Scots Whay Hae!

As is traditional, the first of our Best of 2022 podcasts are all about books, and there were so many books and book-related  things to talk about that we have split the podcast into two parts. For both, Ali is once again joined by Publishing Scotland's Vikki Reilly, and in this podcast the two talk fiction, some of the themes and trends of the year, the notable debuts, the return of some weel-kent names, and a whole lot more, as well as declaring their own choices for Book of the Year.  In Part II there will be further talks on crime fiction, poetry, memoirs and other non-fiction, publishing, and what we can look forward to in 2023. That will be with you soon. Always a SWH! highlight of the year, when taken together, these podcasts reflect, and celebrate, another exceptional 12 months in Scottish writing.

The latest SWH! podcast is our contribution to Scottish Podcast Collaboration Week which will run from the 5th - 11th December. This podcast works as a preview as to what to expect, as Ali speaks to 4 of the podcasts involved - Dawn from 'Scottish Murders' (and the driving force behind the collaboration), Nicky & Greg from The Culture Swally, Suzanne from Adventures in Scotland, and Satsu from Chatsunami. They are fascinating and informative conversations which give you just a taste of the range and diversity of the podcasts currently made in and about Scotland today. To find out more, and all about the other podcasts involved - and how to follow them - head over to scotswhayhae.com

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to returning guest, the poet, performer and playwright Leyla Josephine, to talk about her new poetry collection In Public / In Private which is published by Burning Eye Books. Leyla kindly reads some of her work, and talks about becoming a published poet, the ideas and themes that are behind the poems, the line between the public and the private, getting that balance right in both her poetry and other work, learning lessons from the past, and a whole lot more. She also talks about her current tour, which includes a night in Glasgow at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut on  Saturday 26th November, which will see Colin Bramwell, Ellen Renton, Empress, Iona Lee, Kevin P.Gilday, Niki Rush in support. It promises to be a special event, and you can get tickets and find out more over at www.scotswhayhae.com.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to musician Douglas MacIntyre, filmmaker Grant McPhee, and journalist Neil Cooper to learn all about their new book 'Hungry Beat - The Scottish Independent Pop Underground Movement (1977-1984)'.  It's seems a shame to have the three on the same podcast as each deserves an individual interview to themselves (and that may come to pass in the future.) Douglas runs the excellent indie record label Creeping Bent as well as putting on the FRET series of concerts at the Strathaven Hotel, and has played with a number of bands over the years. Grant McPhee has made three great documentaries looking at Scottish indie music, Teenage Superstars, The Glasgow School, and Big Gold Dream - the latter providing the inspiration for Hungry Beat.  Neil Cooper is a journalist, critic and cultural commentator who writes for the Herald, Bella Caledonia, and many other fine publications. Few have written more insightfully about, and on, Scottish culture as he has.  What follows is

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali caught up with musician Debbie Armour to talk all things Burd Ellen, and their new album 'A Tarot of the Green Wood', which is out on the 31st October on Debbie's own label, Mavis Recordings. Debbie talks about the history of Burd Ellen, working with Gayle Brogan, how the new album came about, the inspiration of tarot cards, blending the traditional with the contemporary, the influences behind the music - musical and otherwise - and a whole lot more. They also discuss the folk tradition, the possibility of playing the album live, and the atmosphere Burd Ellen's music creates. Burd Ellen are among the most interesting and innovative musicians around - with 'A Tarot of the Green Wood' being just the latest proof of that - and it was fascinating to get a glimpse behind the music. For links to learn more about Burd Ellen, and to buy their music, head over to https://www.scotswhayhae.com

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to writer and poet Dilys Rose to talk about her latest short story collection, the excellent 'Sea Fret' (published by Scotland Street Press). Dilys is one of Scotland's finest writers and it was such a pleasure to be able to talk about her work, the short story as a form, the stories behind the stories, teaching writing, the drama found in the everyday, the different sides of her writing, and a whole lot more. Quite simply it's a must listen for readers, writers, and all book lovers.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to Lyth Arts Centre's Marketing Director Calvin Wilson & author Gail Anthea Brown to learn all about The Northern Stories Festival, which is on between 7th - 16th October across Caithness. The two talk about the themes and ideas behind the festival, the extensive programme, the different strands, just a few of the highlights, and a whole lot more. They also discuss the importance of storytelling in bringing people together, and building bridges with other countries and cultures. You can find out further details, and book tickets to events, by going to lytharts.org.uk/northern-stories-festival

