Scots Whay Hae!

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Ali spoke to the Founding Artistic Director of Cryptic Cathie Boyd to hear all about this year's Sonica Festival, which runs at 16 venues across Glasgow between 19th-29th September. Cathie talks about the history of both Cryptic and the Sonica Festival before taking us through just some of the extensive programme, the wide variety of what's on offer, the multiple venues where events will take place, before Ali offers his picks of the festival which prompts more detailed discussion. The two also talk about the importance of funding to festivals such as Sonica, and in the Arts and culture more generally, taking into consideration the recent news of the severe cuts to arts funding from the Scottish government leading Creative Scotland to close its Open Fund for Individuals arts grant. It was great to be able to talk to Cathie and get an insight into what is one of the highlights of the cultural year. And watch out for the p.s. at the end of the interview to find ou

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to creator and performer Claire Love Wilson and director and performance-maker Peter Lorenz to hear all about Morag, You’re a Long Time Deid which has just completed a full run at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, and is about to tour Scotland, Ireland, and England. Claire and Peter explain the inspiration behind the show, how the two met and then came to work together, the music and the influence of Scottish ballads, having to adapt for different venues, the collaborative nature of the piece, and working with An Tobar & Mull Theatre & The frank theatre. It was also fascinating to talk to people at the end of an Edinburgh Fringe run rather than about to begin to hear the reality rather than the expectation, the practicalities involved, and challenges faced. For full details, and all the ways to listen, head to https://www.scotswhayhae.com

For the latest podcast Ali caught up with writer and academic Dr Rodge Glass to learn about his extraordinary new book, Joshua In The Sky: A Blood Memoir. It's a slightly different interview as Ali picks certain texts which are referenced throughout, allowing Rodge to talk about the book in a different way. Before that he explains who Joshua is and the reasons for writing Joshua In The Sky, and talks about HHT (Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia) the rare genetic disorder they share. The two then go on to talk about the work of Caroline Bird, Jenny Offill, Tom Leonard, Hassan Blasim, and Grace Paley, among others. They also discuss the life and work of Alasdair Gray and Michel Faber, both of whom Rodge has written biographies of, which raises the subject of memoir, the differing ways to approach the form, and how both these writers, and writing about them, feed into this one. Fittingly for a book which defies easy explanation, this is an insightful and honest conversation which touches upon just some o

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Jenny Colgan to hear all about her latest novel Close Knit, published by Hodder & Stoughton. Jenny talks about the personal inspirations behind Close Knit, how and why knitting is integral to the plot, the reasons behind the setting of Carso, and the north of Scotland more generally, why she made the novel contemporary, her approach to writing characters, and she felt it was vital to but community at the centre of events. She also stresses the importance of the romance in romantic comedy, sets out the challenges and rewards of writing dramatic scenes, and explains why she included instructions for knitting a bobble hat (and/or headband), with the hope that readers may find a new favourite hobby. Jenny also talks about her life as a writer, how it began, and how it's changed over the years. One of the most widely read authors to ever guest on the SWH! podcast, it was such a pleasure to be able to talk to Jenny Colgan about this new publication,

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Ali spoke to crime writer Christopher Brookmyre to hear all about his intriguing new novel The Cracked Mirror, published on the Abacus imprint of Little, Brown Book Group. In an attempt to avoid all spoilers, Ali asks Chris to take the responsibility of describing the book, before talking about how he approached writing it, the specific inspirations behind it, the importance of respecting genres, creating his central characters, having a quote from Afghan Whig's song 'Debonair' as the epigraph (and the one that got away), the importance of place, and the inspirational tweet that began it all. He also tells us how collaborating with his wife Marisa Haetzman for the Ambrose Parry books changed his approach to writing more generally, the importance of planning, the challenges presented by historical fiction, and writing as a partnership. The two also discuss the impact of his debut novel Quite Ugly One Morning, and how its influence has endured, as well as the c

