Gutter Magazine’s Alternative Valentine’s
Books EVENTS
Wednesday 9
Glasgow ✽✽ Let’s Get Lyrical at Poetry @ the Ivory The Ivory, 2–4 Camphill Avenue, 632 2701. 7pm. £3. The regular poetry night pays tribute to the importance of song lyrics as works of poetry. Poet and musician Gerry Cambridge headlines with a performance piece based on an adaptation of his own work and that of other poets. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3. FREE Antisocial Writers Club Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. 2pm. A group for people who like hanging around in cafés wallowing in the sense of superiority that being a writer, dahling, brings. And not talking to anyone. At least, not too much. Sessions consist of an hour’s writing time, followed by optional sharing of what you’ve produced. FREE Tony Black: Truth Lies Bleeding Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.30pm. Australian writer Tony Black launches the first in a new series of crime novels (following the successful Gus Dury series) in which readers will accompany DI Rob Brennan as he investigates all manner of gruesome deeds in Edinburgh’s back alleys. See review, page 36.
✽✽ Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7pm. £4. A relaxed evening of storytelling, poetry and song organised by the Connecting Voices project. This time around, it’s Valentine-themed – but if you’re a bit romanced-out fear not, as this promises to be an alternative look at all things lurve. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
Thursday 10
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Scottish Literature and Music: A Bardic Influence
National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Dr John Purser delivers the annual Tannahill Lecture, outlining just how inseparable Scottish music and literature have been over the centuries. Purser, an eminent composer, musicologist and playwright, will focus in particular on the ballads and songs associated with the Battle of Harlaw, which took place 600 years ago this year. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical. FREE Elaine Di Rollo: Bleakly Hall Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. Launch of a new novel by Edinburgh-based author di Rollo, dealing with the aftermath of war, cures for gout, and a house with a mind of its own.
✽✽ FREE Peace and Protest Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson
Street, 662 9112. 7pm. Two writers of pro-peace songs, Ian Davison and Nancy Nicolson, join with Ewan McVicar, Murdock Kennedy and Ukes Against Nukes for a discussion about protest songs of war and peace, a particularly rich vein in Scottish musical heritage, from the battle cries of the Jacobite rebels to the songs opposing the Holy Loch nuclear submarine base in the 1960s. Oh yes, we’re a contrary lot up here. Booking essential. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical. Scottish Literature Class Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket, k.turner@weascotland.org.uk 7–9pm. £16 (£8). See Thu 3.
Friday 11
Glasgow FREE Reading Allowed Tchai-Ovna House of Tea, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. A monthly evening of storytelling and poetry reading. 38 THE LIST 3–17 Feb 2011
One for those who possess a slightly askew view of this season of hearts and flowers with musings from Glasgow novelist Ewan Morrison (pictured), Edinburgh poet Richie McCaffrey and Alabama writer Amy Burns. ■ National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Tue 15 Feb.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Waxing Lyrical with Donny O’Rourke Corstorphine
Library, 12 Kirk Loan, 529 5628. 11am–noon. See Fri 4. Saturday 12
Glasgow Lost in Digression Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8.30pm. £5. An eclectic night for those who have lost their way amid the twists and turns of music, comedy, poetry and storytelling.
Edinburgh Getting Into Poetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close Canongate, 557 2876. 10.30am–noon. £60 (£50). See Sat 5.
✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Music from World War II Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs
Road North, 529 5549. 10.30–11.30am. A session featuring music, memories and film footage celebrating the songs of wartime Britain. Booking essential. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
✽✽ Garden Music and Stories Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. 7.30–9.15pm. £8 (£6). Storytelling, song and plants in an evening of unique entertainment by broadcaster and singer-songwriter Frieda Morrison and horticulturalist David Mitchell. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
Sunday 13
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3. FREE Spark! Creativity Showcase The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 6pm. See Sun 6.
