There may be no organised events outside, but there is plenty for you to enjoy online this week:
The Stay at Home Festival
The Cosmic Shambles Network presents daily live streams of live podcast recordings, mixed comedy nights and interesting conversations in a bid to allay everyone’s cabin fever. All events are free, though there is the option to donate on their website, which will go directly to the acts.
Dates and times vary, free.
Quantum Magic Lab
Kevin Quantum, the Guinness World Record holder and founder of the Edinburgh Magic Festival, hosts daily lessons on magic tricks and illusions via his YouTube channel, with the occasional appearance of his daughter, Olivia.
Daily, noon, free.
Sarah Millican: How to Be a Champion Storytime
Comedian Sarah Millican reads from her autobiography How to Be a Champion, broadcast live from her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels.
Daily, 3pm, free.
Jimmy Carr: The Little Tiny Quiz of the Lockdown
Comedian and familiar telly face Jimmy Carr presents a short quiz every day at 6pm on his YouTube channel, with a video of the answers following at 8pm.
Daily, 6pm, free.
P.E. With Joe
Joe Wicks presents a daily physical education routine for kids, live on YouTube.
Fri April 10 & Mon April 13—Thu April 16, 9am, free.
The Stay at Home Show
Robin Ince, Josie Long, Isy Suttie, Polly Samson and Keisha Thompson keep you company during the lockdown with interesting conversation and funny gags aplenty.
Fri April 10, 10am, free.
Noisy Nights Go Digital
Red Note musicians perform original compositions in the first of their virtual concert series.
Fri April 10, 8.30pm, free.
Virtual Happy Hour
Online wine tastings wherein participants can bring their own vino and discuss tasting notes with new friends
Fri April 10—Mon April 13 & Wed April 15, 5pm, free.
Monkey Barrel Comedy: Today’s World
Comedy purveyors over at Monkey Barrel keep us laughing in quarantine with their special brand of alt-comedy, exploring what life is like in this strange new world. New videos go live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7pm on their YouTube and Facebook.
Fri April 10, Mon April 13, Wed April 15, 7pm, free.
Elements of #EdSciFest
The Edinburgh Science Festival team take their 2020 programme online in a new digital mini-festival, with online entertainment, curated articles, live streamed content, pre-recorded talks and downloadable resources to keep us curious during the quarantine. This year’s theme is ‘elementary’, and will explore science and technology’s role in overcoming the challenges posed by climate change through the five elements of fire, water, earth, air and aether.
Fri April 10—Thu April 16, until Sun April 19. Times vary, free.
Samba Saturdays
Brian Taylor leads this online samba drumming tutorial, wherein participants can learn dynamic percussive rhythms and hone their skills in coordination, music and more.
Sat April 11, 10am, free.
Family Science Club
British physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski is joined by a passel of her science-loving friends to explore the great mysteries of our universe at this family-friendly online event.
Sat April 11, 11am, free.
Dan Mangan
The Canadian indie musician, best known for albums Nice, Nice, Very Nice, Oh Fortune and Club Meds, performs a home-bound concert to delight our quarantined ears.
Sat April 11, 8pm, USD $6.
The Saturday Night Quarantine Comedy Club
The clubs may be shut, but the laughs keep rolling in at this virtual comedy night. Tonight’s show features the great Josie Long, who returned to the Fringe after a five year hiatus with her critically-acclaimed show Tender, and the uproariously absurd John-Luke Roberts. Stream the show live via the Cosmic Shambles website or via their YouTube channel.
Sat April 11, 8.30pm, free.
Saturday Night Live at the Stand
There’s no need to stockpile gags at this night hosted by famous comedy club the Stand, which will see the great Mark Nelson compere a line-up featuring the likes of Omid Djalili, Gary Tank Commander, Miles Jupp, Billy Kirkwood, Glenn Wool, Susan Morrison, Joe Heenan, Keith Farnan and more.
Sat April 11, 8.30pm, free.
