Queer stories, drag and music fill Aberdeen’s arts spaces
New four-day festival highlights LGBTQ+ humour, creativity and reflection
Aberdeen is hosting a new queer arts festival this November, with four days of shows, drag, music and storytelling led by LGBTQ+ voices from across Scotland. Aberdeen Queer Arts Festival will take over the Lemon Tree and Aberdeen Art Gallery from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 November, offering everything from lunchtime cello to late-night cabaret, with space carved out for joy, reflection, and community.
One of the most personal elements of the programme is storytelling. Queer Folk Tales, returning to the Lemon Tree after four well-received editions, mixes stand-up, memoir and music in a show that’s funny, honest and occasionally surprising. It’s hosted by Turan Ali, with Aberdeen creatives joining the lineup.
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Exploring queer lives through story and literature
That emphasis on personal perspective continues with a panel on queer relationships in literature, supported by WayWORD, where writers including Chitra Ramaswamy and Kirsty Logan will reflect on how queer connections are portrayed on the page.
Drag is another strong thread. On Friday, a panel titled Getting Into Drag explores what it takes to build a drag persona and make a living in the scene, with artists like CJ Banks and Himish Macbeth sharing their own stories.
For Sharon Burgess, who leads Aberdeen Performing Arts, the festival’s strength lies in its tone. “The common theme of the Aberdeen Queer Arts Festival is that each event is engaging, inspiring and most of all, full of heart. Everyone is welcome to join us for what is sure to be an unforgettable weekend.”
Writers Kirsty Logan and Ashley Douglas, the Culture Club Collective Tea Dance, and Glasgow band Walt Disco are among the artists and events featured in Aberdeen Queer Arts Festival this November.
Craft and community in the drag scene
The festival opens on Thursday, as Simone Seales brings a free lunchtime set to Cowdray Hall. Their cello-based work blends voice and instrumental texture, drawing on poetry and emotion to create something vulnerable yet powerful.
On Saturday, a hands-on drag workshop led by CJ Banks and Sleepy offers a welcoming space to explore performing, learn new skills, or try drag for the first time.
Music features throughout the weekend. Walt Disco headline on Saturday night, bringing their theatrical glam-pop and swelling orchestration to the Lemon Tree.
Sunday’s programme includes a community-led Tea Dance and an open stage led by Uncle Tony and Sleepy, gives local queer artists five minutes each to share their work or take the mic in a supportive setting.
For more info, tickets and full listings, visit the Aberdeen Queer Arts festival homepage.
