West Port Book Festival

The West Port Book Festival was set up in 2008 by Hannah Adcock and Peggy Hughes to celebrate the profusion of pages in Edinburgh’s book quarter. The festival plays out over 11 wonderful West Port venues, ranging from singular second-hand bookshops to crisp art spaces and whisky-scented pubs.

The second annual West Port Book Festival ran from 13th-16th August and boasted a diverse and innovative programme of free events. The lucky few were able to hear Douglas Dunn reading his poems whilst surrounded by books and watched over by Clarence, the water buffalo. The lucky many were able to appreciate the performative energy of John Hegley and Tim Turnbull, as they demonstrated why a church hall doesn’t have to be associated with cake sales and line dancing.

We were also pleased to announce a World First – our Literary Twestival. Twits and non-twits alike were invited to write West Port Short Stories, pass the plot and coin some collective nouns into the bargain. This project will continue as booksellers and bibliophiles seem to have a natural aptitude for twittering.

We were also happy to welcome brilliant young writers like Jack Underwood, J. O. Morgan, Eleanor Thom and Alan Bissett. Jack and Alan performed for a packed crowd at Under the Stairs, J. O. did a lovely reading at the cosy Owl & Lion Gallery, whilst Eleanor, along with Elaine Di Rollo, took the big chair at Peter Bell’s Bookshop whilst the audience munched on some home-made cake (thanks Shelagh).

An impressively large number of Irish writers and academics, who have all contributed to the Irish Catullus project, made it over to Edinburgh’s bookish armpit. This brilliant work in progress made for a fabulous Saturday night, with whisky at half time and some lairy screaming from outside to add a bit of raucous atmosphere. Expect to see more of these guys at bigger (if not better!) book festivals.

So, another year gone. And just for the record….
We’re not alternative, we’re just ourselves.

westportbookfestival.org

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