Scots Whay Hae!

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer and filmmaker Grant McPhee to talk about his latest book Caledonia Screaming: Year Zero Vol 1 - Scottish Punk 1976 - 1977 which is published with Into Books.Grant has been a previous guest when he talked about the books Hungry Beat: The Scottish Independent Pop Underground Movement (1977-1984) and Postcards from Scotland: Scottish Independent Music 1983-1995 and the two talk about how his process has developed over the years and across different projects, the importance of the provinces, challenging received wisdom and offering alternative narratives, telling stories for the first time, and even the nature of truth!They also discuss what went before the 'Year Zero' of 1976, the sometimes surprising influences on the music and those who made it, the main players and the lesser known names, famous gigs, the Glasgow 'ban', the importance of those who wrote about the scene, and the possibility of a Volume 2.Caledonia Screaming is a t

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali headed to Stirling to talk to writer Donald S. Murray about his new novel The Loch Of The Bees, which is published with Saraband Books.The two met at the lauded venue the Tolbooth as Donald is a member of the Metagama Ensemble who are behind Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey, a piece of theatre which mixes music, song, and spoken word, and which was playing the venue on the last night of its current tour. Donald tells us all about it, and to hear one of the songs stay on to the end of the podcast.The two then talk about The Loch Of The Bees. Donald gives a brief description before setting out the inspirations behind it, looking to stories of the past to better understand the present, the importance of place, the interlinked nature of the individual tales, the themes of love, religion, grief, & obsession, and how they emerge through the stories themselves. And then there are the bees!The conversation also touches upon the history of the Highlands & Islands, Gaelic

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with returning guest (one of our first, no less) writer Doug Johnstone to look back over 20 years as a published author in the run up to his 20th novel coming out in August of this year, as well as the new versions of his first two novels, all three to be published with Orenda Books.They went through the novels to date in order, from 2006's Tombstoning to The Transcendent Tide. During the conversation, Doug talks about getting published initially, the unexpected order of his early publications, finding his rhythm as a writer, writing from experience, learning to edit his own work, the importance of place, portraying alternative Edinburghs, moving between subject matter (and later genre), changing publishers and finding a home with Orenda, stand alone novels versus writing a series, and so much more.The two also talk character, plot, pacing, and personal favourites, before Doug gives a glimpse into what comes next. One of Scots Whay Hae!'s favourite

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to musician, and journalist, Callum Baird to talk all about his band Elgin & The Marbles, and the debut album The Sun Never Sets, which is out now with Last Night From Glasgow.Callum explained the reasons behind the name Elgin & The Marbles, the striking album cover, and how both link to the overall concept.The two then discuss the themes and ideas more thoroughly, Callum's various inspirations, working with Last Night From Glasgow, his experience of recording an album, the different methods of promotion, and the challenges and pitfalls in being satirical in the present day.The conversation then turns towards how working in the newspaper business fed into this musical project, the changing face of journalism, and how arts coverage needs to adapt to those changes.A musical chat which covers so much more, this is a in-depth interview with someone for whom music and work are closely entwined resulting in an album of songs which address the state of the

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer and journalist Penny Kiley about her new book Atypical Girl: Punk Rock, Liverpool, and Trying to be Normal which is published by Polygon Books.Penny talks about why now for this book, her formative years in Liverpool, being in the right place and the right time, the local music scene in the late-'70s and into the 1980s, the importance of the legendary club Eric's, and some of those musicians (famous & less so) who kicked off their careers there.The two then discuss all things Punk and Post-Punk, with a focus on the varied and vital music which came from that time and place, and what made it stand apart.Penny also explains how she came to write for the Melody Maker, recounts her experiences as a music journalist, reflects on what she has learned from writing the book, and relates why her autism diagnosis in 2018 put her previous life into a different perspective, and simply made sense.As you'll hear, this was a bit of a fanboy experienc

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer Alison Irvine to talk about her fascinating and insightful new book about Glasgow's famous Barrowland Ballroom. To give its full title, the book is called Barrowland: The Inside Story of Glasgow’s Beloved Ballroom and it's published by Luath Press.Alison explains that the book's origins are in a previous publication, and the importance of her regular collaborators Chris Leslie and Mitch Miller - all part of the artist collective Recollective - to this project.She then talks about the process of gathering interviews, research, the two part structure of the book, the symbiotic relationship between the ballroom and the Barra's market, and getting involved as a member of staff.The two then discuss, and reminisce about, their own personal Barrowland memories, key moments in its history, and try to put into context what it is that makes this venue the legendary place it is.Barrowland the book is a brilliant read, one which looks beyond the m

