We’re back in Glasgow’s magical Alasdair Gray Archive on this episode, for a chat with two brilliant Scottish writers, and literary leading lights - Rory Watson and Alan Bissett…
Rory’s latest poetry collection, The Silver of Old Mirrors, is a stunning, glinting and gentle reflection on a life well lived, and a life well loved. He’s launching it in his home town of Stirling at the Central Library on April 8th…
The latest theatre show in Alan’s award-winning career as a writer and performer is When Billy Met Alasdair, imagining a conversation between Billy Connolly and Alasdair Gray, and it’s at The Citizen’s Theatre on March 28, as part of Glasgow Comedy Festival…
Glasgow Film Festival 2026: with Paul Gallagher and Chris Kumar
Head of Programme Paul Gallagher and Programme Manager Chris Kumar chat about some of the brilliant movies they're screening - from Welcome to G-Town via Caledonia Schemin’ and Everybody To Kenmure Street - and some of the myriad reasons that GFF remains a world-class festival, while also being deeply rooted in Scotland, and in its own city - as you'll hear.
A Play, A Pie, & A Pint: Spring 2026
The new season of this theatre phenomenon kicks off later this month at its glorious HQ - Glasgow’s gilded Oran Mor - but many of the plays will also travel to spiritual PPP homes across the country - from Aberdeen to Dumfries; from Pitlochry to Paisley; from Edinburgh to Ayr - and they’re all worth your lunchtime…
Josie Long, Rachelle Atalla & Sorcha Dallas on Alasdair Gray
We’re celebrating the wonder of writer, artist, Glasgow icon and cultural polymath Alasdair Gray with comedian Josie Long, writer Rachelle Atalla, and custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive, Sorcha Dallas.
The annual Gray Day takes place at Glasgow’s Oran Mor on February 25th, and - among other things - it’ll be revelling in Alasdair’s masterpiece, Lanark, on the 45th anniversary of its publication… also starring Alan Bissett, and Alan Cumming (via video)!
Denise Mina: All Back To Mine
My guest in this episode is an award-winning, best-selling writer and style icon - look, I’m just stating the facts here - whose terrific work includes crime fiction, comic books, theatre shows, and historical novels…
Following titles like The Garnethill Trilogy, the Paddy Meehan and Alex Morrow series, Rizzio, Three Fires, Hellblazer and Conviction - the latter of which was celebrated as part of Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon’s book club - Denise Mina's latest novel is The Good Liar, and it’s as brilliant as it is thrilling…
Sir Ian Rankin: live from Dunfermline Carnegie Hall
I’m delighted to be joined by one of our best-loved, and most successful writers, who’s sold over 30 million copies of his best-selling Rebus novels - not to mention theatre, TV and radio spin-offs, all based in Edinburgh.
He’s also a broadcaster, a sometime rock ‘n’ roll star, and a Fifer with a fab taste in music - and a Knighthood to boot…
He is of course Sir Ian Rankin, and this conversation was recorded at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, as part of last year’s wonderful Outwith Festival…
Horse: 35 years of The Same Sky
My special guest on this episode is a woman - an icon - whose brilliant debut album sounded like nothing else when it hurtled into our musical landscape 35 years ago - and there really is still nothing like it…
The record’s The Same Sky, the artist is the mighty Horse, and since that record’s release in 1990, she’s raised the roof, and fired up our hearts, with records like God’s Home Movie, and The Road Less Travelled…
Recorded live at The Stand in Edinburgh
Sanjeev Kohli: All Back To Mine
I'm joined by fab actor, writer, comedian and TV star Sanjeev Kohli, whose credits Look Around You; Fags, Mags & Bags; Dept Q; I Swear; the new Irn Bru advert - and of course, Still Game...
He's also a synthesizer and keytar maverick who’s played on-stage with Wilco - but we'll come to that… Recorded live at The Stand in Glasgow
I loved chatting with writer Ann Cleeves about her incredible work at this year’s Granite Noir Crime Writing Festival in Aberdeen, and I’m delighted we’ll continue the conversation, digging deep on her latest Shetland / Jimmy Perez book at Edinburgh Castle: it’d be lovely to see you there. Tickets here - signature cocktails and everything! That’s what I call a Friday night.
Last year, the wonderful Kevin Morris at Glasgow Americana rallied Carol Laula, Jill Jackson and me for a night of live music and conversation at a packed-out Cottiers theatre.
Our chat roved across all sorts - Rab Noakes, Dolly Parton, Donny Osmond, performing with Big Country, having Paolo Nutini as your merch boy, covering Christina Aguilera, collaborating with the Go-Go's Jane Weidlin and starring on Top of the Pops - and that's just scratching the surface. Carol and Jill’s songs were stunning.
We had such a fab time that Carol suggested we do it all again - this time in cahoots with Freckfest, and if you fancy, you can join us at Irvine’s Harbour Arts Centre on Saturday March 7th. Tickets here!
Previous live event: Barbara Dickson playing live and in conversation at The Hive, Kirkcaldy
Stage, screen and music icon Barbara Dickson returns to her home kingdom of Fife for an afternoon of live music, and we’ll be in conversation, at Kirkcaldy’s terrific LGBTQ+ community hub, The Hive. There might even be a raffle! It’d be lovely to see you there. Final tickets here!
Granite Noir, Aberdeen: Ann Cleeves, Dawn Steele & more
I’m delighted to be returning to Aberdeen’s brilliant Granite Noir festival on February 21st: we’ll be celebrating book and telly phenomenon Shetland. I’ll be in conversation with Shetland’s brilliant creator Ann Cleeves (who’s also responsible for the wonderful Vera), and we’ll also be joined by two of Shetland’s TV stars - former A Kick Up The Arts special guest Dawn Steele, and Alison O’Donnell - AND the show’s expert consultant, Dr James Grieve.
