A hugely talented Brooklyn guy is gone. I always enjoyed seeing Neil Sedaka’s plaque on the Celebrity Path @brooklynbotanic.bsky.social, not least because of my love for this magnificent song. youtube.com/watch?v=U4-u...

Just posted my picks for Richard Shaw’s poll of the best debut albums of 2005-09: 1. LCD Soundsystem: s/t (2005) 2. Vampire Weekend: s/t (2007) 3. Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005) 4. The Last Shadow Puppets: The Age of the Understatement (2008) 5. The Horrors: Strange House (2007)

I'm in the new anthology from Tantallon Tìr: tantallontir.com/product/call... "From St Kilda to Samoa, Call of the Isles sails into islands beset with grief, violence, hope, regret, and recovery. A stunning set of stories from the best Scottish and Scotland-based writers in the world."

My first attempt at poetry in Gaelic (together with my English translation) has just seen the light of day. Thanks to Scottish Mountaineering Press for the prompt and opportunity. scottishmountaineeringpress.com/creatives/pu...

Just posted my 5 debut albums of the 50s & 60s for Richard Shaw’s latest poll: 1. Scott Walker: Scott (1967) 2. Jacques Brel: Jacques Brel et ses chansons (1954) 3. Leonard Cohen: Songs of LC (1967) 4. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced (1967) 5. The Velvet U’ground: The VU & Nico (1967)

We're delighted to reveal the covers for three titles by the great Scottish novelist Neil M. Gunn, including a centenary edition of his remarkable debut, The Grey Coast. Read more about each book and pre-order information on our website: www.northhousepress.co.uk/books #Booksky 📚💙

Just cast my votes for Richard Shaw’s poll for the best debut albums of the period 1990-94: 1. Pavement: Slanted & Enchanted (1992) 2. Gallon Drunk: You, the Night… and the Music (1992) 3. The Breeders: Pod (1990) 4. Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994) 5. Babes In Toyland: Spanking Machine (1990)

Very much looking forward to participating in this discussion of poetry, language, languages and style at the Edinburgh Literary Salon on Tuesday. Copies of DoL will be available for purchase, signing and dedication. Come along! Have a chat!

Such a privilege to have readers who are willing to journey into a poem with you.

Thanks to whichever end of year show earwormed me with this deathless banger youtu.be/4iF47M3YDlg

I didn’t get the irony of the title first time around, partly because next to, say, En Trance To Exit, this is an ambient album. #5DebutAlbums9094 youtu.be/S8-n8vE7kSM

Probably the monster that is most responsible for the nature of my artistic temperament and tastes 😱 Gallon Drunk: You, the Night ... and the Music (1992) #5DebutAlbums9094

Broadcasting C21st poetry from the 80s for NY2026 via the magic of @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social! Tonight’s readers for the latest Broken Sleep launch event prove that contemporary poetry is alive and thriving. Check out their Best of 2025 anthology for the evidence!

TODAY!!!

I’ll be reading from my new poetry pamphlet at Broken Sleep Books' – @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social – online launch for their latest releases tomorrow, FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, at 8pm GMT. You can register for a link to the event for as little as £1. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/broken-sle...

Just posted my selections for Richard Shaw’s best 5 albums of 2025 poll, as follows: 1. Gutterblood –Good Dogs Will Never Die 2. Wednesday – Bleeds 3. Hannah Cohen – Earthstar Mountain 4. VLURE – Escalate 5. HMHB – All Asimov & No Fresh Air

Glad to hear on the radio this morning that “hot streaks” of impactful creative output aren’t tied to starting young.

Sounds perfect! Ordered. @rickyballboy.bsky.social

My debut poetry pamphlet is available to order now from @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social. Find out more in the thread below 👇

Drawer of Letters by Ricky Monahan Brown is a wry, elegiac and formally varied collection that navigates illness, grief, intimacy and reinvention with intelligence and bite. @rickyballboy.bsky.social www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

Logged my nominations for Richard Shaw’s poll for the best debut albums of 1970-74: 1. Neu! – Neu! (1972) 2. Musik von Harmonia – Harmonia (1974) 3. Faust – Faust (1971) 4. Lou Reed – Lou Reed (1972) 5. Kraftwerk – Kraftwerk (1970)

Just saw a mutual posting about favourite Christmas songs. So, I guess it’s time for Nerd Bait* to ruin Christmas… *RIP on.soundcloud.com/B2PEZzINAh7N...

Ok. *Now* it’s Christmas!

On 2nd ***January***, I’ll be reading from Drawer of Letters at an online launch event with other poets who have work upcoming from the award-winning Broken Sleep Books. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/broken-sle...

My debut poetry pamphlet is available for pre-order from the mighty @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social. Advance praise calls Drawer of Letters “wonderfully audacious”. Find out more and order a copy: brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

It wouldn’t be too far out of bounds to suggest that discovering the radio adaptation of Stoppard’s Arcadia – utilising the cast of the original National Theatre production – as a teenager was a life-altering experience for me.

Just posted my nominations for Richard Shaw’s poll for the best debut albums of 2010-14: 1. Parquet Courts: American Specialties (2011) 2. Run the Jewels: Run the Jewels (2013) 3. Sleigh Bells: Treats (2010) 4. Alvvays: Alvvays (2014) 5. Chvrches: The Bones of What You Believe (2013)

Eagle-eyed readers of the material from @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social quoted in my last post may deduce that further announcements are imminent… 🔍

Proud to have my poetry included in the Broken Sleep Books Anthology 2025, which gathers together standout, risk-taking writing from the award-winning independent press. Support vibrant, compelling contemporary literature and discover your new favourite writers now!