The Duncairn: Virtual Cabaret
Curated series of performances from musicians, poets and artists from Scotland and Ireland, broadcast via The Duncairn’s Facebook and YouTube channel. The cabaret is co-presented by Professor Phil Scraton, BBC’s Lynette Fay and composer/musician Conor Caldwell, and will feature performances by the likes of Mick Flannery, Damien Dempsey, Julie Fowlis and Eamon Doorley, Ian Lynch (Lankum), Joshua Burnside, Ríoghnach Connolly and many more.
Sat April 11, 8.30pm, £5.
Big Fish Little Fish Virtual Kitchen Family Rave
Have a boogie at this weekly family-friendly rave beamed straight into your kitchen (or any room in your house), with a different DJ every week. Music requests and heartfelt tributes very welcome
Sun April 12, 2pm, free.
Science Shambles
Live podcast recordings featuring long-form conversations with scientists about their research and our world’s many mysteries. This week’s episode features the likes of comedian Robin Ince, physicist Helen Czerski and astrophysicist Chris Lintott.
Sun April 12, 3pm, free.
Vienna State Opera: View from Home
Vienna State Opera presents scheduled streams of previous productions. The streams are free to view, but registration is required. Today’s screening is their performance of Wagner’s Parsifal, with Matthias Goerne, René Pape, Stuart Skelton, Boaz Daniel and Marina Prudenskaya.
Sun April 12, 4pm, free.
The Great Story Book Quiz
Test your knowledge of children’s books at this live half-hour quiz, streamed from the Rainbow Factory’s Facebook page and suitable for the whole family. The questions will cover classics of the children’s literature canon, including the Gruffalo, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Room on the Broom and more.
Mon April 13, 2.30pm, free.
Baby Bookclub
Online book club hosted by Leicester Gallery, designed to help parents and children ages 0-4 stay connected and reading during the lockdown. An online book will be shared to participants, with the chance to discuss it with other parents afterwards.
Tue April 14, 10am, free.
Red (On)Lion: Tasty Tuesday
Join CAMRA’s virtual pub and enjoy fun quizzes, exciting beer tastings and a variety of talks on ales and home brewing. Online registration is essential. Today’s session will feature a talk on British brews by master trainer Christine Cryne.
Tue April 14, 6pm, free.
Online Kundalini Yoga with Jo McCoy
Online kundalini yoga class taking place on Zoom, featuring physical yoga practices, deep meditation and mantras to help relieve stress and increase energy levels.
Tue April 14, 7pm, £12
Comfortable Classical at Home
Musicians from the City of London Sinfonia perform live classical music from their homes, with Tuesday’s performance to feature Katherine Spencer, the orchestra’s Principal Clarinet.
Tue April 14 & Thu April 16, 11.30am, free.
RSNO Challenge
The musicians of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra post a weekly family-friendly challenge via their Facebook to help everyone stay creative and enjoy music in all its forms while on lockdown. Adults and children will be encouraged to explore different genres of music and methods of making sound from different household objects. Previous challenges have included setting up a samba band and creating a tune with glasses, water and cutlery. Those wanting to share their musical creations can do so by tagging their post with the hashtag #RSNOChallenge.
Wed April 15, 10.30am, free.
Julia Donaldson and Friends
Beloved children’s author Julia Donaldson, best known for her stories The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog, performs a weekly broadcast via Facebook of stories, songs and poems to help keep the wee ones happy and entertained during the quarantine. She will be joined by a host of other authors and illustrators, including the likes of Axel Scheffler, Rebecca Cobb, Lydia Monks, David Roberts and Nick Sharratt.
Thu April 16, 4pm, free.
The Online Choir
Contribute your voice to a virtual choir via Zoom, hosted by Funky Voices.
Thu April 16, 6pm, £5.
Snow Patrol
The Chasing Cars hitmakers live stream a free concert via their Instagram account.
Thu April 16, 7pm, free.
