The Creeping Bent Organisation is delighted to announce two additions to the final Glasgow event by Creeping Bent to celebrate the endgame after 30 years of avant-pop agitation. Radhika & Future Pilot AKA and QUAD90 will be performing at Mono on 12.12.25. Tickets-Pop Mutations.

Since deleting Twitter I’ve noticed a big drop in my Bandcamp sales. If you’re a music fan, please repost this so people can find me here! I make weirdo alt pop, I hate nazis and love Etsy witches 🖤✨ elisabethelektra.bandcamp.com

Happy #NationalPoetryDay 📕 I have chosen the shortest poem in my book ‘Barbed Halo’ to share with you as it fits nicely with this most sinister of months. Viva October!

#OneDrop is a celebration of reggae through poetry accompanied by image and sound. #5 in the sequence is a celebration of Trojan Records, led by Mark Fiddes and his brilliant poem 'This Extraordinary General Meeting is brought to you by Trojan Records'. onedroppoetry.substack.com/p/one-drop-f...

FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO CALEDONIA Lorna Goodison, the former Poet Laureate of Jamaica, in conversation with Scotland's Makar, Peter Mackay. Recorded outdoors beside the River Nith at the Robert Burns Ellisland Farm & Museum. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/from...

At the Edinburgh launch of Barbed Halo. By myself. With my one book for sale. * 😂🤣 *disclaimer - other people were there & other books were available for sale.

1 poem published in the Morecambe Poetry Festival Anthology alongside the likes of Luke Wright, Henry Normal & John Hegley. ‘Akihabara Electric Town’ (Tokyo, Japan) was written after a discussion with a workmate who visited this wholly fascinating place. Thank you, Jamie! Publication- AND a badge!

There is an argument to be made for & against several of points highlighted about Scottish Poetry (+ all who live within it) by Hugh Mcmillan in the Spring issue of the The Poets Republic but I thought this was a fascinating article which raised matters of funding, ageism, ego-stroking, and purpose.

One of the many subject matters I write about in Barbed Halo, in case you were interested…..

We're delighted to be teaming up with Summerhall Arts this November for this special event! We're bringing together artists, producers & funders to explore the many routes into building & sustaining a career in spoken word poetry in Scotland. FREE, ticketed: www.summerhallarts.co.uk/event/career...

The crowd do their best seagull impressions during my turn at ‘Words With Seagulls’ in Falkirk this afternoon 😂

Falkirk launch of BARBED HALO takes place on Sunday (21 Sept) at Words With Seagulls in the Tolbooth Tavern. This runs from 2-4pm and is free entry with open mic (£3 donation for snacks/wraps). Some outstanding poets on the bill, and all welcome.

Falkirk launch of BARBED HALO takes place on Sunday (21 Sept) at Words With Seagulls in the Tolbooth Tavern. This runs from 2-4pm and is free entry with open mic (£3 donation for snacks/wraps). Some outstanding poets on the bill, and all welcome.

Snatched this picture in Dumbarton yesterday. The contrast between direction, light/shade, and lifespans all immediately caught my eye…. ….or it was simply a cool guy walking through a tunnel.

@asls.org.uk how about a little repost of the cover for my new poetry book HIGH BALL TO THE WEE MAN - in which I measure out my life in Scotland World Cup campaigns - out on 1st Oct and available for preorder in the usual places now???

This is an amazing book. A real testament to Dan Jennings interviewing style, making everyone (especially Paul Weller) feel completely comfortable and relaxed in recalling stories and events that bind them to the life-affirming impact Paul’s music has had, and continues to have.

Greatly looking forward to hitting Edinburgh on Friday 26th Sept for the joint-launch of Barbed Halo with Spencer Mason once more. Get it in your diaries !

Once a year, I allow myself the liberty of publishing one of my own poems in @nutmegmagazine.bsky.social. In Issue 37 (available to buy below), my poem “Sunday Morning At Mini Kickers” appears at the back of another incredible issue of Nutmeg. www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/nutmeg/nutme...

Very happy to take a Highly Commended award for my poem ‘National Paperclip Day’ in this year’s Morecambe Poetry Festival competition The wonderful John Hegley was judge for this one so I had to enter, & glad to make it among the top choices of over 400 entries pandemonialists.co.uk/morecambe-po...

🇯🇲 One Drop Poetry has launched!!!! 🇯🇲 So busy was yesterday that I ran out of time to announce that Andy Jackson and I have finally created a Substack available for all to celebrate the 80th year of lifelong hero, Bob Marley. One poem per week for the next few months - remember to subscribe!

Co-headlined Balloch with the unrivalled Prince of Paisley, Graham Fulton tonight. What an absolute joy to read from ‘Barbed Halo’ alongside such a force of nature. Graham was headliner when I first ever stepped up to the mic in 2010. He continues to make my jaw drop. Wonderful writer.

Honoured 🙏 to be recognised in the Trophaeum magazine. @trophaeum1648.bsky.social Thank you very much for the feature and thoughtful write-up. I Hope it helps us achieve our goals.

Remember that the Balloch-leg of my ‘Barbed Halo’ book launches takes place tomorrow night (Mon 1st Sept) in the Balloch House Hotel. One of the hotel’s most famous visitors was Hans Christian Anderson so it will be fine company to be among literary types. 7.00pm. Free. Co-headliner Graham Fulton.