For the latest podcast Ali headed to Glasgow's Hidden Gardens (behind the Tramway) on a beautiful morning to meet up with singer, photographer, filmmaker, and author Marianne Dissard, to talk about her life and work, and how she came to Glasgow. They discuss her recent exhibition of photography 'On A Good Day You Can See France', the extensive and varied musical side of her career, collaborating with other musicians and artists, the challenges of writing her memoir 'Not Me', and her films. It's a fascinating conversation with someone who lives and breaths their art, and whose life continues to be shaped by her work. It was such a pleasure to be able to talk to Marianne, and in such peaceful surroundings, and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording. All the links to Marianne's art and music can be found over at https://www.scotswhayhae.com

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer N.E. Solomons about her debut thriller 'The Bone Road', which is published by Polygon Books. The two talk about why she wanted to write this book, how it changed into something very different from that initial conception, the challenges in writing in this specific genre, setting events in the Balkans, the creation of the two central characters and how they work together, and parallels with the present day. Natasha also talks about her life as a writer - be that historical fiction, as a playwright, or screenwriting, offering insights into that world and some advice for others. Altogether it's a fascinating conversation which will be of interest to writers, readers and all book lovers alike.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to hip-hop artist, DJ, music producer, and journalist, Sanjeev Mann (also know as Supermann on da Beat) about all those parts of his life and more. Sanjeev talks about starting to make music during lockdown, collaborating with other artists, his experiences of working in the Scottish music industry and the hip-hop community, and the musicians he admires. He also discusses his journalism, particularly with regard to campaigning for greater accessibility in music venues for both performers and audience members, his work with Drake Music Scotland and Hip Hop Scotland, and a whole lot more. Full details and all the links over at scotswhayhae.com.

The third of our collaborations with the Edinburgh International Book Festival is the Scottish Spoken Word Showcase Podcast - a companion to the live event of the same name. For it we interviewed six spoken word performers who tell us all about who they are, what they do, why they do it, and give us just a taste of their work. As well as those core conversations we also talk to the Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival Nick Barley, and Alice Tarbuck from Creative Scotland. Put together it offers just a small example as to the variety and diversity in the Spoken Word scene in Scotland today, and we hope you'll be encouraged to seek out, and investigate further, the work of our featured artists, and be persuaded to seek out spoken word events across the country. To learn more you can visit https://www.edbookfest.co.uk & https://www.creativescotland.com

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is the second of our collaborations with the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It is the Shaping Scotland's Stories: New Voices podcast, a companion to the live event of the same name. There are interviews with eight representatives from a variety of publishers who tell us all about who they are, what they do, the challenges and rewards of working with new literary voices, and the books they are currently excited about. As well as those core conversations we also talk to the Executive Director of the Edinburgh Book Festival Sophie Moxon, and Vikki Reilly from Publishing Scotland. Put together it makes for a fascinating insight into, and overview of, publishing in Scotland today, and has some great advice for writers both old, but mainly new, and we hope you'll be encouraged to investigate all the publishers, their books, and their writers further, which you can do by visiting edbookfest.co.uk & publishingscotland.org, as well as scotswhayhae.com.

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is the first of three collaborations with the Edinburgh International Book Festival for this year's Festival. Ahead of their own event - 'Celebrating Inclusion' (Thu 25 Aug 19:00 - 20:15) - Ali spoke to writers Ever Dundas and Julie Farrell to learn more about the event, and the 'Inklusion Guide', which they have created to help event organisers better understand accessibility for disabled writers, audience members, and others. It's a fascinating and insightful conversation about an area of the "Business of Books" (the name of the series that this event is part of) which is too often overlooked. Ever and Julie offer advice and anecdotes, as well as talking about their own experiences, hopes for the future, what they are looking forward to at this year's book festival, and more.

