Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events.

Books, talks and poetry events. Glasgow has everything on offer for lovers of literature, including major book festivals, book launches, poetry slams and spoken word open mics.

Plenty to choose from with events showcasing new talent as well as acclaimed writers and poets.

Events and New Books To Watch Out For

A Poetical Meander Through The Hebrides

poetical meander through the hebrides with ann mackinnon

Wednesday, 14 May, 2025, 7 p.m. An Evening With Ann MacKinnon Community Hub Helensburgh,  116 E Princes St, Helensburgh G84 7DQ Free entry and Refreshments About Ann MacKinnon Ann MacKinnon writes in both Scots and English. A New Scottish Writers’ Award led to a pamphlet called Nae Flooers being published by Tapsalteerie. She is widely published in […]

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Thursday, May 8, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Free Talks at WestFest

2 – 26 June, 2025  WestFest Kelvin Hall1445 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AW Part of Glasgow 850, join WestFest & Friends of Glasgow West for a series of free and fascinating talks at Kelvin Hall. All talks are fully illustrated and start at 7pm, lasting approx. 1 hour. Please arrive early to be sure of […]

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A Conversation with Andrew O’Hagan, University of Glasgow ARC

an evening with andrew o'hagan

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 · 6 – 7:30pm  A conversation with Honorary Professor Andrew O’Hagan, chaired by Prof Gerard Carruthers (Scottish Literature) By College of Arts & Humanities, University of Glasgow  At: Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW A conversation with Andrew O’Hagan – novelist, essayist, and Honorary […]

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Rachelle Atalla – Books at the Green

the salt flats

Tuesday 29 April, 2025, doors 7 p.m. starts 7.30 p.m. Rachelle Atalla in Conversation with Sarah Smith Partickhill Bowling and Community Club, 46 Partickhill Road, G11 5BY

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ARC Conversations and Identities Journal: Global Dignity and Seeing Others

Michèle Lamont

Monday, May 12, 2025, 4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Professor Michèle Lamont from Harvard University reflects on how we equip ourselves to think across different levels of analysis. Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW Global Dignity and Seeing Others How can we equip ourselves to think across different levels […]

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Michael Pedersen in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon

michael pedersen book launch

Sunday 25 May, 2025, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Waterstones, 153 – 157  Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EW Join the award winning writer and poet, Michael Pedersen, as he launches his debut fiction title, Muckle Flugga, in conversation in store. ‘Life on a remote island is turned upside down by a stranger’s arrival, testing bonds […]

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Scottish Writers’ Centre: Hand on the Baton

Hand on the baton, Scottish Writers Centre

Tuesday, 22 April, 2025 ,  7 p.m. – 9 p.m. ‘Break out your poetry, fiction and song…We’re back.’ SCW will present a night of thanks, celebration and looking forward. It would be impossible to thank Scottish Writers Centre’s outgoing co-chairs Sheila Wakefield and Christie Williamson enough but they’ll give it a good go! Sheila and […]

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Weaving Song Workshop

weaving song workshop

Tuesday 22 April, 2025 6 p.m – 8 p.m. Discover songs and poetry from Paisley’s mill heritage – create a song to remember Paisley’s mill workers. Come along and help write a radical weaver’s song with poet Jim Ferguson and musician Rebecca Maria Witherspoon Building, 10 Stone Street, Paisley PA1 2AR To book email   […]

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Chris McQueer and Michael Pederson – Paisley Book Festival

paisley book festival

Saturday 26th April, 2025, 6:30-7:30pm Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Cl, Paisley PA1 1JF Tickets – £10/£12 Hear from two of Scotland’s most popular and exciting writers about their latest and upcoming work. Glasgow-based Chris McQueer is a writer, performer, and social media sensation best known for his darkly funny Scots-language short story collections Hings and HWFG. He returns for his […]

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Paisley Book Festival 2025

paisley book festival

Paisley Book Festival is returning from April 25th to 27th, 2025, with the inspiring theme “The Lives We Live.”  This year’s festival promises an engaging exploration of contemporary life through the lens of literature, featuring an exceptional line-up of authors and events. See the full Paisley Book Festival Programme Some Highlights Unforgiving Times – A.L. […]

