Before 9pm, Books, Reading | Events

Burns an' a' That! Festival

A whole festival dedicated to Scotland’s internationally acclaimed poet Robert Burns. To celebrate the 2013 Year of Natural Scotland, the festival heads outdoors to Belleisle Park for a programme of live music, and visual and performing arts.

Belleisle Park, Ayr

Fri 31 May

Prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

Fri 7 Jun

Prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

Fri 14 Jun

Prices vary / 01292 616143

12:00 – 17:30

…and 11 more dates until 30 Aug

Kate Mosse: Citadel

Author Kate Mosse discusses her latest adventure novel, Citadel, along with the rest of her Languedoc Trilogy.

All Saints Arts Centre, Lewes

Fri 19 Jul

£9–£12.50 / 01903 204321

Talk and Q&A session. Part of Lewes Speakers Festival.

18:30

Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge

Sat 29 Jun

£12 in advance; £15 on the door / 01206 573948

A Readers' Day event.

09:30

Chichester Library

Tue 18 Jun

Prices to be confirmed

19:30

Thu 4 Jul

Prices to be confirmed

In conversation with Phil Hewitt.

19:30

Also on at:

Anatomy

Variety night with a focus on risk-taking performance from any genre.

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 14 Jun

£6 / 0845 874 3001

19:30 – 22:30

Christopher Brookmyre and Mark Billingham

Literature's comedy double act, crime authors Mark Billingham and Christopher Brookmyre will be in store for a talk and signing.

Sloans, Glasgow

Thu 13 Jun

£3 (Members £2) / 0141 221 8886

19:00

Neu! Reekie!

Avant-garde spoken word, film and music fusion night describing itself as 'playing host to the sinister and the sanguine'.

The Poetry Club, Glasgow

Fri 14 Jun

£8

Neu! Reekie! heads back to Glasgow, this time taking along indie trio Sparrow and the Workshop, filmmakers Kim Moore and Gareth Griffiths (with their protest film Hell Unltd) and poet, novelist and performer Kevin Williamson. Plus, a mystery guest! Ooh, who could it be?!

19:15 – 22:15

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 31 May

£7 / 0845 874 3001

With readings from American poet Krystelle Bamford and short story writer McGuire; music from Stevie Jackson of Belle and Sebastian and pop folkies Admiral Fallow; and the usual selection of animated goodness.

19:00 – 22:15

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Adult Reading Groups

Bromley Central Library

Thu 30 May

Free / 020 8460 6037

18:30

Thu 6 Jun

Free / 020 8460 6037

18:30

Thu 13 Jun

Free / 020 8460 6037

18:30

…and 6 more dates until 25 Jul

Donald Hope Library, London SW19

Tue 28 May

Free / 020 8542 1975

10:30 – 11:30

Tue 4 Jun

Free / 020 8542 1975

10:30 – 11:30

Tue 11 Jun

Free / 020 8542 1975

10:30 – 11:30

…and 7 more dates until 30 Jul

Peckham Library, London SE15

Tue 28 May

Free / 020 7525 2000

18:30 – 20:00

Tue 25 Jun

Free / 020 7525 2000

18:30 – 20:00

Tue 30 Jul

Free / 020 7525 2000

18:30 – 20:00

Also on at:

Agony Art

An evening of contemporary dance, physical theatre and performance art, with a different curated theme each time.

Chisenhale Dance Space, London E3

Fri 31 May

£5 / 020 8981 6617

This time it's 'No Man's Land', with Mariana Camiloti, Geneviève Giron & Anne-Gaëlle Thiriot, Mary Ann Hushlak and Holly Blakey & Claudia Palazzo.

18:30 – 21:00

Alexander McCall Smith: The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

The charming author talks about the latest in his No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, the 13th title in the 15-year project.

Harmony Garden, Melrose

Thu 13 Jun

£14 (£12) / 0844 357 1060

Part of Borders Book Festival.

19:30

Andrew Greig with Mike Heron

Novelist, poet, sometime mountain climber and writer-of-unclassifiable-books Greig reads from his new book-length poem Found at Sea, with music from Incredible String Band founder and Greig buddy Mike Heron.

Easter Town Hall, Anstruther

Fri 5 Jul

£10 / 01333 310122

Part of East Neuk Festival.

20:00

Ann Widdecombe: Strictly Ann

The former politician, who joined the old Conservative party in 1964, is out in and about in support of her new autobiography.

Althorp, Northampton

Thu 13 Jun

Entrance with festival pass / 01604 770107

Part of Althorp Literary Festival.

14:00

Creative Innovation Centre, Taunton

Tue 2 Jul

Prices to be confirmed / 01823 337477

19:00

Dartington Hall, Totnes

Mon 8 Jul

Prices to be confirmed / 01803 847147

Part of Ways With Words Festival.