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali catches up with previous guest, the writer and poet Andrés N. Ordorica to hear all about his debut novel How We Named The Stars, which is published with Saraband Books. Andrés talks about why this was a story he wanted to tell, creating the central characters of Daniel and Sam, writing in the second person, bringing the reader into the book, writing about love and loss and how that can change both reader and writer, the structure of the novel, and his approach to populating it with a supporting cast. The two also discuss how Andrés engages readers' senses in both How We Named The Stars and with his poetry, the differences between the two forms, and what's coming next. They also look forward to this year's Edinburgh Book Festival where Andrés will be appearing, and chat about the wider affects of Festival season on the city itself. Andrés is one of our favourite writers, and How We Named The Stars is not only a stunning debut, it's one of the most movi

For the first of our Bloody Scotland podcasts - Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival - Ali spoke to the five shortlisted authors for this year's Scottish Crime Debut of the Year. They include Suzy Aspley (Crow Moon), Daniel Aubrey (Dark Island), Allan Gaw (The Silent House of Sleep), Doug Sinclair (Blood Runs Deep) and Martin Stewart (Double Proof). They each give a brief summary of their shortlisted novels before the chat turns to the diversity in the list, approaching a debut, why they chose the genre of crime, or, in some cases, why crime chose them, the crime fiction community, and the importance of festivals such as Bloody Scotland. There is also a fascinating chat about getting published, learning from rejections, the importance of finding your tribe (and killing the parrot!) and many more tips on, and tales about, becoming a published writer. It's a podcast which will be of interest to readers, writers, and book lovers of all kinds, but especially if crime is your thing. And Blo

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer and journalist Hugo Rifkind to talk about his cracking new novel Rabbits, which is published with Polygon Books. Hugo talks about the inspiration behind Rabbits, why this is the story he wanted to tell, and explains that while events and characters have some basis in real life, this is not an autobiographical tale. The two also discuss the comparisons with Netflix' sensation Saltburn, the writers who inspire Hugo's fiction, writing about the upper-middle classes, how his fiction differs from his journalism, and the ways a change of government can affect political satire. And then there's the poster-worthy cover of Rabbits! It's a fascinating, insightful and genial conversation with a writer well-known as a journalist, columnist, and radio presenter and panellist, but who clearly loves everything about writing fiction. Is there more to come? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out... For full details, including all the ways

For the second of our Edinburgh Fringe Compilation Podcasts for 2024, Ali spoke to another group of artists, writers, and performers who have shows at this year's festival. They include Lani Calvert - NewsRevue, Bryony Byrne - Fan/Girl, Sam Edmunds - The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, Edith Alibec - Glitch, Grace Gallagher - STUFFED and Isabel Renner - Wyld Woman: The Legend of Shy Girl. They each explain their shows and the inspirations behind them, why they wanted to tell these stories, what audiences can expect, what they are looking forward to in Edinburgh, and where and when you can see them during the Fringe. They also talk about the importance of collaboration in theatre, and talk warmly about the teams behind each show and the people who helped get them to the stage. If you are overwhelmed by the choice of what to see at the Festival these podcasts are a great place to discover shows which, when taken together, have something for everyone. For full details, including all the ways to

For the first of our Edinburgh Fringe Compilation Podcasts for 2024, Ali spoke to a number of artists, writers, and performers who have shows at this year's festival. They include Luca Rutherford - You Heard Me, Guy Woods - Puddles and Amazons, Barton Williams & Andrew Eaton Lewis - Precious Cargo, Iain Mackechnie & Jose Rojas - The Other, and Sean Wai Keung - A History of Fortune Cookies. They each explain their shows and the inspirations behind them, why they wanted to tell these stories, what audiences can expect, what they are looking forward to in Edinburgh, and where and when you can see them during the Fringe. They also talk about the importance of collaboration in theatre, and talk warmly about the teams behind each show and the people who helped get them to the stage. If you are overwhelmed by the choice of what to see at the Festival these podcasts are a great place to discover shows which, when taken together, have something for everyone. For full details, including all the ways

