A Kick Up The Arts with Nicola Meighan – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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The last 30-odd years of Scottish culture would look, and sound, wildly different - and woefully less thrilling - without musician and songwriter Emma Pollock - co-founder of the Delgados, and the Chemikal Underground label (whose bands included Arab Strap, Mogwai, bis) - and Chem19 Studios, which has welcomed Deacon Blue, Calvin Harris and Franz Ferdinand over the years.

Emma's also an incredible solo artist, and we caught up at her kitchen table in Glasgow, to chat about her outstanding latest album, Begging The Night To Take Hold… Or rather, we tried to - but we ended up reflecting on the ritualism of coffee, science and magic, broken songs and silhouettes - and getting by one day at a time. 

We sang the praises of female and non-binary collective, Hen Hoose, too - which stars Emma among myriad other musical wonders. They're live at Edinburgh Queen's Hall this Thursday, May 28th - and I'll be onstage in conversation with them as well. There's also a screening of a film by Zoe Patterson Macinnes about the making of their fantastic album, The Twelve…

Emma is the most warm, welcoming, insightful guest, and it was a pleasure to chat to her, as always. And also - if you're on the lookout for a song that fuses visual art legends the Glasgow Girls and Madonna's Dear Jessie, then - guess what - we've got you covered...

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This episode, recorded live, is dedicated to one of Scotland’s most brilliant, singular, and quietly radical voices…

One hundred years ago today, Agnes Owens was born, and it was such a joy to be part of her centenary celebrations at Milngavie Town Hall last weekend, reflecting on the writer’s wit and wonder with literary dream team Dani Garivelli, Kirstin Innes, Heather Parry and Kirsty Logan… 

They’ve written new introductions to Agnes' first four extraordinary books as part of Polygon’s major reissue campaign - and they discussed Agnes' incredible work, and words…

I was also joined in conversation by Agnes' son (and literary executor) John Crosbie , and Sorcha Dallas, who’s the custodian of the Alasdair Gray and Agnes Owens Archives. 

Alasdair illustrated some of Agnes’ covers, and is a name often connected to the writer, along with James Kelman - all three featured in the Lean Tales anthology - and the legendary Liz Lochhead… And I’ve always loved the quote from Ali Smith, that revels in Agnes’ “deadpan gothic” qualities…

Later on in this episode, Dani, Kirsty, Kirstin and Heather  discuss Gentlemen of the West, Like Birds in the Wilderness, A Working Mother and For the Love of Willie - all published in the 1980s and 90s - but first up, here’s Sorcha and John…

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I’m delighted to be joined by one of our best-loved, and most successful writers, who’s sold over 30 million copies of his best-selling Rebus novels - not to mention theatre, TV and radio spin-offs, all based in Edinburgh. 

He’s also a broadcaster, a sometime rock ‘n’ roll star, and a Fifer with a fab taste in music - and a Knighthood to boot…

He is of course Sir Ian Rankin, and this conversation was recorded at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, as part of last year’s wonderful Outwith Festival… 

Ian recalled visiting the historic venue as a wee boy growing up in nearby Cardenden, and he reflected on some key cultural touchstones for him through the years - from the punk spirit of The Skids and the riotous language of A Clockwork Orange, to Muriel Spark’s darkest humour, and Alison Watt’s sublime visual art.

We also discussed Ian’s latest Rebus best-seller, the thrilling Midnight and Blue, which sees his legendary detective banged up in an Edinburgh prison… 

There were various technical gremlins on the night, so this audio recording’s not the best quality - but rest assured it settles down after the first 30 seconds or so, so bear with us while there are a few doors banging and people getting settled down… 

And it’s well worth staying around, to hear Ian’s tales of rocking some bleach-spattered “sexy blue overalls” that he nicked from a local chicken factory - and selling one of his own paintings to Jack Vettriano… 

Renaissance man or what…

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My special guest on this episode is a woman - an icon - whose brilliant debut album sounded like nothing else when it hurtled into our musical landscape 35 years ago - and there really is still nothing like it…

The record’s The Same Sky, the artist is the mighty Horse, and since that record’s release in 1990, she’s raised the roof, and fired up our hearts, with records like God’s Home Movie, and The Road Less Travelled… 

She’s shared a stage with Burt Bacharach, she’s toured with Tina Turner, and we chatted about all that - and about her early days making music with her former Horse collaborator Angela McAlinden… We also celebrated 35 years of The Same Sky, and looked forward to her Celtic Connections show, which is later this month…

It’s at Glasgow’s Barrowlands, in cahoots with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, three decades since their first groundbreaking union at the legendary venue. 

