‘The Hundred Years War’: A Global History of Tower Blocks and Mass Housing. To complement the Ponte City exhibition, whose subject is the ‘accidental’ appropriation of an elite private tower by low income groups, this talk by Professor Miles Glendinning (University of Edinburgh) will focus on the state-backed ‘mass housing’ programmes systematically built in many countries during the 20th century, often specifically for the benefit of the disadvantaged strata of society. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Rosenna East: Wider Connections. Violinist and arts journalist Rosenna East will explore the relationships between the work of Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore and the setting of his poems from The Gardener by Swedish composer Rolf Martinsson. Featuring items from the NLS’s collection, live music and discussion. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free places may be booked online here or by calling 0131 623 3734.  The Wider Connections series is organised by NLS in partnership with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Leith Folk Club: Ewan McLennan with support Gallus Crows. Ewan McLennan has come to be known as a guitarist at the very forefront of his generation: a troubadour, balladeer and storyteller cut in the old style, a singer who can move audiences with his passion and pathos. ‘You’d have to be mad to miss this’. 7.30pm (doors open), Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £9 and may be purchased in advance via the Club’s website here or by texting 07502 024 852.
Common Weal Edinburgh North & Leith: All Party General Election Hustings. Martin Veart (Lib Dems), Ian McGill (Conservatives), Sarah Beattie-Smith (Greens), Deirdre Brock (SNP), Mark Lazarowicz (Labour), Alan Melville (UKIP ) and Bruce Whitehead (Left Unity) , chaired by Jean Urquhart. 7-9pm, Area C Coffee House, 239-241 Leith Walk. All welcome.