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Neil Bartlett Creative Conversations

neil bartlett

Monday, April 14, 2025 · 1 – 2pm  University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ Neil Bartlett has been making rule-breaking theatre and performance since 1983. After a controversial early career he was appointed Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith in London in 1994; since leaving the Lyric in 2005 major cultural […]

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Kittlin plus open mic at Avant Garde

kittlin

Tuesday 1 April, 2025 You’d be an April fool to miss it…Tuesday 1st April, 7pm for a 7.30pm start at Avante Garde; making merry with music, words and wine ( tea and coffees optional) Kittlin gig with an Open mic invite…looking forward to hearing your songs, poems, jokes, stories… Host: Lesley O’Brien Bi-monthly event. Tuesdays, […]

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Marginalia Launch Night

marginalia

Wednesday 2 April, 2025 The Stand Comedy Club  333 Woodlands Rd, Glasgow G3 6NG Marginalia is Scotland’s boutique cultural showcase. Bringing together big names from the worlds of stand-up comedy, spoken word, literature and music; each expertly curated bill promises to provide the perfect midweek night out. Taking over the legendary Stand comedy club in […]

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Mary Irvine – Use Yir Ain Tongue, A conversation with Ann MacKinnon

ann mackinnon

Balloch poet Ann MacKinnon is a strong proponent of the Scots language firmly believing that people would benefit from learning this language. I sat down with Ann to hear more about her belief. Scots is a very old language but, because it’s so closely linked to English, people sometimes fail to recognise it as a […]

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ARC Conversations – Nicol Keith, Professor of Molecular Oncology

in conversation with nicol keith ARC

Tuesday 25 March, 2025, 4 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane Glasgow G11 6EW ARC Conversations – Why I’ll never be photographed in a lab coat Hear Nicol Keith, Professor of Molecular Oncology, discuss pivotal career moments and the role of human experience as a driver of innovation […]

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Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh in conversation with Sarah Smith

zoe strachan and louise welsh in conversation with sarah smith

Tuesday 25 March, 2025 at 7 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. Partickhill Bowling Club, 46 Partickhill Road, Glasgow G11 5BY Event Free to Members can book for guests and Non-Members welcome £5 entrance Book at www.partickhillbowls.co.uk(Upcoming events) or Email  

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Glasgow Literary and Music Lounge

glasgow literary and music lounge

Tuesday 25 March, 2025, 7.30 p.m. – 10.30 p.m. Run collectively with Carol Jamnejad, Jim Ferguson, Louise Malone and Brian McFall Host: Jim Ferguson House Band: Carole Jamnejad, Brian McFall Featuring: Chris Tait, John Gee, Brian & Jim, Ray Eans, Rhona Franklin and Friends, Peter A, Richard Lala, Carol Jamnejad, Tuesday 25, February 2025 – […]

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Storytelling for Adults with Amanda Eleftheriades-Sherry

clydesider magazine

Tuesday 25th March, 2025 11 a.m. – 12 noon Green Tree Remedies, Church St, Alexandria G83 0NP Founder of Clydesider Creative Social Enterprise and the Clydesider Magazine. Hear about the power of positive news. Share exciting new multi-media and heritage projects for the coming year.  Free refreshments but donations welcomed. Contacts: Jo: 07562333731 Mary: 01389 […]

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An Evening with Mary Irvine

A Greek Love Affair by Mary Irvine

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 – 7 p.m. Living/Working/Loving in Greece Helensburgh Community Hub, 116 E Princes St, Helensburgh G84 7DQ Come along – enjoy the discussion plus Greek Feta and Kalamat

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Would You Kill For Your Country? – an evening of literature and music

dove tales would you kill for your country

Monday 24 March, 2025, 7 p.m. Dove Tales at The Vic, Glasgow School of Art Student Union Bar The Art School, 20 Scott St, Glasgow G3 6PE An evening of literature and music on themes of war and peace. Dove Tales are concerned about the constant talk of conscription for young people in this country […]

