It’s already shaping up to be one of the best ever line-ups at the annual Glasgow book festival.
A number of events have already sold out, including one which celebrates forty years of one of radio’s most beloved shows, I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue!
Tickets have also sold out for the session featuring Tracey Thorn, singer in Everything But The Girl, the children’s event A Squash and a Squeeze and Martin Palmer’s Sacred Place walks.
Organisers of the annual literary festival are also reporting that tickets for another half dozen events at the festival, which opens on 12 April, are selling “like hotcakes”.
These popular events include those featuring Jon Ronson, Jeremy Vine, the popular novelist Maggie O’Farrell, the opening Cookie Cabaret, Ian Bell, Alex Gray, JG Moffat, the popular contemporary artist David Shrigley and broadcaster Gavin Esler.
Other writers, personalities and authors appearing at the festival, for which The Herald is media partner, include Sandi Toksvig, Darcey Bussell, Louise Welsh, Alasdair Gray, Mark Millar, AL Kennedy, Val MacDermid, Neil Forsyth, the creator of Bob Servant, Clive Stafford Smith and James Naughtie.
The opening cabaret, debates on Scottish independence and the future of newspapers, and a host of popular authors and a new series of creative writing courses are also part of this year’s festival which is based at the city’s Mitchell Library.
There will be a debate on the future of the media in the Leveson: Six Months On event, a panel discussion from of the Leveson Inquiry, featuring Tom Watson MP, Brian Cathcart of Hacked Off, the commentator Nick Cohen and Chris Jeffries.
The celebration of BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue!, is to feature Barry Cryer, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden.
The festival will also hold an event celebrating the work of The Herald’s late former editor Arnold Kemp and a major Scottish independence debate featuring contributions from James Boyle, Alasdair Gray, Pat Kane, Zinnie Harris and Libbie MacArthur.
For the first time, the festival begins with a musical event aimed at a younger audience, as well as the traditional literary audience: the Cookie Cabaret on opening night will feature music from the lauded Scottish band Admiral Fallow, live DJ sets and live art as well as readings from Denise Mina and William Letford.
Also on the opening night, Sandi Toksvig will talk about her novel Valentine Grey, the BBC’s Art Editor Will Gompertz will discuss modern art and his book What Are You Looking At?150 years of Modern Art, and Ms Thorn will talk about her memoir of life in the pop world.
Extensive Creative Writing sessions involve Glasgow University, Strathclyde University and Glasgow Caledonian University and will hope to inspire new writers, poets and authors.
Tickets for the festival are on sale at www.ayewrite.com
Tickets can also be bought by calling 0141 353 8000 or in person at the Mitchell Library, the Royal Concert Hall Box Office and the City Halls Box Office.
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