We recorded this chat live at The Stand in Edinburgh a few months back - thanks so much if you were in our joyous audience… 

Horse played three songs live for us too - You Could Be Forgiven and Sweet Thing - I can’t include the full versions, because there are so many rights issues around music and podcasts that I’m worried this episode will get taken down if I push my luck…

BUT - if you stay for our chat, then you’ll also hear Horse signing off with a stunning a capella version of Careful… Everything falls into place…

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In this episode, I'm joined by an actor, writer, comedian and TV star, thanks to roles in Look Around You; Fags, Mags & Bags; Dept Q; I Swear; the new Irn Bru advert - and of course, Still Game... 

He's also a synthesizer and keytar maverick who’s played on-stage with Wilco - but we'll come to that.. 

Sanjeev’s starring in a new adults-only panto this month - Patter Productions’ The Wizard Wae The Big Baws - which is touring Greenock, Dumbarton and Glasgow this month, so we chat about that, and his life and work - and his choice of a favourite Scottish album, film and book… 

We recorded this live at The Stand in Glasgow - thanks so much if you joined us in the audience, to hear Sanjeev’s tales of stalking Chris de Burgh, twitter spats with Carol Decker, Bollywood fever-dreams on Still Game - and who’d play him in his biopic. Spoiler alert: it’s one of The Krankies… 

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In this episode - recorded live at the wonderful Stand in Glasgow - I’m joined by a legendary musician, singer and songwriter who’s been associated with so many bands and artists that if I listed them all, we’d be here till next week… 

They include, however, The Pretty Flowers - with BMX Bandits’ Duglas T Stewart, The Soup Dragons’ Sean Dickson, and The Vaselines’ Frances McKee - not to mention The Boy Hairdressers, The Clouds, The New Mendicants, Jonny, Jad Fair, De La Soul, Butler Blake and Grant - and Teenage Fanclub…

He is the glorious Norman Blake, and he chatted about his life and work - and a favourite Scottish album, film and book - via budgies, Bellshill, boiler suits, roller blinds, touring with Nirvana - and rock ‘n’ roll bungalows…

He played us some fab songs live too, he told me he’d rocked up with his guitar tuned to Nashville - but music on podcasts is a bloody minefield for various rights reasons - so I can’t include them.. Trust me, they were awesome - and not least because I accompanied him, uninvited, on the tambourine… 

Go buy all his records though, and I’ll list some upcoming live shows after our chat. But for now - to a winter’s afternoon, on the Great Western Road, with Norman Blake… 

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This episode was recorded live at Glasgow’s Civic House a few weeks back, as part of the brilliant Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival…

I was joined by three of Scotland’s most vital songwriters and musicians, for an evening of live music and conversation that reflected on the ways in which music and creativity can have an impact on mental health - for better, and worse - both on a personal level, and with regard to bringing about wider social change, and kindness, and understanding…

Emma Pollock's a founder member of hugely loved Scottish band the Delgados, and the revolutionary label Chemikal Underground. She led the Music Like A Vitamin and Fruit Tree Foundation projects alongside Idlewild’s Rod Jones, which grew from previous work with the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, in association with the Mental Health Foundation. 

She’s just released an absolutely glorious new album, it’s called Begging The Night To Take Hold, and its release follows a period of huge personal upheaval, and an autism diagnosis… 

Jo Mango is a musician, songwriter and academic whose work ranges from touring with Vashti Bunyan to her involvement with incredible initiatives like Vox Liminis’ Distant Voices and A Giant on the Bridge - which explored experiences of the criminal justice system from various perspectives - and Listening To Voices, which engaged creatively with people who hear voices - often those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia…

Jo’s forthcoming album, The Lightswitch, has a strong focus on mental health - exploring the ‘ghost voices’ of women who have left the music industry because of harassment, abuse or toxic environments…

Amy Duncan, meanwhile, is a musician, singer and songwriter who I first met when she played in punk-folk outfit Swelling Meg with Cora Bissett in the late 1990s - and I loved them so much I put out their album… Since then, you might have seen Amy onstage brandishing her double bass in the National Theatre of Scotland’s awesome June Carter Cash show, or marvelled at her solo albums… 

She’s gearing up to release Greetings From Gartnavel, her third collaboration with lyricist David Paton, which is an album of songs shining a light on David’s experiences with schizophrenia - and this episode is bookended by Amy and David’s songs together, to let their music do the talking. Their album’s out via Last Night From Glasgow in January…

For rights reasons - because music on podcasts is a bit of a minefield, to be honest - you’ll only hear clips of the tracks that Amy, Jo and Emma performed - but seek out their records, go see them live!

