GLASGOW’S Aye Write book festival launches today with a star-studded weekend kicking off the programme, set to run across the next three weekends.
Aye Write is produced by Glasgow Life, the charity which delivers culture and sport in the city with the aim of strengthening engagement with books and reading to increase visits to Glasgow Life libraries.
Amongst the first to grace the stage of the Mitchell Library will be Annie Macmanus, the inimitable former Radio 1 DJ-turned-writer, with her novel Mother Mother, and another familiar voice from radio, podcaster James O’Brien – best-selling author of How Not to be Wrong.
Macmanus, said: “It’s a total dream to be in Glasgow doing a literary event with a live audience after so long. Writing is a solitary process; there’s no feeling like sharing reading and writing experiences with others face to face.”
The weekend continues with appearances from Glasgow-born Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie; Del Amitri’s Justin Currie; acclaimed screenwriter of Succession and Veep, Georgia Pritchett; evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins; former Chief Prosecutor Nazir Afzal; and veteran fiction writer Bernard MacLaverty.
Also set to grace the stage are key public faces of the pandemic, Professor Devi Sridhar and Jason Leitch; and musician Tracey Thorn, best known as one half of Everything But The Girl, with her book My Rock n Roll Friend.
Next weekend sees Aye Write welcoming Chris Tarrant on his 50 years in the business, and newscaster turned author and screenwriter, John McKay, on the journey from the page to the screen.
From the world of politics, outspoken MP Jess Phillips will discuss her memoir; and Sir Vince Cable will speak about his book, Money and Power. For crime fans, Ambrose Parry will be appearing; plus favourites Alex Gray and Douglas Skelton.
Author of News of the Dead and Walter Scott Prize-longlisted James Robertson will appear alongside literary sensation and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, Louise Welsh.
Tickets are available to book online at Aye Write or can be purchased on the day from the box office at the Mitchell Library, which is open throughout the book festival.
Aye Write will this year be held predominantly in person, not only at the Mitchell Library, but also across other city venues, including Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall and Tramway.
Aye Write programme producer, Bob McDevitt, commented: “The stage is set and we’re raring to go! Let’s get back to what we love doing: talking about the books we love; discovering new gems; and sharing our bookish passions.”
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