Barbed Halo - Stirling launch - tonight (Mon 25th August) at Stirling Central Library. 6pm start. I will be reading alongside the Wanderlust Women. Hosted by Charlie Gracie and entirely free. Do come along if you have nothing to do on a Monday night & fancy an hour out your house.

Reminder… The deadline for submissions to RC XV is tomorrow evening @midnight. We’re looking for more photography, so if anyone’s interested in submitting some work to us, it’d be greatly appreciated. In a word document ONLY to; [email protected] Many thanks and Best Wishes to you all. X RC ✊❤️

I will be reading from my new book ‘Barbed Halo’ alongside the fantastic Wanderlust Women in dear old Stirling town on Monday evening. Free event but note it is an early start (6pm). Looking forward to returning to Stirling, and the chance to air some more gothic poetry.

I will be reading from my new book ‘Barbed Halo’ alongside the fantastic Wanderlust Women in dear old Stirling town on Monday evening. Free event but note it is an early start (6pm). Looking forward to returning to Stirling, and the chance to air some more gothic poetry.

Poetry is dedicated to attempting to define stuff that's instrinsically indefinable. As a consequence, poems have no choice but to be heroic failures. And therein lies their value.

Oasisn’t

My review of April Four’s new album ‘Amendment’ is available to read at @intocreative.bsky.social below 👇🏻 intocreative.co.uk/into-music-a...

Thanks Peter 🙏🏻

Oasis at Murrayfield entirely living up to the hype in Edinburgh yesterday. Outstanding set (perhaps the best of the seven times I’ve seen them) and a really great crowd urging on the lads with an excitement akin to their 90’s zenith.

We are accepting submissions for our very first issue! 🌴 Into the Liminal Light – poetry, short stories and visual art that explores ideas of utopia, exile, bliss, longing and transition. 🌀 Minimal Liminal and Visual Liminal – flash fiction or images that live between boundaries. Deadline: 31 August

I'm delighted to be appearing at the first ever Whitby Lit Fest. Please come and join me in my favourite town in England, on Saturday 8 November at 11am. whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/upon-a...

Come and be part of a live Take Four Books audience this Saturday at Edinburgh International Book Festival - I’m talking to Rachel Kushner about her Booker-shortlisted Creation Lake and 3 influences! Book your FREE tickets here 👇 www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

What joy to host Balmahaiku on Sun a/noon at Balmaha Visitor Centre. This was in support of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park ‘Nature Connections’ campaign, and treated an audience to several wonderful poets including invited guest Emma Mooney & RSPB Poet in Residence, Bobby Motherwell.

When you think of giving up and you see more children being employed as maids and bartenders in your area. #WontBackDown

It's sold out (!), but shout-out to our Grand Slam Final with @edbookfest.bsky.social on 9th August, which I'm very excited to watch and absolutely dreading judging given the immense talent in store. Keep an eye out for the full video on our YouTube afterwards. www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

I'm opening the Bloody Scotland festival this year on the Friday afternoon with a SETTING THE (CRIME) SCENE event with Simon Toyne and Allan Gaw, chaired by the wonderful Professor James Grieve. Info and tickets: https://bit.ly/3IpzG1l ##BloodyScotland #CrimeFiction

Fine evening at Bloc+ tonight to catch April Four. Pictured alongside Ken McCluskey (Bluebells), DJ Harry from the Sub Club, Brian Docherty (April Four) and Stephen Scott (Have Mercy Las Vegas). Good night you put on, Attack Release.

What joy to host Balmahaiku on Sun a/noon at Balmaha Visitor Centre. This was in support of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park ‘Nature Connections’ campaign, and treated an audience to several wonderful poets including invited guest Emma Mooney & RSPB Poet in Residence, Bobby Motherwell.

Another of @azjackson.bsky.social’s tentacular online projects, this one a collaboration with @simonbarraclough.bsky.social, which features a future self, Oor Wullie Nemo XVII/17. #NewBootsAndPantisocracies & #ProjectAbeona - together we’re space bootsier (and snudge)!

This shot was taken a few weeks ago at my Barbed Halo book launch. Some of my absolute favourite creatives from Glasgow squeezed into one pic. Missing 1 or 2, but lucky to have the support of these guys. L-R Stephen Watt, George Paterson, Julie Rea, Ali Braidwood, Stephen Cameron & Jason Golaup

We’re delighted to let you know we’re open for submissions to RC XV. Short stories, poems, artwork, photography all welcome. Word count : 1k Deadline : midnight : 22/8/25 Please send in a word doc to: [email protected] We love you. X RC X ✊❤️

The Scots Whay Hae! podcast speaks to the 5 authors shortlisted for this year’s @bloodyscotland.bsky.social Scottish Crime Writing Debut of the Year award 💙📚 www.scotswhayhae.com/post/the-swh...

A very special work. Get yours today.

If you were unable to make my book launch on 1 July, or it’s unlikely you’ll make any forthcoming launches across Scotland, I have some copies of ‘Barbed Halo’ available for sale. Please DM me if you would like to buy a copy (£9 and P&P if in the UK) and I can arrange to get one sent out to you.

Ben Ottewell (Gomez) playing at Doon The Swanny festival in the Vale Masonic on Sunday night. A timely reminder of some of the fantastic alternative music in the 90’s while Britpop, Girl Power and Trance dominated the charts. Closer ‘Tijuana Lady’ remains as quixotic and lush as ever.

A Romantic’s Ruin - filmed at Dumbarton castle - is three years old. Here it is once more if you missed it first time around. youtu.be/grxzh_o005w