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This week I'm hearing from two terrific writers whose latest books are perfect for cosy reading over the next few weeks - and beyond... 

Jenny Colgan is a best-selling author. whose latest - The Secret Christmas Library - follows accidental book detective Mirren, and Jamie, who's desperately trying to do his best on a crumbling family estate in the Highlands... It's a snowed-in, fired-up celebration of family, secrets, ancient novels, dogs, adventures, mysteries, castles - and devastatingly handsome men... 

Andrew Meehan has worked for the Irish Film Board and teaches Creative Writing at Strathclyde University, and his books include the wonderful One Star Awake and The Mystery of Love. His latest, Best Friends, sees seventy-somethings Ray and June falling into ways of life, and love, they never thought possible - via books and bikes and honey bees, and the wonder of hedges, knees, and surprises...

Listen in, and catch Jenny and Andrew at St Andrew's Book Festival in London's St Columba's Church at the end of this November... I'll also be there, chatting with Irvine Welsh and John Niven together - we'll be there on Saturday night, that's November 29th at 8pm - and before that, at teatime - I'll be in conversation with Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi - aka the Witches of Scotland - about their publishing phenomenon, How To Kill A Witch...

For now though, to a bright and frosty Edinburgh morning, with Jenny Colgan, and Andrew Meehan, and piping hot coffee and excellent pastries - to talk about life, love, getting older, memory and expectations, winters nights and travellers - and Italo Calvino gets a seasonal look-in too...

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In this episode I’m delighted to be joined by actor, artist, comedian and Still Game favourite Gavin Mitchell who - among other things - is known and loved as Boabby the Barman…

His work includes early roles on stage and behind the scenes at The Citz in Glasgow, via Velvet Soup, Monarch of the Glen, Bill Forsyth’s Being Human, Casablanca: The Gin Joint Cut - and various dramas with his kindred spirit John Byrne, including the Tutti Frutti theatre show…

We recorded this conversation live at The Stand in Edinburgh as part of this year’s Fringe, and Gavin took us on an imaginary evening of entertainment chez Mitchell, discussing his choice of a Scottish album, film and book, along with his own life and work. Come for his Mick Jagger impressions; stay for the chat about Peter Pan: though I warn you; it gets pretty dark… 

If you’re a fan of Still Game incidentally, another legend - Sanjeev Kohli, aka Navid - joins me at The Stand in Glasgow on November 13th, at half two - we’ll be having a similar chat to this, and it’d be lovely to see you there… there’s more info at akickupthearts.org

For now though, back to Gavin Mitchell, live in Auld Reekie… 

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In this episode, I’m joined by  the brilliant poet Hollie McNish, whose latest collection, Virgin, is out this week. We caught up last night in her dressing room, ahead of a sold-out gig at Glasgow’s Oran Mor, kicking off her Scottish book tour.

Virgin is a blazing, bright, riled love letter to the best of us - which is most of us - in the face of man-made constructs, expectations, blame, shame, and abuses of power. It features mashed potatoes, pomegranates, warm baths, pornhub comments, rebel yells, kissing trees, butter dishes and radical hope.

(I’m also now madly in love with Benny from Accounts, incidentally - but you’ll need to read the book to find out why.)

Anyway - we sat down for a blether, for an All Back To Mine special, where Hollie chose us a Scottish album, book and film…

We spoke about love, life, words, power; women, children, masculinity; Shirley Manson, Michael Mullen, roller-skates, and Gregory's Girl. 

(You can also watch a very DIY film of our chat in Hollie's dressing room on YouTube, if you like!)

Hollie's live at Toppings' St Andrews tonight (October 20), at Dunkeld's Birnam Arts on the 21st, at Mac Arts in Galashiels on the 22nd, at Portobello Town Hall on the 23rd, and then she's at Push the Boat Out with Michael Pedersen in Edinburgh on November 8th.