FREE Love Sick Speakeasy, Cabaret Voltaire, 28 Blair Street. 8pm. Those clever wordsmiths at Writers’ Bloc are joining a selection of new writers in an evening dedicated to all things anti- Valentine’s. Grotesque, beautiful, dirty stories and readings abound. Monday 14
Glasgow FREE Love out of Bounds Performance Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. 6pm. Storytelling performance drawing to a close the exhibition about rejected love which has been at Hillhead Library for the last couple of weeks. Totem of My Love Exhibition Opening The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7–9pm. £3. Are you a big ol’ softie? Would you like to give your loved one a public and theatrical dedication in the form of a sonic/poetic totem performed by sparkly performance poet Drew Taylor, sound artist Fi Johnston and their friends? Better get in touch with them at twitter.com/proudExposure and head on down.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Waxing Lyrical with Donny O’Rourke Moredun
Library, 92 Moredun Park Road, 529 5652. 2–3pm. See Fri 4. FREE Amorous Greetings by Gael Turnbull Launch Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30–8pm. A warm tribute to the late Gael Turnbull with the launch of a new Marsicat collection of his work.
Tuesday 15
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
FREE Getting Started at NLS National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 2.30pm. Find out how to register and seek out specific books and peek inside the Reading Rooms, then enjoy a lifetime of reading books for free.
✽✽ FREE Gutter Magazine’s Alternative Valentine’s National
Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 8pm. A sideways look at love with Scottish novelist Ewan Morrison, American writer Amy Burns and Edinburgh poet Richie McCaffrey, courtesy of Gutter magazine (aka the literary journal that likes to get down and dirty). See caption. Wednesday 16 Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3. FREE Antisocial Writers Club Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. 2pm. See Wed 9. FREE Love in Poetry Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8000. 6–7.30pm. Love is all around us in literature – bring along your favourite love poem or lyric and discuss why it makes your heart skip a beat. FREE What if Derrida Was Wrong About Saussure? Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8206. 6.30pm. Launch of a new book by Sydney academic Russell Daylight interrogating Derrida’s philosophical reconstruction of Saussurean linguistics.
✽✽ White Cockade: Jacobite Songs and Stories Scottish
Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £8 (£6). An evening celebrating the legacy of the Jacobite rebellion in Scottish song, poetry and storytelling, with folk duo Kenspeckle (John Greig and Stuart McHardy). Ages 12+. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
✽✽ FREE The Golden Hour: Let’s Get Lyrical Special The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place, 220 4538. 8pm. A special edition of the literary cabaret for the UNESCO City of Literature festival of song lyrics. With words from Kei Miller, Emma Bartholemew and Rodge Glass, and music from Burnt Island (aka Rodge Glass and friends in musical mode) and Endor. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.
Thursday 17
Glasgow Maggie Graham CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. £3. Maggie reads excerpts from her poetry and novels, accompanied by classical and jazz guitarist David Hill.
Edinburgh ✽✽ FREE Naturally Lyrical Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place,
248 2979. 10am–4pm. See Thu 3.
✽✽ FREE Hamish Henderson Tribute Evening Central Library,
George IV Bridge, 242 8000. 6.30–8.30pm. Local musicians celebrate the life of poet and songwriter and stalwart of Scottish culture in the 20th century, Hamish Henderson, through songs, speeches, piping and poetry. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical. Beyond the Crash Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 7pm. £4. A lively panel discussion based around Gordon Brown’s new book Beyond the Crash, which looks at potential solutions to the current financial crisis. Ticket price is redeemable against the price of the book in store. Rescheduled from Thu 9 Dec. Original tickets remain valid, or can be refunded.
✽✽ FREE Rebel Shenanigans Word Power Bookshop, 43 West
Nicolson Street, 662 9112. 7pm. A selection of singers and writers re-create the sounds of the Bo’ness Rebel Ceilidh of the 1950s, a movement in favour of a Scottish Republic, as well as many other political protest songs from Scotland’s recent history. Part of Let’s Get Lyrical.