Big Guitar Weekend

Big Guitar Weekend returns to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland from 29 October to 1 November, marking its 20th anniversary. It's a few days dedicated to the guitar in all its forms, and this edition brings together international artists, the Conservatoire's own faculty, returning alumni and emerging talent. The whole thing runs across the weekend, so you can pick and choose what fits your schedule.

Lorenzo Micheli headlines, playing both a masterclass and a concert. Zoe Barnett is on the bill, as are Samrat Majumder and Ian Watt. Allan Neave and friends take the Fridays at One slot, and Jay Capperauld performs Arachne, a work commissioned for the occasion. There's also a Junior Conservatoire Music Guitar Showcase, which puts the youngest players on stage alongside the more established names. Between the recitals, the masterclasses, and the showcase, it's a good cross-section of what the guitar does.

If you play yourself, there's a Player Pass for £150 that opens the weekend up. It gets you a one-to-one lesson with a member of the RCS guitar faculty, access to a masterclass, and a ticket to every single performance. It also includes a workshop with Canadian guitarist Tim Beattie, whose work at the University of Surrey's International Guitar Research Centre is at the heart of it. If you're just coming to listen, you can stick to the concerts.

It all takes place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB, from Thursday 29 October through to Saturday 1 November.