For the second of our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 podcasts Ali spoke to musician Jo Mango and theatre-maker Liam Hurley to talk all about A Giant On The Bridge, which is part of the prestigious Made in Scotland showcase, and will be at the Assembly Roxy Central between 2nd-18th August, 10.40am. Jo describes how A Giant On The Bridge came about, emerging from the work of Vox Liminis and their Distant Voices project which explores crime, punishment and reintegration through songwriting and other forms of creative expression, and pairs some of Scotland’s best songwriters with people who’ve experienced the criminal justice system from different angles. Liam then talks about his role with A Giant On The Bridge and the collaborations which are vital to the whole. The two then discuss the nature of the collaborative process, making each story individual, why having multiple musical genres is key, the challenges in making live music theatrical, what audiences can expect, and how their involvement, and reaction, is essentia

For the latest podcast Ali caught up with previous podcast guest Graeme Thomson to talk about Under The Ivy, his biography of Kate Bush which has been updated as part of Omnibus Press' Remastered Series. Graeme explains the challenges in writing about such a well-loved, and private, person, the reaction of those interviewed, the formative years of her seemingly idyllic childhood, the questionable press coverage of the artist and her career, and the renewed interest in her career due to Netflix' Stranger Things. The two then discuss Small Hours, Graeme's book about the enigmatic, and problematic, John Martyn, and you could hardly get a more different subject from Bush than Martyn. Graeme discusses the difficulties in writing about controversy, the levels of research required, needing to admire your subject, and keeping the music to the fore. The conversation also touches upon the differing approaches to writing biographies, the importance of being respectful, how the procedure varies depending on t

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to festival director Svend McEwan-Brown and composer, harpist, and singer Esther Swift to hear all about this year's East Neuk Festival - the 20th anniversary no less - which runs from 26th-30th June. Svend tells us about the history of the festival, it's aims and how it has developed and grown over the years, before giving details of this year's lineup, and just some of the highlights to come. One of those highlights, undoubtedly, will be Zulu which sees Esther creating an atmospheric evocation of the story of the Zulu fishing fleets, once ubiquitous in East Scotland. This year's Big Project for the festival, Esther takes us through the inspiration and process behind this collaboration, which brings together community and professional musicians to evoke the boats and the communities that depended on them. She also talks about her wonderful new album Expectations of a Lifetime which is out now. The East Nuek Festival is one of the musical highli

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is the first of this year's Edinburgh Fringe specials (yes, it is that time already!) and Ali spoke to actor Craig Barclay and writer Tony Voller to hear all about their show Addict, which is on at The Space on the Mile. Craig and Tony talk about how they came to work together, the history of Addict, a synopsis of the show, what it's like to work together - and collaborate with others - the importance of the rehearsal process, and their hopes for the Fringe. The conversation also touches upon writing, and then performing, multiple characters, the process of bringing the show to the stage, the unique demands of an Edinburgh Fringe run, and why Addict will resonate with audiences. It's a great conversation to kick off SWH!'s coverage of this year's Fringe, and there will be plenty more to come. For full details, including all the ways to listen, head to ⁠https://www.scotswhayhae.com⁠

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali was joined by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Doug Aubrey to talk about 'Legacy of an Invisible Bullet', which is described as "an immersive 10 ½ hour cinematic experience" compiled of 170 short films shot by Doug, which is going to be shown over six days at the Glasgow Film Theatre, culminating in a UK premiere of the feature-length cut, which he describes as an "existential surf movie." Doug goes into detail about the project, which ranges from his early days capturing the 1970s punk scene through his time documenting disaster zones across the world, as well as his own personal disaster following a thyroid cancer diagnosis, piecing together a cinematic mosaic 50 years in the making. The two also talk about the importance of sound as well as vision, the effects of people's changing viewing habits, the importance of the short film as a medium, who has inspired him over the years, and a whole lot more. It's an insightful and inspirational

