The word is out on what promises to be Aberdeen’s biggest ever literary event as the programme for the City’s first Scottish Writers Festival is launched today (Thursday, April 22).
For three days in May, Festival-goers will be able to indulge their passion for the written word with a series of readings and talks by the cream of Scotland’s poets and writers in Scots and Gaelic. There will also be music, debates and children’s workshops held at various venues throughout the city for people of all ages. All of the events will be open to the public and many will be free.
Word - University of Aberdeen Scottish Writers Festival has been organised by the University of Aberdeen and details of the event, believed to be the biggest of its kind outwith the Edinburgh Book Festival, were officially announced today by award-winning novelist and Aberdeen’s writer-in-residence Alan Spence.
Mr Spence, winner of the Scottish Writer of the Year in 1996, said: “We have enlisted a really impressive line-up of 20 of Scotland’s best writers and poets. The Festival comes in a momentous month for Scotland, right after the elections for the new Scottish Parliament and is, therefore, a timely celebration of the strength and variety of writing in Scotland now.”
He stressed that it was not a book festival but rather “a celebration of the written word” by some of the most respected figures on the Scottish literary scene.
Mr Spence said that the Festival, running from 14 May to 16 May, would attract audiences from the North-east but also from throughout Scotland. “There is a tremendous confidence in Scottish literature at the moment. This Festival will reflect that,” he said.
The opening event will take place on Friday, May 14, with a very special reunion of the University’s celebrated past and present writers-in-residence. William McIlvanney, Bernard MacLaverty and Alan Spence will team up in tribute to the late Iain Crichton Smith, one of Scotland’s great men of letters and a former Aberdeen writer-in-residence.
Renowned novelist, journalist and critic Allan Massie will deliver the first Linklater Lecture at the University on the Friday evening on the life of the famous novelist Eric Linklater, an Aberdeen graduate who went on to become Rector in 1945. Late on Friday night, there will be a complete change of pace with a ‘rave’ performance at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree by Rebel Inc writers featuring a DJ and video artist.
The programme continues on Saturday with the chance to meet a top Scottish writer in each of the five city centre bookshops. Janice Galloway, Bernard MacLaverty, Ali Smith, Duncan McLean and William McIlvanney will give readings and answer questions from members of the public at 12 noon. There will also be readings given at the Central Library, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Provost Skene’s House followed by and an evening of poetry, prose and music at the Lemon Tree.
On Sunday, there will be a special Festival Service at King’s College Chapel. The writer and poet Edwin Morgan will join forces with the outstanding saxophonist Tommy Smith and the 10-piece Scottish National Jazz Orchestra to perform Planet Wave, a fascinating fusion of poetry and jazz, at the Lemon Tree at 12.30pm.
On Sunday afternoon, one of the most timely events will be a high-profile literary forum on Scottish Writing Now – Looking Forward/Looking Back. A panel of writers and commentators including William McIlvanney and AL Kennedy which will discuss the future of Scottish Literature in a new Scotland. The journalist and writer Allan Massie will be in the chair.
Other writers appearing at the Festival include Tom Leonard, Aonghas Macneacail, Sheena Blackhall, Meg Bateman, Sian Preece, Leila Aboulela, Laura Hird and Paul Reekie. The Scottish Arts Council Spring Book Awards will also be presented during the weekend.
Copies of the full programme are available now from the University of Aberdeen on (01224) 272078. A web site has also been set up on www.abdn.ac.uk/word.