Seven top tips for what's on across the Highlands and Moray from Friday, July 19 to Thursday, July 25

Every week What's On North offers up seven top picks from across the north of Scotland for arts-lovers to feast on. This week features murder mysteries, Japanese horror rock, and gala good times!

1 RASPING rock three-piece Artie Ziff are travelling up the A9 from Glasgow this weekend for a double bill of north dates.

The band – named for a minor Simpsons character – bring their jagged riffs to Elgin’s Drouthy Cobbler on Friday before going west to Inverness’s Market Bar on Saturday night.

The Drouthy Cobbler show begins at 8.30pm and entry is £4, while the Market Bar show begins at 10.30pm and entry is free. For more info, go to artieziffmusic.bandcamp.com

2 A MURDEROUS mystery is set to play out by the shores of Wester Ross this Friday.

With two performances, Can You Catch the Killer bring their interactive murder mystery show Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Unseen Blade to Ullapool’s Macphail Centre on Friday – with a professionally-performed play giving way to a chance for audiences to flex their detective skills and work out the culprit.

There are two performances – 2pm and 7.30pm – and entry costs £10 (£6 concession). Go to www.macphailcentre.com

3 TAKING inspiration from Lovecraft’s Chthulu mythos and J-Horror, Necronomidol bring their twisted fusion of Japan’s idol culture and heavy metal to Inverness’s Tooth and Claw this Friday.

The Tokyo group, who formed in 2014, come to the Highlands as part of their European Inquisition tour.

Doors open at 7pm and tickets cost £11 (including booking fee). Go to www.necronomidol.com

4 COMMUNITY vibes return to Inverness’s Bught Park with the city’s annual Highland Games and Gala Weekend.

Encompassing the city’s Highland Games, Highlands’ Strongest Man and Woman competitions, Ruff Ness and much more, the weekend will also see a variety of stalls and fundraising events for the family to enjoy.

For full details of the weekend and prices, go to www.invernesshighlandgames.com

5 SKYE-based company Inner Sound return to Eden Court for their annual Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.

And for this year’s production, the group have chosen to perform The Gondoliers – the story of two Venetian gondoliers who are informed that one of them is heir to the throne of Barataria.

The performance begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £17.50 (£13.50 concession). Go to www.eden-court.co.uk

6 OUTDOOR theatre is set for the country’s most northerly forest when Orographic comes to Caithness.

The performance – featuring otherworldly choreography, live music and sculptural couture design – will be performed at Dunnet Forest on Sunday.

The performance begins at 6pm and entry is free but ticketed. Go to www.lytharts.org.uk for more info.

7 A SHAKESPEARE production is set to be given a chance to breathe by Illyria Theatre Company – as they bring their adaptation of The Tempest to outdoor venues across Moray next week.

Elgin Cathedral on Tuesday and Logie Steading, near Forres, on Thursday will host the company’s take on the classic comedy.

For more information, go to www.illyria.co.uk