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! Ali spoke to crime writer, and returning guest, Douglas Skelton to talk about the latest entry in the 'Rebecca Connolly' series of crime thrillers, 'The Hollow Mountain' which is out now, published on the Polygon imprint of Birlinn Ltd. Douglas talks about the origins of Rebecca Connolly and the inspiration behind them, the importance of place and returning to Glasgow as a setting, the true stories which are central to each novel, constructing and developing memorable characters, having a strong supporting cast, the pleasure taken in cultural referencing, and more. The two also discuss Douglas' other current series, the 'A Company of Rogues' books (the latest of which is 'A Grave for a Thief', published by Canelo), the challenges, and the freedom, that comes with writing historical fiction, and the inspirations, (literary and otherwise) behind these books. He is also very honest about the highs and lows of writing, and what's coming next.

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer, and previous guest, Louise Welsh to talk about her latest novel To The Dogs, which is out now published by Canongate Books. The two talk about the complex issue of class, the hold of the past, the setting of Glasgow, the central character of Jim Brennan, the parallels between gangland life and academia, the changing politics of university life, building towards a dramatic conclusion, and much more. They also discuss The Second Cut, Louise's sequel to her critically-acclaimed and much-loved debut The Cutting Room, and the return of the protagonist Rilke, as well as her role as Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, and revisiting the Empire Cafe project 10 years on. Louise is not only one of SWH!'s favourite writers, but also one of our greatest supporters and it was great to have her back on the podcast. The result is an insightful and thoughtful conversation which will appeal to readers and writers alike. For full

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Jane-Ann Purdy & Douglas Robertson to learn all about this year's Edinburgh Tradfest, which is on between the 3rd - 13th May. They take us through the amazing line-up for 2024, with some of the finest bands and musicians around, as well as giving some history to the festival, and a run down of the various strands this year, which include film, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, storytelling, art exhibitions, and more. Douglas and Jane-Ann also explain about the work of the Soundhouse Organisation (which they are both central to) and the importance of working with a variety of partners. The three also discuss the healthy state of folk and traditional music in this country, as well as the collaborative, often cross-genre, nature of the music made by many of those in attendance. It's an informative and enthusiastic conversation which we hope will fire your interest in what's happening at Edinburgh Tradfest 2024. For full details, including all the rele

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to CD Boyland to hear all about The Glasgow Review of Books, and particularly the Live Hip-Hop + Poetry night which will be at Stereo in Glasgow on 26th May. CD talks about the line-up, which includes Darren McGarvey, Iona Lee, Billy Letford, Imogen Stirling, Texture, and Johnny Cypher, all hosted by Loud Poets' Kevin Mclean. The two then talk about the work of The Glasgow Review of Books, how it began, CD's role as co-editor, how people can submit and get involved, creating a space for Gaelic and Scots writing, and so much more. The Glasgow Review Of Books is a wonderful resource for anyone with an interest in literature, taking Glasgow as its starting point, but covering writers and writing on a national, and international, basis. The level of discussion and criticism is informed and accessible, and at a time when the arts are under real threat it's heartwarming to hear about the work CD, his colleagues, and the contributors do. For full details,

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is all about the new experimental work 'Futuristic Folktales', and Ali caught up with Dance-theatre artist and director Charlotte Mclean, writer Nelly Kelly and composer Malin Lewis to learn all about it. They each break down their individual roles before talking about the collaborative process involved, and how working together was inspirational, and educational, for them all. The talk also turns to the other members of the team, and the joys, and challenges, of making live theatre and going on tour, and how this was not only a new experience for the artists and performers, but how that will translate to audiences as well. It's a warm and informative conversation about an exciting piece of dance-theatre which promises to inspire and uplift, and we hope it will leave you wanting to experience it for yourself. For further details, including relevant links and all the ways to listen, head to https://www.scotswhayhae.com