Recorded at the East Neuk Festival
This week, I’m hearing from one of our most gorgeous, and inventive musicians, Esther Swift, who’s a composer, harpist, singer, songwriter and - as it turns out - a pretty fierce conductor too
This week, I’m at Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms, for a chat with the goddess - the countess - that is Fay Fife…
The Rezillos and Revillos trailblazer - and the only person in the history of the universe to sing Top of the Pops on - yes - Top of the Pops… is playing at the Voodoo Rooms from August 12th to 17th- so we caught up for a coffee, to chat all about it…
This episode was recorded live at the brilliant Portobello Bookshop, in (near!) Edinburgh - thank you so much to Euan and the gang for making us so welcome - as ever - and to everyone at Birlinn. And thanks to the legend Val McDermid - folk singer; football fan; Fun Loving Crime Writer; creator of heroes like Lindsay Gordon, Wire in the Blood’s Carol Jordan and Allie Burns - and a newly-appointed doctor of letters. But we’ll get to that…
This week, we’re chatting about comedian, writer and director Paul Black's terrific new BBC short film - Govan Fair Queen - starring Elaine C Smith, Maureen Carr and Julie Wilson Nimmo, among others. We recorded this at the Pearce Institute in Glasgow. Watch on YouTube!
We’re at Glasgow Women’s Library - yes, heaven *is a place on earth - celebrating Carrie Marshall’s new book, Small Town Joy and Laura Jane Wilkie’s latest album, Vent, and all manner of wonders and safe spaces in between…
Man’s Best Friend at The Tron
We’re at one of my old places of work for this episode - The Tron theatre in Glasgow, to celebrate a terrific one-man play called Man’s Best Friend - you might have seen the dogs who’re ostensibly at the heart of it all over social media - and it’s there until the 12th of July, before touring Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee, Edinburgh, Greenock and Inverness in the Autumn.
Glasgow Jazz Festival
This week, we're at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, as this year's 39th Glasgow Jazz Festival kicks off..
With only a mere few hours till the opening events, I met up with Glasgow Jazz Festival director Jill Rodger, and rising jazz star Marianne McGregor, who won best vocalist at the Scottish Jazz Awards in 2023, and who'll launch her new album at the festival on Sunday…
Bloody Scotland with Ian Rankin, Natalie Jayne Clark & Gordon Brown
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We’re in my hometown of Stirling in this episode, for the launch of the brilliant Crime Writing Festival, Bloody Scotland, which started back in 2012… I’m joined by this year’s guest programmer, Sir Ian Rankin, festival co-founder and author Gordon Brown, and debut novelist Natalie Jayne Clark…
In the first of a series of 'Scottish Album Social' events celebrating some of the country’s best-loved LPs, music icon Horse will join me to reflect on 35 years of the band's just-reissued debut, The Same Sky (which features timeless hits like Careful and The Speed of the Beat of My Heart) - and to perform a couple of stripped-back songs from the record.
On August 20th, 2-3pm, folk singer, pop star, actor and icon Barbara Dickson reflects on her life and work on stage, and screen - and in music of course - and Barbara will also discuss her choice of a Scottish album, film and book - and what they mean to her.
Come spend a summer lunchtime with us! Tickets here.
(Photo credit: Brian Aris)
On August 19th, 2-3pm, award-winning wildlife cameraman, film-maker, presenter, lion-tamer, and a man who's been hailed as "Scotland's David Attenborough", Gordon Buchanan reflects on his life and work, and discusses his remarkable memoir, In The Hide. He'll also chat about his choice of a favourite Scottish album, film and book - and tell us what they mean to him. There are no guarantees that he'll bring along lions, tigers and bears - let alone camels - but then again, you never know...
On August 18th, actor, artist, comedian, and surely Scotland's most (in)famous barman - Still Game's Boabby, no less - Gavin Mitchell reflects on his life and work: from his early days at Glasgow's Citz Theatre through working with Robin Williams and John Byrne, not to mention his starring role in a David Shrigley opera, and his time on Monarch of the Glen. He'll also chat about his choice of a Scottish film, book and album, and he'll bring a very special guest: Bob, his legendary dog. I’ll get the pints in; he’s pulled enough of them (Gavin, that is; I can’t speak for Bob…)
Come hang out for lunch with us! Tickets here.