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SCOWTH – Poetry Event

scowth 23 march 2025

Sunday 23 March, 2025 – 2 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Anniesland Mansions, 1601 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G13 1LT Featured Poets Donna Campbell, Charlie Gracie and Ross Wilcock Plus Open Mic Slots Scowth is a Scots word which means freedom of expression. Scowth sessions run over a couple of hours, feature two or three named […]

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Creative Conversations: Laynie Browne

Laynie Browne

Monday, 10 March, 2025, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. American Poet Laynie Browne in Conversation University of Glasgow, 42 Bute Gardens (916), Glasgow G12 8RT Laynie Browne was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MFA from Brown University. She is the author of […]

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The Tenementals: Popular Music as Academic Research + Drinks Reception

the tenementals

Friday, March 14, 2025, 6.00-7.20pm (Drinks Reception 7.30-9.00pm)  Popular Music as Academic Research: Four Papers on The Tenementals Advanced Research Centre, Chapel Lane, University of Glasgow G11 6EW The Tenementals is a wild research project which has one foot in the university sector and one foot in Glasgow’s vibrant music scene. It runs on the […]

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Tessa Berring, Creative Conversations

Tessa Berring creative conversations

Monday, March 3, 2025- 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ Tessa Berring’s ‘Joke Book’ was published at the start of this year with The Silent Academy. She is also the author of Bitten Hair and Folded Purse (Blue Diode Press) ‘Putty’ (If a Leaf Falls Press) […]

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Saturday, March 1, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Creative Conversations, University of Glasgow

university of glasgow

Free & Open to the Public  University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ Creative Conversations from January 2025 Neil Bartlett, 14 April 1 p.m. Neil Bartlett Creative Conversations   Layne Browne, Monday 10 March, 2025, 6 – 7 p.m. 42 Bute Gardens. Glasgow University. Creative Conversations: Laynie Browne     Tessa Berring, Creative Conversations, Monday 3 […]

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Tell it Slant Poetry Open Mic Glasgow

tell it slant

Tell It Slant is now based at Locavore Govanhill, 349 Victoria Road, Glasgow G42 7SA. Tell it Slant – Friday 28 February, 2025 7 p.m. to 9.30 ish Open mic with Carla Woodburn and Christie Williamson. Share your poems, new or old. It’s a relaxed night, with a byob policy and tea and coffee available […]

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Mima Merrow and Kevin P. Gilday & The Glasgow Cross

mima merrow kevin gilday

Thursday, 6 March, 2025 The Old Hairdressers, Renfield Ln, Glasgow G2 5AR A night of incredible live music at The Old Hairdressers as two of Scottish music’s most unique voices share the bill in this special joint headline show. Mima Merrow brings her unique brand of blissful and uplifting compositions to the stage, brought to […]

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Creative Conversations: Greg Thomas

Greg Thomas

Monday, 24 February, 2025, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, University Ave, Glasgow G12 8QQ Free Event – Reserve a spot Greg Thomas is a poet, artist, and writer based in Glasgow, with a particular interest in making and writing about concrete and visual poetries. He wrote the first book on […]

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Sunday, February 16, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Mira Mattar, Creative Conversations

mira matter creative conversations

Monday 10 Febaruary, 2025 1 – 2 p.m. University of Glasgow, Memorial Chapel, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ Mira Mattar writes fiction, poetry and essays. Her novella, Yes, I Am A Destroyer, was published in 2020. Her chapbook, Affiliation, and her first collection, The Bow were both published in 2021. A new chapbook, And most of all I would miss […]

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Monday, February 10, 2025 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events

Love Words: Federation of Writers Scotland

love words

Thursday 13 February, 2025, 7 p.m. – On Zoom Love Words is an open mic with Federation of Writers Scotland Hosts Ann MacKinnon and Alan McClure. Email to arrange a five minute slot Your contribution can be about the love of words as well as love words. Whether you are in love, have lost love, […]

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love words

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