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to screenwriter, playwright, actor, and now novelist, Linda Duncan McLaughlin to talk about her debut novel Original Sins, which is published by Into Books.There was so much to talk to Linda about, but the conversation begins with her describing Original Sins, a novel not easily categorised, and the two then manage to discuss the novel without giving spoilers (also a tricky task).Linda then talks about writing in different forms, the importance of sharing work with others, creating characters, being surprised where the writing goes, and other fascinating aspects of being a writer.She also discusses being an actor and how that in turn impacts her writing, the importance of storytelling, her literary inspirations, what the future may hold, and so much more. It was so interesting to be able to talk in such detail with Linda Duncan McLaughlin, someone steeped in culture, and we hope you find this podcast episode equally compelling.Full details, including all the wa

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Lesley Davidson, who is the co-director of the Beacon Arts Centre, to talk about the inaugural Beacon Book Festival which runs from Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd February.Lesley tells us why now is the right time for the Beacon Arts Centre to host a book festival, and what the challenges were in programming, before talking about that programme - who is on, and when, and taking us through the various strands.The two then talk about the Beacon Arts Centre and their work more widely, the importance of being a central part of the local community, the iconic building serving as a place which encourages creativity, the challenges and joys of working in the arts, and a lot more.A new book festival is always a cause for cheer, and this is a great addition to the cultural landscape of Scotland and particularly that of the Inverclyde area. The Beacon already has a righteous reputation as an important hub for the arts and culture, and it sounds as if the Beacon Book Festiv

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer, and regular guest over the years, Louise Welsh to talk about her latest Rilke novel The Cut Up, which is published with Canongate Books.Louise begins with a brief introduction to the central character of Rilke, before talking about the first novel in which he featured, Louise's celebrated 2002 debut The Cutting Room, a book which has had a notable influence on a new generation of writers.The two then discuss The Cut Up (avoiding spoilers) and the wider cast of characters involved, the world of antiques against which the novel is set, writing violence, the importance of detail, moral ambiguity, representing the senses, the joys of writing about Glasgow, and more.They then go on to talk about Louise's work alongside Jude Barber with The Empire Cafe and the accompanying podcast Who Owns The Clyde?, with Louise hinting at plans for events to run alongside the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.It's always a pleasure to talk with Louise

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to composer and sound designer Oğuz Kaplangı to talk about his new album RESIST.Oğuz talks about the inspirations behind the project, the themes of resistance, solidarity, and human connection, the narrative which runs through the album, and his future plans for RESIST, which are very exciting.The two also discuss the importance of collaboration and how he worked with a number of other artists from different genres and what they each brought to the recordings, before Oğuz sets out his own musical background, his work in theatre, TV and other areas (and what he likes to listen to when he cooks!).It's a fascinating conversation about an inspirational and multi-faceted album, and it was such a pleasure to be able to discuss it in detail with Oğuz himself.Oğuz would like to acknowledge the funding and support of Creative Scotland and the National Lottery without whom RESIST would not have been possible.Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up once again with Dawn Taylor, the Artistic Director & CEO at MANIPULATE Arts, to learn all about this year's MANIPULATE Festival which runs from 4th - 10th February.Now in its 19th year the festival promises something for everyone, and Dawn gives us an overview of the programme, a bit of history, the significance in supporting non-text based theatre, film and other forms of performance, getting the balance between international and national right, the importance of building lasting relationships with audiences, and just what festival goers can expect.The two also discuss just a few of the potential highlights, the various workshops, the brand new competition strand, the community aspect, and how and where people can get tickets, and get involved.It's a great introduction to this year's MANIPULATE festival, and should whet the appetite for what's to come.For full details, and all the ways to listen, head to scotswhayhae.com

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Professor of History and Theory of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh (and former magician) Peter Lamont to talk about his latest book Radical Thinking: How To See The Bigger Picture, which is published by Swift Press.It's a continuation of a conversation the two had at last year's Aye Write Book Festival when an hour was nowhere hear enough time to discuss this fascinating and thought-provoking book, and the ideas it proffers.Peter sets out why he wanted to write this book and its academic roots, before talking about keeping it local, referencing well-kent figures (including Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini), and using his immediate surroundings as a starting point for his investigations. He then talks about the central ideas examined, the importance of being curious, the nature of belief, critical thinking, his interest in magic, and so much more.It was such a pleasure to be able to talk in-depth to Peter about this accessible and stimulating

For the first Scots Whay Hae! podcast of 2026, Ali spoke to writer and musician Peter May to talk about his new album Towards The Light, but so much more.Peter admits that despite his fame as a writer of crime fiction (31 novels to date), music was always his first love (despite some painful memories of early piano lessons) and he goes on to talk about his early years playing in bands, running away to London to make their fame and fortune, and just what the musical landscape was like at the time.He then talks about the new album, the musicians he has collaborated with, why now was the time to make it, musical influences, and what the future holds.The two then discuss some of the themes of the album, the difference between writing songs and writing fiction, and how Peter came to the crime genre.Peter May is one of best known and celebrated crime writers around, but his musical side has remained mostly unknown until now, and it was fascinating to be able to talk to him about that side of his creative life. If y

