Let’s Get Lyrical
www.list.co.uk/books EVENTS
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to books@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor.
Thursday 3
Glasgow FREE Poetry Discussion Group Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 6pm. Lively discussions of poetry on the first Thursday of every month. FREE Scottish Writers’ Centre Discussion Series CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 332 7521. 7pm. Discussion sessions for writers tackling script writing, plays and films. Share your experiences on the best ways to approach a project, the challenges and the pitfalls. The discussion is introduced by Nicola McCartney, former artistic director of Glasgow-based new writing theatre company, lookOUT.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. An exhibition looking at song lyrics that deal with the natural world, from Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’ to Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical. FREE Dr. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones: Ctesias’ History of Persia Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6–7pm. Dr Lloyd Llewellyn Jones discusses his new book, Ctesias’ History of Persia: Tales of the Orient, and there’ll be signed copies available at the end. Part of Edinburgh Iranian Festival.
✽✽ Scottish Crime Panel Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes
Street, 226 2666. 6.30–7.30pm. £2 (redeemable against purchase). A discussion of Scotland’s prowess for crime writing, with three fine examples in that tradition: Lin Anderson, Karen Campbell and Aline Templeton. Scottish Literature Class Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket, k.turner@weascotland.org.uk 7–9pm. £16 (£8). A new class from the Workers’ Education Association on the work of Edinburgh-based female writers, looking at why so few of them have joined the city’s roster of great literary names. As part of the course, city poet Nancy Somerville discusses the challenges of breaking into print.
✽✽ Art Song Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557
2876. 8–9.30pm. £7 (£5). Janice Galloway (who may be best-known for novels but has also written an operatic libretto) joins the chair of the Mercury Prize judging panel, Simon Frith, and Scottish Poetry Library Director Robyn Marsack for a discussion on the importance of art song and lyric poetry. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical. Friday 4
Glasgow ✽✽ FREE Louise Welsh: Robert Louis Stevenson and the
Theatre of the Brain Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, 332 6535. 11am–12.45pm. As part of the GSA’s Friday Event lecture series, award- winning novelist Welsh gives this presentation, subtitled ‘An Exploration of Creativity and the Unconscious in a Pre- Freudian Age’, after which there will be time for questions and answers about Welsh’s new role as writer in residence for GSA and the University of Glasgow. FREE Reading the Leaves Tchai- Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. Join guest writers for an evening of poetry and creative writing.
This month-long celebration of song lyrics keeps on rolling with a bunch of superb events across the capital. Among the many highlights on offer are Naturally Lyrical at Royal Botanical Garden, an exhibition which looks at songs that deal directly with the natural world; Art Song features Janice Galloway (pictured) at the Scottish Poetry Library joining a discussion about lyric poetry; Donny O’Rourke pops into a variety of city libraries to celebrate the power of lyrics and asks you to bring along your own favourite songwords to debate; literary cabaret The Golden Hour gets into the swing of things with the likes of Kei Miller and Rodge Glass showing up; and an event at Word Power Bookshop explores protest songs with Nancy Nicolson, Ewan McVicar and the brilliantly named Ukes Against Nukes. For full details of all events, whistle along to letsgetlyrical.com. ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, until Mon 28 Feb.
EVENTS Books
Bennett, and films from Irvine Welsh and Christopher Quinn, with a DJ set to round the afternoon off. Get in early if you fancy a seat – they ran out last time.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3. FREE Sally Hyder: Finding Harmony Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 2pm. A chance to meet Sally Hyder, author of an autobiographical book about how a dog helped her in her battle against depression and multiple sclerosis. FREE Spark! Creativity Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. Open session for musicians, songwriters, poets, storytellers and performers of any kind, all hosted by William Douglas. Crispin Hellion Glover’s Big Slide Show + Film Screening Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, 228 2688. 8pm. £16. The eccentric actor-turned-filmmaker presents a series of readings from eight of his illustrated books, with pictures from the books projected behind. Followed by a screening of Glover’s film It Is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE., and Q&A with the man himself.
Monday 7
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Song Tombola Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street, 529
5628. 3pm. Help to create a giant, genre- spanning poem that is a patchwork of everybody’s favourite lyrics. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
✽✽ FREE Waxing Lyrical with Donny O’Rourke Gilmerton
Library, 13 Newtoft Street, 529 5628. 2–3pm. See Fri 4. FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8201. 6pm. Test your literary credentials in teams of up to five members. Please arrive for 5.45pm. Tuesday 8
Edinburgh FREE Discovering Family History at NLS National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 10am. Delve into your family’s past as NLS reveals research techniques in this practical workshop. Includes a short tour of the library. Booking required.
✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Love Lyrics Sighthill Library, 6 Sighthill Wynd, 529 5571.
✽✽ FREE Viva Las Vegas Ratho Library, 6 School Wynd, Ratho, 333 5297. 10.30–11.30am. Join a discussion at the library of the lyrics of the Rat Pack, and find out why these lyrics have stood the test of time so very well. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
✽✽ FREE Waxing Lyrical with Donny O’Rourke Morningside Library, Morningside Road, 529 5654. 11am–noon. Singer Donny O’Rourke celebrates the power of song lyrics to make a something really special out of a good tune. Bring along your favourite lyric to talk about. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
✽✽ FREE Waxing Lyrical with Donny O’Rourke Currie Library,
210 Lanark Road West, 529 5609. 2–3pm. See above.
Saturday 5 Glasgow Write-Tron For All Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 10am–1pm. £40 (£30) per term. The first of four creative writing workshops for adults run by Stephen Barnes on four Saturdays throughout Feb, Mar and Apr. Booking essential.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
Edinburgh Getting Into Poetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 10.30am–noon. £60 (£50).
Third of four sessions introducing poetry and how to approach it for maximum (non-academic) reward. Price includes coffee and croissants.
✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3. FREE Lari Don: The Mountain’s Blood Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 2pm. Popular children’s author Lari Don reads from her latest book, which is a retelling of an ancient Sumerian myth about Inanna, Goddess of Love, and her battle with a poisonous mountain. Ages 8+. FREE Storytelling from Shahnameh The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 60 Pleasance, 556 6550. 2–3.30pm. A family event featuring tales from the Book of Kings, written by Iranian poet Ferdowsi circa 1000AD. Before the storytelling there will be a screening of short animation, Persian Adventure. Part of Edinburgh Iranian Festival.
Sunday 6
Glasgow ✽✽ Words Per Minute The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000.
4–6pm. £4. Monthly spoken word, music, film and performance night run by Glasgow-based writer-performers Kirsty Logan, Helen Sedgewick and Kirstin Innes. This edition features readings from Sarah Hall, Rodge Glass and Gabriella
2pm. Discuss those lyrics that just perfectly encapsulate how you feel when you’re love-sick, lovelorn, or loved-up. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical. FREE StAnza Programme Launch National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Launch night for Scotland’s international poetry festival, StAnza, which is to be held in St Andrews on 16–20 Mar and features over 60 poets, artists, writers and musicians. In keeping with the festival’s Gaelic theme for this year, there will be a performance of Gaelic music, plus poetry from Rab Wilson. FREE Peter May: The Blackhouse Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.30pm. Peter May celebrates the launch of his new crime thriller, The Blackhouse, set on the Isle of Lewis.
Got an opinion? You can now Comment on all our articles at list .co.uk 3–17 Feb 2011 THE LIST 37