Portobello Book Festival is organised by local enthusiasts and Portobello Library, and as you might think, the events take place in Portobello over four different venues. There is also a festival café at the Old Parish Church in Bellfield Street this year on Saturday 6th October from 10-4. In its fifth year the festival is teeming with many well-known authors, including Edinburgh’s Makar, Ron Butlin.
The full programme is here but these are our top five choices:-
5 October 2013
10.30-11.30am OLD PARISH HALL
WHAT”S WRONG WITH SCOTTISH FOOTBALL?
Iain Hyslop, lifelong football fan and long-suffering supporter, gives the views of the fan on the street in his latest volume Is the Baw Burst? – his continuing journey to get to the root of the problems that are damaging a national sport.
Chaired by Ted Brack
12.30am – 1.15pm LIBRARY UPSTAIRS
IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO TODAY!
Forty-five minus of tales and reminiscence with storyteller James Spence.
50+ Local transport provided: contact library
4.00-5.00pm LIBRARY
FAMILY STORYTELLING CEILIDH
International storyteller Beth Cross will lead a relaxed sharing circle of music, story and storytelling in the old ceilidh tradition.
8.00pm – 10.30pm LIBRARY
1963: START OF THE MODERN ERA
This opening event celebrates the 50th birthday of Portobello library in music, words, fashion and food.
Hosted by David Francis and featuring Ladies Guerrilla String Quartet along with many familiar faces.
Special display and taste of 1963 by Henderson’s restaurant and Molly Sugar
*** BAR available: Doors open and drinks served from 7.30 ***
6 October 2013
3.30-5.00pm LIBRARY
This is the title of a unique collection of essays by 27 contemporary Scottish writers, published by Word Power Books in 2012, about the relationship between literature, national identity and the ‘politics of voice’ in Scotland today.
As the finale of the 2013 Portobello Book Festival, his is an opportunity to hear from four of the contributors: Alan Bissett (novelist, playwright, and performer), Jo Clifford (playwright and performer),Douglas Dunn (poet, writer and academic) and Gerda Stevenson (actor, writer, director).
Chaired by editor Scott Hames (academic and co-editor of the International Journal of Scottish Literature.
*** Word Power bookstall ***
If you would like to get involved then you are invited to email portobellobookfestival@gmail.com
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