Happy RLS Day to those who celebrate. Why not mark the day by picking up a copy of 274 Miles from Tantallon Tìr? It includes my short homage to Stevenson's gnomic Fables. tantallontir.com/shop/

This @natlibscot.bsky.social event at the Kelvin Hall on 12 Nov should be a cracker. www.nls.uk/whats-on/lib...

Rightly lauded from Poland to Brazil. If you want vital new Scottish music, support vital new Scottish music. New album from Gutterblood* 👇 gutterbloodband.bandcamp.com/album/good-dog… *I don’t know the band, I’m not involved in anyway; just a fan who wants vital new Scottish music.

Very much hoping his 8yo son tied him up in the trunk and went looking for Sissy Spacek, a Lee Jean jacket, and a mansion to knock over. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/m...

Just submitted my votes for Richard Shaw’s poll for the best 5 debut albums of 1980-84: 1. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions: Rattlesnakes (1984) 2. Billy Bragg: Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy (1983) 3. Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (1983) 4. The Smiths: The Smiths (1984) 5. R.E.M.: Murmur (1983)

My nominations for Richard Shaw’s poll of the best best debut album of 2000 to 2004 are: 1. Gravenhurst: Internal Travels (2001) 2. The Strokes: Is This It (2001) 3. Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand (2004) 4. The Libertines: Up The Bracket (2002) 5. Röyksopp: Melody A.M. (2001)

You wait ages for an RMB reading... (sic) Come! Offer moral support! Enjoy writing by people who aren’t me! 274 Miles launch: Grosvenor Cafe, Glasgow, 1 Oct at 6pm; Poetry on the Links premiere, Les Bijou (on the Links) Bistro, Leith, 3 Oct at 6:30pm

Via new Scottish publisher Tantallon Tìr: “Book launch: We’ll be having our 274 Miles book launch on the 1st of October at The Grosvenor Café on Ashton Lane in their Mezzanine area. We’ll have author readings and books available to buy. 18:00-20:00.” I’m one of the contributors. Do come along.

I’ve posted my selections for the final of Richard Shaw’s polls for the best 5 albums of the 50s and 60s: 1. Scott Walker – Scott 4 2. Scott Walker – Scott 3. Bob Dylan – Bringing It All Back Home 4. Townes Van Zandt – Townes Van Zandt 5. Simon & Garfunkel – Sounds Of Silence

Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Time has been a towering achievement in British broadcasting. Right now, it’s hard to imagine someone steeping into his shoes. Might have to make a regular Thursday appt to dip into the archives…

Scottish PEN has issued a statement regarding the arrest of award-winning Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty and calling on the authorities to respect the legitimate right of people to protest in support of the ideal of one humanity living in peace in one world 👇 scottishpen.org/statement-on...

My picks for SF5 of Richard Shaw’s 50s-60s albums polls: 1. Bob Dylan – Bringing It All Back Home 2. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin 3. Leonard Cohen – The Songs Of Leonard Cohen 4. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Willy And The Poor Boys 5. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica

Je parle un peu français seulement, mais La Promesse Brel avec Arnaud Askoy et ses partenaires musicaux à l'Institut Français Écosse, c'était magnifique

Via new Scottish publisher Tantallon Tìr for 274 Miles, a collection of work by some of the most exciting contemporary writers in Scotland (and me): ‘Finish something. Stare at its imperfections, fix them, expunge them, do whatever you need to do, but finish it.’ tantallontir.com/author-spotl...

The legal people have insisted that Morrissey will now have to stand in for Terence Stamp

Today marks the 133rd anniversary of the birth of Scottish PEN / @scottishpen.bsky.social founder Hugh MacDiarmid. The film linked below was made to mark his 80th birthday in 1972, and features MacDiarmid in conversation with his son Michael & fellow poet Norman MacCaig. tinyurl.com/2r2w6pr3

Just posted my picks for the 4th semifinal of Richard Shaw’s Albums Of The 50s & 60s polls: 1. Bob Dylan – Highway 61…(1965) 2. Simon & Garfunkel – Sounds Of Silence (1966) 3. Bob Dylan – Freewheelin’ Bob…(1963) 4. Kinks – Are The VGPS (1968) 5. Ennio Morricone – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (1966)

Look what just dropped through the door! Looking forward to getting into this @plumeriapics.bsky.social 50th anniversary edition of Alan Sharp’s novelisation of his screenplay for Night Moves, inc an introduction from Matthew Asprey Gear and an afterword by David Manderson.

Very pleased to be included in this collection of short pieces featuring what Tantallon Tìr is describing as ‘the very best writers from, or living in, Scotland’ 😲 Looking forward to reading the 274 Miles anthology! tantallontir.com/product/274-...

Via the good folks at Tantallon Tìr, “[a] nice mention for the [274 Miles] anthology in the Kirkcudbright Book Week.” I particularly liked this bit: “Tantallon Tìr says that the collection features ‘the very best writers from, or living in, Scotland’.” kirkcudbrightbookweek.org/2025/07/18/a...