The 2024 Paisley Book Festival, themed “Imagine Something Different,” invites attendees to embark on a transformative journey into the world of stories and storytelling. Embracing the festival’s renowned radical edge, this year’s theme encourages us to step beyond conventional boundaries and seek out new ideas with the help of award-winning writers from Scotland and beyond. Through a diverse programme that challenges and inspires, we’ll be exploring the endless possibilities of the imagination.
Poets In Paisley Present an Evening with Nutmeg
25th April at 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Nights at the Round Table: 10th Anniversary Open Mic
25th April at 9:00 - 10:30 pm
The Big Paisley Book Club with Sara Sheridan – SOLD OUT
26th April at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Writing in Gaelic with Shelagh Campbell
26th April at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Bards, Bans and Ballers: the Tall Tales of Women’s Football in Scotland
26th April at 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Scandal Awaits with Sara Sheridan and Lesley McDowell
26th April at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Myth Re-Imagined: A Writing Workshop
26th April at 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Riding the Waves: Olumide Popoola
26th April at 3:45 - 4:45 pm
Working Lives: Andrew McMillan with Rebecca Smith
26th April at 5:00 - 6:00 pm
In a New Light: Merryn Glover and Hamish Napier
26th April at 6:15 - 7:15 pm
The Janet Coats Memorial Prizegiving
26th April at 6:30 - 7:30 pm
The Beautiful Game: Pat Nevin
26th April at 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Burning wi Burns: a Cabaret of Bards
26th April at 9:00 - 10:30 pm
Puppet Making Workshop – SOLD OUT
27th April at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Happiness Collectors
27th April at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Wee Magic Book: A Reimaginging of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” – SOLD OUT
27th April at 10.30 - 11:30 am
Writing the Wrongs of the Past with Ajay Close and Donna Moore
27th April at 10:30 - 11:30 am
Making Stories Move with Bookbug
27th April at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Soundplay Projects: Sub Bass Soft Space
27th April at 1.30pm - 4pm
The Magic of Storytelling (workshop)
27th April at 12.00 - 1:00 pm
While the Penny Spins: Climate-based Poetry
27th April at 1:15 - 2:15 pm
Spoken Word Workshop with the Loud Poets
27th April at 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Rescripting the Mainstream: Len Pennie and Sarah Grant
27th April at 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Red Runs the Witch’s Thread with Victoria Williamson
27th April at 5:30 - 6:45 pm
Moments of Radical Joy: Cecilia Knapp and Simone Seales
27th April at 6:15 - 7:15 pm
Loud Poets Poetry Slam: West Heat
27th April at 7:30 - 9:30 pm
What the Sea Said: Sheila Armstrong and Noel O’Regan
28th April at 10:30 - 11:30 am
Walking and Writing Paisley: A Visual Poetry Workshop
28th April at 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Going Off Grid with Peter MacQueen, Anna Deacon and Vicky Allan
28th April at 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Poetry and Landscape: Following the Paths of David Gray’s ‘The Luggie’
28th April at 1:15 - 2:15 pm
The Place Which Shaped Us: Jan Carson and Dawn Watson
Sunday 28th April at 1:15-2:15pm
Andrew O’Hagan – Caledonian Road
Sunday 28th April at 2:30-3:30pm
A Paisley of Possibilities: Poetry workshop with Paisley Museum
28th April at 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Uncanny Tales with Camilla Grudova and Genevieve Jagger
28th April at 3:45 - 4:45 pm
Scottish Masculinities: Graeme Armstrong, Alan Bissett and Brian Conaghan
28th April at 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Under: a performance by Imogen Stirling and Susan Bear
28th April at 6:15 - 7:15 pm
Anoraq + Special Guests: An Evening of Live Literature and Music
28th April at 8:00 - 9:30 pm