Last weekend saw a new look Kirkcudbright Book Festival take place, following previous annual Book Weeks in the town. This year’s festival had more than twenty events in a dozen venues across the town with over 40 authors.
The four days of the Festival included a diverse range of writers – UK, Scottish, regional and local – and a variety of topics from the big issues facing the world and UK to history, past kings and queens, nature and countryside, creative writing, new and established fiction and emerging new local voices and storytellers.
Overall the Book Festival was attended by 580 people across 21 events: this is an increase on the number of people who attended each event from last year’s Book Week of 23%.
Highlights included Rosemary Goring on Mary Queen of Scots; Darryl Cunningham on Elon Musk; Robert Crawford on Robert Burns; Beaty Rubens on how radio changed Britain; Carrie Marshall on LGBT communities and the power of music. A special event saw Richard McLauchlan talk about the cultural history of the bagpipes, played in by former Kirkcudbright Pipe Major Ian Wemyss.
In another memorable local-themed event Julie McNeill launched the Kirkcudbright Fringe publication with St Cuthbert Wanderers – We are Saints – based on workshops and events she ran with numerous groups who engage with the club; while DJ McDowall addressed the hidden LGBT histories at the heart of the town and the many stories of its artists and creatives.
The respected broadcaster and author Michael Crick said of his event on leadership from Nigel Farage to leadership that: ‘Kirkcudbright is a special town with a special feel and appetite for discussion and books’. Julie McNeill reflected that ‘the histories of the football club and the creativity, imagination and memories it brings forth is an important part of the town – captured in this pioneering project.’
Naomi Johnson, Festival Chair and local author, said:
This new look Festival had a buzz, excitement and energy celebrating local authors and stories bringing together Scottish and UK voices. It builds on the previous great work in the town of past Book Weeks, developing the Festival in a new direction with new ideas and writers.
Gerry Hassan, Programme Director of the Festival and author, commented:
Kirkcudbright Book Festival puts the power of story and storytellers at its heart. We love having well-known writers and storytellers while championing new and emergent talents to reflect the diversity of the town and beyond.
Kirkcudbright Book Festival is organised by a dedicated team of people passionate about books, reading and writing. The core team deliver the Book Festival’s contents (the details of which can be found on our site), supported by a diverse group of volunteers who assist in making the Festival run smoothly.
One partner. No competitors. Full visibility across the region.
