Big Lit The Stewartry Book Festival is now in its 7th year and is only a few weeks away in April.
What began life as a modest festival-in-a-day is now a mighty four day festival of wall to wall events right in the heart of the Stewartry at Gatehouse of Fleet,Dumfries and Galloway. This year’s festival programme is featuring literature in all its cunning guises.
Chrys Salt MBE Convener of BIG LIT told DGWGO “This year we are delighted to headline the gloriously funny ‘People’s Potato’, John Hegley, who will entertain both the young, and young at heart. Local award winning novelist Karen Campbell returns to lead another cutting edge workshop for writers while charismatic broadcaster and performer Billy Kay explores the Scottish Diaspora and its influence on wine! With optional wine to follow! We have music (ancient and modern), prose (historical, mythical and biographical), poetry (political, lyrical and personal), a horrid literary murder for you to solve at Cream o’Galloway (gory, gruesome and grisly), installation, heritage, text based art-work, exhibition, installation, and a timely Scottish PEN event featuring exiled Bafta award winning Palestinian poet Ghazi Hussein who has found refuge from torture in Scotland”
Chrys continued “Not to mention the BIG LIT young people’s strand offering something for all ages – from literary drumming and daft poyems to games, crafts and madcap story telling. Thanks to the support of The Scottish Book Trust, The Holywood Trust, our wonderful volunteer labour and other project funders we are once again hosting some of the finest writers, musicians and performers both local and national. Hope you have a wonderful time.”
April 20 – 23 Brochures are going out and tickets are now available either online www.biglit.org for the full programme or at Franca Bruno’s shop in Gatehouse of Fleet: Tel 07803 228497 / 07707 686109
VENUES
Most of the events are taking place in the Mill on the Fleet – mainly in the Faed Gallery on the middle floor. Events can be accessed through the door opposite the large mill wheel. Tickets can be purchased from the Franca Bruno Shop adjacent to the gateway into the Mill grounds (opposite the main car park entrance).
Bakehouse Studio
Exhibition: Intertwine – Galloway Textile Collective comprised of professional, established textile artists, living and working in Dumfries & Galloway.
April 20 – 23 10.30 – 4.30
The Bakehouse is also the Hub for performers and volunteers.
The Franca Bruno Shop
Franca Bruno’s Café and Shop is in the Rutherford Hall which is next to the archway into the Mill, opposite the Main Car Park entrance.
Franca’s Big Lit Lunches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Cream o’ Galloway
From east or west on the A75, pass the first turn for Gatehouse of Fleet and then turn onto the ‘Sandgreen’ road. Follow this road for 1.5 miles then turn left at the sign for Carrick. Cream o’ Galloway is approximately half a mile along this road – you can’t miss it! If you’re using a satnav, our postcode is DG7 2DR.
The Drop-in Centre
This is in Digby Street, about halfway up the High Street on the left – the turning almost opposite the Bakehouse. The Centre is about 20m along on the right-hand side.
HeART Journaling Workshop.
The Masonic Arms
The Masonic Arms is in Ann Street – turn right at the clock tower as you come up the High Street.
The Big Lit Sing-in is here on Thursday night from about 9pm – very informal do come along. Or indeed any Thursday evening for the regular Thursday night sessions.
Gatehouse Parish Church
Venue for the musical events on Sunday afternoon.
Gatehouse Primary
Venue for John Hegley’s Animal Alphaboat on Thursday morning.