14:30

Also on at:

…and at 6 other places back to top

Arno Geiger: Author Event

A reading from the internationally acclaimed Austrian author.

Austrian Cultural Forum, London SW7

Tue 4 Jun

Free, ticketed / 020 7225 7300

19:00

Bike Slam

Inky Fingers present this bike-themed slam (yeah, bike-themed) in partnership with Edinburgh Festival of Cycling.

The Forest Café, Edinburgh

Mon 17 Jun

Free / 0131 229 4922

Part of Edinburgh Festival of Cycling.

19:30 – 22:30

The Book Stops Here

Listen to short readings of work by authors.

The Alley Cat, London WC2H

Tue 28 May

Free / 020 7836 1451

19:00 – 21:00

Mon 10 Jun

Free / 020 7836 1451

19:00 – 22:00

Mon 8 Jul

Free / 020 7836 1451

19:00 – 22:00

Brian Hannan: Hitchcock's Greatest Films

To celebrate his new book Hitchcock's Greatest Films, the writer gives a talk on the details of the legendary director's life, including the Tippi Hedren scandal, the making of * Rebecca* and the banning of Blackmail.

The Edinburgh Bookshop

Thu 6 Jun

Free / 0131 447 1917

19:30

Bright Young Book Stars Children's Bookgroup (Ages 5-12)

Children can read and discuss a variety of books.

Idea Store Whitechapel, London E1

Wed 29 May

Phone for prices / 020 7364 4332

16:00 – 17:00

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Browsing Hour

Take an afternoon to visit the Glasgow Women's Library and chat with reader-in-residence Magi Gibson and librarian Wendy Kirk.

Glasgow Women's Library

Wed 12 Jun

Free / 0141 248 9969

13:00 – 16:00

Chatterbooks (Ages 7-11)

Beverley Library

Thu 6 Jun

Free / 01482 392750

16:15 – 17:15

Thu 4 Jul

Free / 01482 392750

16:15 – 17:15

Chatterbooks (Ages 7-11)

Children can talk about books, play games and complete quizzes.

Bath Central Library

Tue 4 Jun

Free / 01225 463362

16:00 – 17:00

Tue 2 Jul

Free / 01225 463362

16:00 – 17:00

Chatterbooks Reading Group (Ages 8-12)

Children's book reading group.

Firth Park Library, Sheffield

Tue 4 Jun

Free / 0114 203 7433

15:30 – 17:00

Tue 2 Jul

Free / 0114 203 7433

15:30 – 17:00

Marcus Garvey Library, London N15

Sat 25 May

Free / 020 8489 5309

14:30 – 15:30

North Kensington Library, London W11

Sat 25 May

Free / 020 7361 4154

14:00 – 15:30

Sat 29 Jun

Free / 020 7361 4154

14:00 – 15:30

Sat 27 Jul

Free / 020 7361 4154

14:00 – 15:30

Also on at:

Stoke Newington Library, London N16

Cherry Menlove: The Handmade Home

The Martha Stewart of blog-land compiles her tips and advice into book form with The Handmade Home, which she'll discuss and sign copies of.

Le Café Anglais, London W2

Mon 24 Jun

£50 / 02072211415

Meet and greet, including afternoon tea, cake, fizz and gossip.

15:30 – 17:30

Hole Park, Wealden

Fri 7 Jun

Included in admission

Part of Wealden Times Midsummer Fair.

11:00

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Christina Gabbiats: Author Event

The children's author signs copies of her Felicity Fly series, books which are based on childhood fears and aimed at the 2-6 age range.

Waterstones, Huddersfield

Fri 31 May

Free / 01484 430701

10:30 – 13:00

Christopher Brookmyre: Flesh Wounds

The crimer writer discusses and reads from his book Flesh Wounds.

Topping & Co Booksellers, Bath

Tue 10 Sep

£7; £6 adv / 01225 428111

20:00

Waterstones West End, Edinburgh

Thu 1 Aug

£4 (£3) / 0131 226 2666

18:00

Christopher Reid

A session with the immensely talented poet and editor Christopher Reid, winner of the 2009 Costa Book Award for his collection A Scattering, written as a tribute to his late wife.

King Street Hall, Kirkwall

Mon 24 Jun

£6–£9

11:00

Stromness Town Hall

Sat 22 Jun

£6–£9

Part of St Magnus International Festival.

11:00

Clive Murphy: Up In Lights: Talk

Oral historian and novelist Clive Murphy talks to Bishopsgate Institute's Library And Archives Manager Stefan Dickers about his work, accompanied by readings of excerpts from Up In Lights, read by actress Sian Phillips.