Five things to do this week — it’s festival time on the Mull of Kintyre

No excuse needed for a few days on the magical Mull of Kintyre in summer, but just in case, how about Campbeltown’s brilliant celebration of folk-flavoured music and culture? The festival is not all Scottish trad and pan-Irish folk either: there are contemporary pop and rock acts too, as well as a free parade on Kinloch Green on Saturday. It kicks off with Gaelic night on the Wednesday, headlined by the Airdrie singer and BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician semi-finalist Katie Macfarlane. If it’s something heavier you’re after, West Coast Rocks on Saturday night features the likes of Trail West, Rhuvaal and The Laurettes.Details Aug 21-25, Mull of Kintyre, mokfest.com
Logomaniacs, be still your pedantic hearts: Susie Dent is coming to Scotland. Briefly ditching Countdown’s Dictionary Corner for Aberdeen and Inverness, Britain’s best-loved lexicographer — and yes, we are aware the competition is not fierce — is touring her live show, The Secret Lives of Words. Chatting with the understated wit and salty sense of humour that have made her such a hit on social media, Dent will explore the origins of everyday words, the oddities of the English language and antiquated expressions we should be using more, such as “scurryfunge”, the frenzied tidying-up we do before guests arrive.Details Aug 24, Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen; Aug 25, Eden Court, Inverness, nothird.co.uk/live-shows/susie-dent
This Dundee-born, Glasgow-based artist has a playful, collaborative approach, from using railway newspaper kiosks as “lending libraries” to removing publications and replacing them in different branches of a chain store. In his latest piece, Head in a Bell, he combines painting, sculpture, print, sound and moving image to explore concepts of exchange and circulation. At the heart of this new exhibition is a piece called Instrument for the People of Glasgow, which is made out of donations from Eurorack synthesiser manufacturers from various countries. The donors’ names are printed on a poster he’s designed, which gallery visitors will be able to take away for free.Details Until Feb 23, 2025, Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, glasgowlife.org.uk
Scotland’s only hot air balloon festival celebrates its 25th year with a buoyant weekend of floaty free fun. Dozens of launches take place on Saturday and Sunday at about 6am and 6pm, but the most spectacular moments will happen after 9pm on Saturday during the Evening Glow, when balloon flames and illuminated orbs will light up the night sky. At about 4pm on Saturday there will be a skydive display, and throughout the weekend there will be a funfair, classic cars and stalls. Fingers crossed for good weather.Details Aug 23-25, Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire, strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk
In this riotous musical take on the life and times of Bloody Mary, we’re transported back to the year 1561, when the Scottish Reformation has introduced a ban on rock’n’roll. Along comes Mary Stuart, the world’s undisputed Queen of Rock, on a mission to stand up to the Scottish nobles and her cousin in England. Does she have what it takes, or will heads roll?Details Until Aug 25, Assembly Rooms Ballroom, Edinburgh, edfringe.com
The investigative journalist revisits his study into psychopaths with some new findings and special guests.Details Oct 22, Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow; Oct 23, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, fane.co.uk/jon-ronson