.
Antony and Cleopatra
Shakespeare’s Globe, London, until 15 September
The Globe Theatre’s striking new production will be presented in spoken English and British Sign Language and will feature Nadia Nadarajah in the role of Cleopatra. All performances will be subtitled in this epic tale of empire, passion and danger, directed by Blanche McIntyre.
Duet at the Hallway
Market Square, Faversham, August 20. Touring until August 31.
Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures will be presenting free outdoor performances across the South East of England, choreographed by Anjali Mehra. Enjoy world-class dance at your local bandstand, library or square. Lindsay Winship
Stay tuned: Streaming
Kim Sung-kyu, Jung Eun-chae, and Kim Min-ha star in After the War… Pachinko. Photo: Apple TV+
pachinko
Apple TV+, August 23
Based on Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed 2017 novel, the second season of this ambitious, epic historical drama about a Korean family living in Japan shifts between the horrors of World War II and the gleaming futurism of 1989 Japan, once again shifting the setting to 1945, on the eve of the US bombing of Osaka.
You might regret it
BBC Two/iPlayer, 19 August, 10pm
Comedy about disabilities is a delicate art, but it can also be a rich source of laughs. This new sitcom from Kayla Harris draws big laughs from the life of Freya, a quadriplegic who becomes romantically involved with an older man, necessitating the heavy involvement of her personal assistant and best friend, Joe.
Merseyside Detective
Channel 4, 19 August, 9pm
Some murders are so shocking they dominate the headlines and put huge pressure on police to identify suspects as quickly as possible. The new series, which airs this week, follows Merseyside Police as they investigate the shootings of 28-year-old Ashley Dale and nine-year-old Olivia Platt-Covell in August 2022.
Untold: The Murder of Aire McNair
Netflix, August 20
Netflix’s flagship sports docuseries is returning with an episode about NFL player Steve McNair, who died in 2009. McNair, 36, was a huge success with the Tennessee Titans and the first black quarterback to be named MVP in 2003, but his death came after a troubled relationship with a younger woman. RA
Staying at home: games
Soulmate… Black Miss: Wukong. Photo: Game Science
Black Myth: Goku
Released August 20th, PC, PS5
Taking inspiration from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the latest video game is a visually stunning adventure with a complex and challenging combat system, sparking excitement with comparisons to the legendary Dark Souls series.
Dustborn
Released August 20th, for PC, PS4 & PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
A band of intrepid misfits embark on a perilous journey across America in this single-player narrative adventure from Norwegian developer Red Thread Games. Bright, cel-shaded visuals and a punk rock vibe create an appealing mix. Keith Stuart
Stay: Album
Taste the Joy…Foster the People. Photo: Jimmy Fontaine
Foster the People – Paradise State of Mind
Available now
While their 2010 hit “Pumped Up Kicks” lives on through memes and endless syncs, California duo Mark Foster and Isom Innis keep trying to move forward, and this fourth album finds them dabbling in ’70s psych and disco, as showcased on the OTT single “Lost in Space.”
Rosie Lowe – Lover, etc.
Available now
Over the metronomic beat and warm organ sounds of “Gratitudes,” Devon’s Rosie Rowe reminds herself of life’s small victories. It’s a lovely moment on her fourth album, which Rowe wrote and co-produced, and which seeks to promote important things like love and living in the moment.
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion
Available now
After dabbling in synth-pop on 2023’s Austin, Post Malone turned his attention to country on his sixth album, with a guest list that includes country superstars Dolly Parton, Luke Combs and Brad Paisley, and a feature from Morgan Wallen on the US No. 1 first single, “I Had Some Help.”
Tinashe – Quantum Baby
Available now
After leaving a major label in 2019, Tinashe’s career resurgence continues on her seventh album. Recent single “Getting No Sleep” is the perfect soundtrack to a good night in, while this summer’s TikTok smash “Nasty” (“Can anyone match my freaky freak?”) perfectly describes Tinashe’s bedroom plans.
Staying at home: feeding your brain
New Depths… Faye Dunaway. Photo: HBO
Faye
Sky Documentaries, 18 August, 7pm
This candid film is based on rare interviews looking back on Hollywood icon Faye Dunaway’s career, discussing her acclaimed performances in films Chinatown and Network, her struggles with alcoholism, and her experience with bipolar disorder.
The Legend of Takti
Podcasts
In this entertaining series, host Rana Rakhimpour tells the incredible story of one of her sporting heroes, Iranian wrestler Gholamreza Takhti, following his journey to becoming an Olympic champion and his political activism.
Rick Beato
online
YouTuber Rick Beato’s channel is packed with fascinating explorations of everything from Taylor Swift’s superstardom to the business of streaming artists, to in-depth interviews with George Benson and ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus.