Arusa Qureshi
@arusa.bsky.social
Author of Flip the Script (404ink) and words sometimes in the Quietus, NME, Guardian, The Forty-Five etc.
Trustee @ Music Venue Trust & Scottish Music Centre
https://www.arusaqureshi.com/
Trustee @ Music Venue Trust & Scottish Music Centre
https://www.arusaqureshi.com/
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
Our Annual Report highlights the stark truth that 59% of grassroots music venues no longer receive regular national touring shows. Whole regions - towns and cities with millions of people - have effectively vanished from the UK’s touring map.
January 22, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Our Annual Report highlights the stark truth that 59% of grassroots music venues no longer receive regular national touring shows. Whole regions - towns and cities with millions of people - have effectively vanished from the UK’s touring map.
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
Love the sound of this 'Scottish indie folk supergroup', written up here by @arusa.bsky.social Qureshi
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
Between the bars: theatrical gig about life after prison reveals hard truths of homecoming
A Giant on the Bridge, performed by a ‘Scottish indie folk supergroup’, draws on dozens of interviews about the confines former prisoners experience on the outside
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Love the sound of this 'Scottish indie folk supergroup', written up here by @arusa.bsky.social Qureshi
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
It was a joy to speak to Jo Mango, Liam Hurley and Phil Crockett Thomas about the wonderful A Giant on the Bridge for @theguardian.com. It's on tour soon – don't miss it!
Between the bars: theatrical gig about life after prison reveals hard truths of homecoming
Between the bars: theatrical gig about life after prison reveals hard truths of homecoming
A Giant on the Bridge, performed by a ‘Scottish indie folk supergroup’, draws on dozens of interviews about the confines former prisoners experience on the outside
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:58 PM
It was a joy to speak to Jo Mango, Liam Hurley and Phil Crockett Thomas about the wonderful A Giant on the Bridge for @theguardian.com. It's on tour soon – don't miss it!
In today’s @scotnational.bsky.social chatting to the folks behind @henhoose.bsky.social and their new album The Twelve 💖
EXCLUSIVE: Hen Hoose may have begun as 'just a little lockdown project', but it has since grown into something far larger 👀
Hen Hoose on their new album – written and recorded in just one week
www.thenational.scot
January 11, 2026 at 12:28 PM
In today’s @scotnational.bsky.social chatting to the folks behind @henhoose.bsky.social and their new album The Twelve 💖
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
The last thing to read before you switch off for Christmas🎄
Our wonderful blogger @arusa.bsky.social talks to Kirstin Abraham about facilitating multi-sensory outdoor workshops for neurodivergent families.
A thoughtful read for the festive season✨
🔗 www.independentartsprojects.com/blog-theres-...
Our wonderful blogger @arusa.bsky.social talks to Kirstin Abraham about facilitating multi-sensory outdoor workshops for neurodivergent families.
A thoughtful read for the festive season✨
🔗 www.independentartsprojects.com/blog-theres-...
December 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The last thing to read before you switch off for Christmas🎄
Our wonderful blogger @arusa.bsky.social talks to Kirstin Abraham about facilitating multi-sensory outdoor workshops for neurodivergent families.
A thoughtful read for the festive season✨
🔗 www.independentartsprojects.com/blog-theres-...
Our wonderful blogger @arusa.bsky.social talks to Kirstin Abraham about facilitating multi-sensory outdoor workshops for neurodivergent families.
A thoughtful read for the festive season✨
🔗 www.independentartsprojects.com/blog-theres-...
A wee end of year music round-up for @scotnational.bsky.social feat. legends like Jacob Alon and @henhoose.bsky.social ✨
Scotland’s musicians, collectives and organisers have proven that the scene is anything but stagnant – it’s alive and bold, writes Arusa Qureshi ✍️
🔗 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
🔗 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
December 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A wee end of year music round-up for @scotnational.bsky.social feat. legends like Jacob Alon and @henhoose.bsky.social ✨
Pleased to have contributed some words to @thefortyfive.bsky.social’s great AOTY list 🌟
thefortyfive.com/opinion/best...
thefortyfive.com/opinion/best...
The 45 best albums of 2025 – as voted by The Forty-Five
You need to hear these gems
thefortyfive.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Pleased to have contributed some words to @thefortyfive.bsky.social’s great AOTY list 🌟
thefortyfive.com/opinion/best...
thefortyfive.com/opinion/best...
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
🎸 🖤 🤘 New publication just dropped, and this time it's open access! 🎸 🖤 🤘
Williams, J. N., & Sobande, F. (2025). Note to scene: Gender, race and rose-tinted nostalgia in emo. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 0(0). lnkd.in/eMmjq6ue
Williams, J. N., & Sobande, F. (2025). Note to scene: Gender, race and rose-tinted nostalgia in emo. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 0(0). lnkd.in/eMmjq6ue
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
🎸 🖤 🤘 New publication just dropped, and this time it's open access! 🎸 🖤 🤘
Williams, J. N., & Sobande, F. (2025). Note to scene: Gender, race and rose-tinted nostalgia in emo. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 0(0). lnkd.in/eMmjq6ue
Williams, J. N., & Sobande, F. (2025). Note to scene: Gender, race and rose-tinted nostalgia in emo. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 0(0). lnkd.in/eMmjq6ue
Last Amplifi of the year at @thequeenshall.bsky.social 🥰 Big thanks to Lamaya and headliners Uninvited
@weareherescot.bsky.social
@weareherescot.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Last Amplifi of the year at @thequeenshall.bsky.social 🥰 Big thanks to Lamaya and headliners Uninvited
@weareherescot.bsky.social
@weareherescot.bsky.social
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
Our cohort of some of the country's most opinionated music writers have voted – it's our albums of the year
The 45 best albums of 2025 – as voted by The Forty-Five
You need to hear these gems
thefortyfive.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Our cohort of some of the country's most opinionated music writers have voted – it's our albums of the year
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
We need your help.
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
Anger as Waterstones snaps up prime site on doorstep of independent bookshop
UK's biggest bookselling chain under fire over plans for new store beside Edinburgh tram line.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
We need your help.
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Please read on for more information
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...
(1/2)
It was a real joy to chat with Roony for @thequietus.com 🙌
With the publication of his new book, Grime, Roony Keefe talks to Arusa Qureshi about Rhythm Division, Grime Gran and how he became the documentarian of the grime scene
Our Generation’s Punk: Roony ‘Risky Roadz’ Keefe on 20 Years of #Grime
buff.ly/u23mCEP
Our Generation’s Punk: Roony ‘Risky Roadz’ Keefe on 20 Years of #Grime
buff.ly/u23mCEP
November 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
It was a real joy to chat with Roony for @thequietus.com 🙌
The first Big Amplifi at @thequeenshall.bsky.social last night was really special 💌 thanks to Theon Cross, Azamiah and Gaia for kicking things off
October 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
The first Big Amplifi at @thequeenshall.bsky.social last night was really special 💌 thanks to Theon Cross, Azamiah and Gaia for kicking things off
Spoke to the lovely Lizzie Reid for @scotnational.bsky.social 💖
www.thenational.scot/news/2553591...
www.thenational.scot/news/2553591...
October 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Spoke to the lovely Lizzie Reid for @scotnational.bsky.social 💖
www.thenational.scot/news/2553591...
www.thenational.scot/news/2553591...
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
Life in a Scotch Sitting-room, Vol. 0 will be released on FRIDAY 5TH DECEMBER, 2025.
The limited edition LP features illustrations by yours truly, and will be available exclusively from our online store. It is available for pre-order NOW:
tinyurl.com/4dfcs76d
The limited edition LP features illustrations by yours truly, and will be available exclusively from our online store. It is available for pre-order NOW:
tinyurl.com/4dfcs76d
Official HAMISH HAWK Store
Pre-Order LIFE IN A SCOTCH SITTING ROOM, VOL 0 now on EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION vinyl
tinyurl.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Life in a Scotch Sitting-room, Vol. 0 will be released on FRIDAY 5TH DECEMBER, 2025.
The limited edition LP features illustrations by yours truly, and will be available exclusively from our online store. It is available for pre-order NOW:
tinyurl.com/4dfcs76d
The limited edition LP features illustrations by yours truly, and will be available exclusively from our online store. It is available for pre-order NOW:
tinyurl.com/4dfcs76d
Big thanks to @thequietus.com for entrusting me with this month’s Low Culture Essay 🥰
I wrote about how instrumental the @tonyhawkproskater.bsky.social soundtracks have been to my entire musical identity 🤙
I wrote about how instrumental the @tonyhawkproskater.bsky.social soundtracks have been to my entire musical identity 🤙
Arusa Qureshi was never allowed a skateboard, but the soundtracks to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series of computer games were a vital introduction to music – one that, she argues, was far more effective than today's algorithm-driven discovery mechanisms
buff.ly/6ZKx3sg
buff.ly/6ZKx3sg
September 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Big thanks to @thequietus.com for entrusting me with this month’s Low Culture Essay 🥰
I wrote about how instrumental the @tonyhawkproskater.bsky.social soundtracks have been to my entire musical identity 🤙
I wrote about how instrumental the @tonyhawkproskater.bsky.social soundtracks have been to my entire musical identity 🤙
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
Music journalism was once funded by labels advertising. In 2025, barely any record labels advertise, instead paying influencers to gab on. If you believe in cultural criticism and long-form writing, becoming a tQ subscriber is one vital way to ensure it survives:
thequietus.com/subscribers/
thequietus.com/subscribers/
Subscribers | The Quietus
Support independent journalism and culture Help The Quietus continue bringing you the best in cultural criticism by joining one of our subscription tiers. Cancel easily anytime.
thequietus.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Music journalism was once funded by labels advertising. In 2025, barely any record labels advertise, instead paying influencers to gab on. If you believe in cultural criticism and long-form writing, becoming a tQ subscriber is one vital way to ensure it survives:
thequietus.com/subscribers/
thequietus.com/subscribers/
Next show is a big one! 😍 don’t miss it: www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/amp...
AMPLIFI
Experience the first of four gigs on The Queen's Hall Main Stage, welcoming big names and previous AMPLIFI artists.
Wed 15th Oct with headliner Theon Cross, Azamiah and Gaia.
Experience the first of four gigs on The Queen's Hall Main Stage, welcoming big names and previous AMPLIFI artists.
Wed 15th Oct with headliner Theon Cross, Azamiah and Gaia.
September 16, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Next show is a big one! 😍 don’t miss it: www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/amp...
Last night, we had another incredible Amplifi at @thequeenshall.bsky.social 🥳 Big thanks to Lucian Fletcher, Kevin Leomo and Bell Lungs!
September 16, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Last night, we had another incredible Amplifi at @thequeenshall.bsky.social 🥳 Big thanks to Lucian Fletcher, Kevin Leomo and Bell Lungs!
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
"Scotland's music scene exists in conversation with the world, not in isolation"
We hear from the creators and stars of the fourth season of AMPLIFI, including @arusa.bsky.social and @brownbearofficial.bsky.social, about taking over The Queen’s Hall
We hear from the creators and stars of the fourth season of AMPLIFI, including @arusa.bsky.social and @brownbearofficial.bsky.social, about taking over The Queen’s Hall
Amped Up: AMPLIFI returns to The Queen's Hall - The Skinny
We hear from the creators and stars of the fourth season of AMPLIFI about the breadth of the Scottish music scene, taking over The Queen’s Hall main stage and the night’s importance.
www.theskinny.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM
"Scotland's music scene exists in conversation with the world, not in isolation"
We hear from the creators and stars of the fourth season of AMPLIFI, including @arusa.bsky.social and @brownbearofficial.bsky.social, about taking over The Queen’s Hall
We hear from the creators and stars of the fourth season of AMPLIFI, including @arusa.bsky.social and @brownbearofficial.bsky.social, about taking over The Queen’s Hall
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
Announcing our McIlvanney Prize finalists:
@tariqashkanani.bsky.social - The Midnight King
@liammcilvanney.bsky.social - The Good Father
@callummcsorley.bsky.social - Paperboy
@damedenisemina.bsky.social - The Good Liar
@ianrankin1.bsky.social - Midnight and Blue
Winner revealed next Friday!
👏👏👏
@tariqashkanani.bsky.social - The Midnight King
@liammcilvanney.bsky.social - The Good Father
@callummcsorley.bsky.social - Paperboy
@damedenisemina.bsky.social - The Good Liar
@ianrankin1.bsky.social - Midnight and Blue
Winner revealed next Friday!
👏👏👏
September 5, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Announcing our McIlvanney Prize finalists:
@tariqashkanani.bsky.social - The Midnight King
@liammcilvanney.bsky.social - The Good Father
@callummcsorley.bsky.social - Paperboy
@damedenisemina.bsky.social - The Good Liar
@ianrankin1.bsky.social - Midnight and Blue
Winner revealed next Friday!
👏👏👏
@tariqashkanani.bsky.social - The Midnight King
@liammcilvanney.bsky.social - The Good Father
@callummcsorley.bsky.social - Paperboy
@damedenisemina.bsky.social - The Good Liar
@ianrankin1.bsky.social - Midnight and Blue
Winner revealed next Friday!
👏👏👏
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
They only like you when you're... SEVENTEEN!
Happy birthday to The Quietus!
Please, please, please consider taking out a sub. We've introduced a new playlist perk. Sign up today and get 45 this month! Pls share & ask sugar mummies & daddies to dig deep.
thequietus.com/news/the-qui...
Happy birthday to The Quietus!
Please, please, please consider taking out a sub. We've introduced a new playlist perk. Sign up today and get 45 this month! Pls share & ask sugar mummies & daddies to dig deep.
thequietus.com/news/the-qui...
The Quietus is 17! We're Celebrating With New Playlists for our Subscribers | The Quietus
It’s now five years since we launched our subscription platform with Steady in a last-ditch attempt to save The Quietus during the desperate Covid crisis. Thankfully, we raised enough to temporally keep the wolves from the door, and the website is still here to celebrate its seventeenth birthday. SEVENTEEN! We can barely believe that we’ve […]
thequietus.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
They only like you when you're... SEVENTEEN!
Happy birthday to The Quietus!
Please, please, please consider taking out a sub. We've introduced a new playlist perk. Sign up today and get 45 this month! Pls share & ask sugar mummies & daddies to dig deep.
thequietus.com/news/the-qui...
Happy birthday to The Quietus!
Please, please, please consider taking out a sub. We've introduced a new playlist perk. Sign up today and get 45 this month! Pls share & ask sugar mummies & daddies to dig deep.
thequietus.com/news/the-qui...
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
"No Apologies delves into the act of wishful thinking, deftly questioning the impact of what might have been."
@notyetarobot.bsky.social brings a defiant show to @pleasance.co.uk this #EdFringe – read @arusa.bsky.social's review
@notyetarobot.bsky.social brings a defiant show to @pleasance.co.uk this #EdFringe – read @arusa.bsky.social's review
Review: No Apologies
A defiant and arresting show from Emma Frankland about wishful thinking…
festmag.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"No Apologies delves into the act of wishful thinking, deftly questioning the impact of what might have been."
@notyetarobot.bsky.social brings a defiant show to @pleasance.co.uk this #EdFringe – read @arusa.bsky.social's review
@notyetarobot.bsky.social brings a defiant show to @pleasance.co.uk this #EdFringe – read @arusa.bsky.social's review
Reposted by Arusa Qureshi
The Fest preview issue is out NOW! Our top picks for comedy shows this #EdFringe include @barryferns.bsky.social, @kimblythe.bsky.social and more!
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Top Picks: Comedy
From imposter syndrome to meme-heavy powerpoints, these comedy shows will have you in stitches
festmag.com
July 25, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The Fest preview issue is out NOW! Our top picks for comedy shows this #EdFringe include @barryferns.bsky.social, @kimblythe.bsky.social and more!