The latest SWH! podcast is all about PITCH - Scotland's Conference of Hip Hop & Underground Culture - and Ali speaks to organisers Richy Muirhead and Alana Hepburn as well as MC Salum who will be performing on the day. Richy and Alana talk about how PITCH came together, who will be appearing, and give details about just what the full programme offers, and Salum looks forward to the day and what excites him most about what's on. PITCH will be in Glasgow and online on the 27th August. For full details go to pitchscotland.com or search using @pitchscotland on social media. It promises to be an unforgettable day.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer D.D. Johnston to talk all about his novel 'Disnaeland', which he describes as "..a really happy story about the end of the world". D.D. talks about the inspirations behind it, how long he's been working on it, the timely nature of its publication, the influences on it, and dystopian fiction more generally. The two also discuss the themes and ideas in 'Disnaeland', as well as the philosophies - both social and moral - which drive it. D.D. also sets out why it was important for him to 'go home' to tell this story. D.D. Johnston has written one of the most unexpected, and ultimately uplifting, novels of the year. It's the end of the world as we know it, and it feels fine.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to musicians Lou Mclean and MIRI about their commissions from, and collaborations with, POWA (Protection Of Women In The Arts) - the singles 'Good Girls' and 'Morality' respectively. The two talk about their lives in music, working with POWA and the support (practical and otherwise) which they offer, the joys of collaboration, the importance of sharing stories, feeling free to write with honesty, and how the most personal lyrics often resonate with other people the most. It's an illuminating and revealing conversation which illustrates the need for organisations such as POWA. 

To find out more about POWA, the work they do, and how you can support them, go to powascotland.com
 Lou Mclean's music - loumcleanmusic.bandcamp.com
 MIRI's music - miriofficial.bandcamp.com 

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali headed through to Edinburgh to visit the legendary Pianodrome, and talk to directors Tim Vincent-Smith & Matthew Wright in their new home of the Old Royal High on Calton Hill. It's a stunning venue which is the perfect space and place for Pianodrome, and Tim and Matt tell us of its history and how it works, the practicalities of building it, the ethos behind what they do, and the importance of connecting, and reconnecting, artists and audiences. They also talk about their 'Summer Resonancy' which is running from the 1st July to 11th September, and which include free lunchtime concerts, drop-in afternoon sessions, workshops, evening shows and a full Edinburgh Fringe Festival programme of events. Matt and Tim discuss the Fringe programme in detail and highlight just some of the strands, events, and people involved. What is made clear is that Pianodrome is not simply a stunning setting and performance space, it is a philosophy which advocates collaboration, diversity, harmony,

For the latest podcast Ali spoke to playwright, fantasy writer, and poet Chris Tait, and playwright, director, and producer Lisa Nicoll, about the audio drama podcast 'A Toon Built Apo Shenanigans', and a whole lot more. The three discuss Chris's life and work as a writer, the central themes of inclusivity and awareness, looking at perceived disability with positivity, the collaborative nature of this project, how it grew to be something far more than was originally envisaged, the importance of education, the ethos and work of In Motion Theatre Company, and what the future may hold. It's a wonderful, warm and passionate conversation which will strike a chord with many. 'A Toon Built Apo Shenanigans' is available as a podcast from wherever you get yours, and it's such a great listen you'll want to return to it again and again.

The latest SWH! podcast is all about the forthcoming Village Storytelling Festival (5 – 10 July), with Ali talking to Creative Producer Emma Collins, as well as participants and performers Raymond Wilson, Daiva Ivanuskaite, and Shona Cowie. Returning for the first time since 2017, The Village Storytelling Festival will explore Connection and Transformation – Storytelling in a Precarious World and Emma gives us an overview of this year's festival, as well as all the relevant details. Raymond, Daiva, and Shona then talk about the shows they are involved in, as well as telling us what they are looking forward to. The festival is part of Scotland’s Year of Stories and the conversation also turns to the importance of telling stories in understanding ourselves and each other, and in building and strengthening connections. It's a genuinely inspirational conversation which not only whets the appetite for the Village Storytelling Festival, but for the future of storytelling itself.

For the latest SWH! podcast Ali spoke to writer Denzil Meyrick to talk about the publication of 'The Death of Remembrance', the 10th in the DCI Daley series of crime novels, as well as the one-off thriller 'Terms of Restitution', and the very different 'Tales of Kinloch' novellas. Denzil gives us background to DCI Daley and how this series began and has progressed, the importance of the location of 'Kinloch', the development of the central characters over the novels, the importance of family in his work, and discusses the forthcoming adaptation of the series to TV. The two also discuss how lockdown inspired both 'Terms of Restitution' and the 'Tales of Kinloch' books, and Denzil's desire to write something different with each. It's an insightful and enthralling interview with one of Scotland's finest writers across the genres. We hope you agree.