Published: 13 Mar 2018
Aye Write! starts tomorrow (Thursday March 15) with over 200 book-related events and sessions celebrating the love of reading and writing. For the first time the festival is being held in seven venues across Glasgow that will play host to bestselling authors, book themed performances, masterclasses, a film screening and a gig by a crimewriters supergroup.
Among the authors appearing at Aye Write! are Maggie O’Farrell, Peggy Seeger, Evan Davis, Brett Anderson, Sir Chris Bonington, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Val McDermid, Professor A.C. Grayling, Shami Chakrabarti, Graeme Obree, Helen Pankhurst, Jo Swinson, Professor Sir John Curtice, Sally Magnusson and Neil MacGregor, former Director of the British Museum gives the Tannahill Lecture.
Among the topics being discussed are 100 years since some women won the vote, Poverty, Post-truth Politics, Mental Health, Climate Change and the lessons we learn. The first ever Ian Bell Prize for young journalists will also be awarded highlighting again the importance of good journalism.
Aye Write! 2018 will once again deliver an accessible and lively programme of fiction, poetry and non-fiction- Jenny Niven, Creative Scotland
Roger Bilcliffe celebrates the Charles Rennie McIntosh 150th anniversary, Chris Bryant MP unveils the full story of the British aristocracy, "Iron Gran” Edwina Brocklesby will describe doing a triathlon at 74, Dave Wardell will be joined by his ex-police dog Finn as he gives the account of the day they were attacked by a knife-wielding suspect and Paul Murton explores the culture, heritage and geography of the Hebrides.
An examination of classic 1970s film Get Carter and the story of the writer of the book it is based on will be held at the Glasgow Film Theatre and Tramway will host a gig by the Fun Loving Crimewriters, featuring Mark Billingham, Stuart Neville, Doug Johnstone, Val McDermid, Luca Veste and Chris Brookmyre who will bring a full on rock and roll experience covering songs with a distinctly criminal flavour.
Composer Sir James MacMillan, Lawyer Aamer Anwar, Scotland’s Makar Jackie Kay and Dr Adele Patrick all discuss “The books that made me”. Also returning are Aye Tunes, Aye Con and Aye Write! Introduces. In total, well over 200 authors will be taking part in Aye Write! 2018.
Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “Aye Write! does an amazing job bringing fresh talent, unusual books, popular and difficult topics and above all a fantastic mix of writing and books to Glasgow. We are looking forward inspiring sessions that will cover everything from century defining movements to the bravery of police dogs. Wherever you look there is something to delight fans of reading and writing in every imaginable form.”
Aye Write! venues include The Mitchell Library, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, the Glasgow Film Theatre, City Halls, Glasgow University and Tramway.
Bob McDevitt, Aye Write! programmer said: “From keynote lectures to political panels, illustrated talks to confessional memoirs, award-winning poetry to best-selling novels, Aye Write! will be reflecting our lives, responding to topical concerns and hopefully offering some answers to the big questions of our age. Book lovers of Glasgow can look forward to the biggest festival yet!”
Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages & Publishing at Creative Scotland said: “Aye Write and Wee Write play a hugely important role in terms of cultural provision in Glasgow and do an outstanding job of engaging harder to reach audiences. Aye Write! 2018 will once again deliver an accessible and lively programme of fiction, poetry and non-fiction, which celebrates local, national and international literature, and is rooted in a commitment to reader development. We are very excited to see an expansion of the 2018 programme to new venues across the city bringing literature to life throughout Glasgow.”
Beyond the final day of the festival Aye Write! still has some top talent waiting in the wings. The voice of Scottish Football across the national team’s golden generations of the 70s, 80s and 90s, Archie McPherson tells the behind the scenes stories of when Scotland regularly competed in the world’s greatest football tournaments.
Aye Write! is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund and sponsored by Waterstones, the official book seller of the festival, Turcan Connell, Open University in Scotland and the National Library of Scotland.