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Live Cartooning, Crime and Superhero Selfies Set For September Weekend
The Byres Road Book Festival returns bigger and better for 2017 with this year's four-day programme seeing 29 top authors including Malachy Tallack, McIlvanney Prize 2017 winner Chris Brookmyre, Douglas Skelton, and Gail Honeyman bringing fiction, fantasy, history and superheroes to Glasgow's Byres Road over the September weekend (September 22nd to September 25th).
Returning for its second outing, with Hillhead Library, Waterstones, and the Oxfam Book and Music shops once again binding the literary magic for book lovers.
28 exciting events, drop in sessions and fun activities are planned over four days, with organisers hoping to attract more than 1000 visitors to the festival.
Returning strands for this year include crime, and celebrated author Chris Brookmyre will kickstart festival proceedings at Hillhead Library with an open floor on his latest Jack Parlabane novel 'Want You Gone' which delves into cyber crime. (Friday, 22nd Sept, Hillhead Library, 6pm) Crime fans will get excited over a Bloody Scotland panel session led by Sara Sheridan and Louise Welsh as they explore how they reimagined spaces to incorporate the sinister side of Scotland's built heritage into storytelling. (Sunday, 24th September, Hillhead Library, 5:30pm)
Adding a new comic strand, new to the festival are the poet, broadcaster and comedian Ian McMillan alongside leading cartoonist Tony Husband, who are bringing their unique improvised fun to Hillhead Library, performing a live cartoon history of here, reflecting on local life, poems and stories. Not to be missed, this one-off event is for audiences of all ages and is sure to make you laugh. (Friday, 22nd September, Hillhead Library, 7:30 - 9pm)
Meanwhile, Witty Women will see BBC Broadcaster and newly appointed chair of the Gaelic Books Council, Catriona Murray host a loquacious panel session with authors Mairi E. MacLeod, Maureen Macleod and Seonag Monk who will each give their perspectives on Gaelic culture and broadcasting. Expect this to fast-paced, humorous and a refreshing insight on Saturday 23rd September (Hillhead Library, 3 - 4pm)
Across the road in Waterstones, Polly Clark will host a reading from her mysterious debut novel Larchfield. Utterly captivating, this beautiful story has critics swooning and is a fictional account of WH Auden's time living and working in Helensburgh. Join Polly from 7pm until 8:30pm (Saturday, 23rd September, Waterstones, 7pm)
On Sunday prepare to be taken on an exploration journey as Malachy Tallack explores his
Myths and Mysteries, Phantoms and Fakes' book, making you question the whereabouts of continents and islands across the globe. (Sunday, 24th September, Hillhead Library, 2pm)
Get your rocks off; the mystique continues as Martin St. John recounts his life in Glasgow punk rock band Primal Scream, with musical performances and readings from his autobiography 'Psychedelic Confessions of a Primal Screamer'. (Sunday, 24th September, Oxfam Music Shop, 7pm)
Bank holiday Monday is a family affair, as top children's' authors taking over Byres Road. Alan Dapré starts the day with Porridge - not breakfast but his light-hearted novel about a tartan cat, purring through zany family adventures one feline paw at a time. Suitable for kids aged between seven and nine, they won't paws for breath between readings. (Monday, 25th September, Oxfam Bookshop, 10:30am)
Budding superheroes can hear how to supercharge their creative writing by Paul Bristow who will share 'The Superpower Project' - a session dedicated to crafting wondrous caped crusaders and mysterious magical heroines from the depths of your imagination. Aimed at children aged eight to 12. (Monday, 25th September, Hillhead Library, 1:30pm)
Continuing to sprinkle creative magic along Byres Road, Oxfam Book shop will host Superhero Day from 11am until 4pm, with storytelling, a superhero selfie station and a 'design a superhero' competition. Dress up as your favourite comic book character and head along for supercharged fun. (Monday, 25th September, Oxfam Bookshop, 11am)
Byres Road & Lanes Business Improvement District Project Manager Deborah Murray explains:
"The 2017 Byres Road Book Festival programme has something for everyone. With 28 events, we are really excited to celebrate the vibrant literary landscape with the city. From superheroes to live cartoons and the ever-popular crime genre, we aimed to craft a programme that inspires and delights audiences of all ages and encourages you to leaf through our festival.
"Returning over the September weekend in Glasgow, it's a great day out, so snap up a ticket for one of our unusual events and help us celebrate the city's love of literature."
Click here to download the festival programme.
Where
Byres Road, Glasgow
When
22nd to 25th September
Tickets
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit:
www.byresroadbookfestival.com