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast, and the last of our Best of 2025 pods, Ali is joined once more by regulars Chris Ward and a returning Wesley Shearer to talk all things film, or at least to talk about their films of the year.Once again picking five each, they share their enthusiasm for the movies you may have missed first time around, and we’re sure you’ll find something to tickle your fancy.There are favourite directors, dazzling debuts, documentaries, legends on screen and off, laughs, tears, and some sensational swearing.The reason for our Best Of 2025 podcasts is the hope you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself, and this movie chat offers plenty of choice.Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com

For our latest roundup of 2025 we look at the year in music, with Ali joined once again by musician and righteous supporter of Scottish music, Gefahrgeist's Fiona Liddell. As is now customary, they each pick 10 tracks to discuss which have left their mark over the last 12 months.As they make clear, they could easily have picked many, many, more examples from what was another incredible year for Scottish music, (and on another day possibly would), but we hope you enjoy their musical musings, meanderings, and memories.There's a Spotify playlist where you can listen to all the songs Fiona and Ali talk about, and if you like what you hear then please explore further, follow, and support the bands, musicians, artists, and labels involved. The reason for our Best Of 2025 podcasts is the hope you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself, and this music chat offers plenty of choice.For full details, including all the ways to listen (and the playlist), head over to scotswhayhae.com

For this, the inaugural Scots Whay Hae! Best Crime Fiction podcast Ali was joined by writer Callum McSorley to talk about some of the best books published this year, and to take a look at what's coming in 2026.Each picking six of their favourites, the chat turns to great debuts, superb sequels, welcome returns, award winners, new voices, whisky, weekenders, even werewolves, and so much more! Callum is always great to talk to (check out his appearance on the SWH! podcast from earlier this year) and this was a highly enjoyable conversation about a genre of Scottish writing which continues to go from strength to strength.The reason for our Best Of 2025 podcasts is the hope you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself, and this crime chat offers plenty of choice.Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com

As is traditional, the first of our Best of 2025 podcasts is all about books, when once again Ali is joined by Publishing Scotland's Vikki Reilly to talk about the standouts of the year, and to give a heads up as to what's coming in 2026.The two talk fantastic fiction, non-fiction, plenty of prose, and even a little poetry. There are debuts to Last Words, complicated families, celebrations of friendships, love, loss, what it means to be alive, examinations of the ancient world right up to the present day, and so much more, and we're certain you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself.Always a SWH! highlight of the year, the aim of this podcast is to reflect, and celebrate, another exceptional 12 months in Scottish writing. It may be our longest podcast of the year, but it's always one of the best...For full details, including all the ways to listen, head over to scotswhayhae.com And don’t forget to check out the Books from Scotland website for more of the best of Sco

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to theatre director and producer David Hewitson who is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Theatre 118, a new fringe venue dedicated to grassroots, DIY and emerging theatre makers.David gave some background to Theatre 118, where they are based and why, and what their aims are.The two then talk about the work of the Outer Spaces charity and the work they do, before discussing the importance of place more widely, and the history of independent and grassroots theatre in Glasgow.David explains how he came to be involved in theatre, and what it was which attracted him to start Theatre 118, who else is involved and the importance of collaboration, before he goes through some of the shows they have put on to date, and what's coming in the future - including the forthcoming panto Jack & the Privately Owned Beanstalk.Theatre 118 is the latest in the long and fine tradition of DIY small theatre producers and makers, and this conversation with David is the per

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to returning guest, writer Tom Brogan to talk all about his latest book Dalglish: The Fifty Matches That Made the Player which is published by Pitch Publishing.This was a real treat for Ali as Kenny Dalglish is his first, and arguably greatest, hero, and the two talked about what the player, and the man, means to them both (and they are remarkably similar stories).Tom then sets out the structure of the book, the inspiration behind wanting to write it, the research involved, and why the timing of publication was perfect.Ali then picks 10 matches/chapters to discuss to try and give an overview of the book, the stories told, and give part of the picture of the man himself from schools and amateur days, through his time at Celtic, the move to Liverpool, European success, playing for Scotland, becoming a player/manager, and beyond.It's always a pleasure to have Tom on the podcast and this became an hour of celebration of, and adoration for, a player who is conce

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer, broadcaster and campaigner Darren McGarvey (also known as rapper Loki) to talk about his book and live show, Trauma Industrial Complex, and the album Not Funded By Creative Scotland, which are three central strands of the same multi-media project, and the two discuss just how they work together, but also stand alone.Darren talks about the challenges of taking the show to the Fringe, but why it was important to do so, before talking about the differences, and similitude, in writing the book, album, and for a live performance, and the responses to each.The two then discuss each strand in detail - how the album was recorded, the research behind the book, the difference between committing words to the page, and saying them on stage, and where his love of language comes from.Darren explains what the Trauma Industrial Complex is, talks about the contradiction at the heart of the book, the difference between sharing and oversharing, the freedom that his mus