Only Three Lines for Mrs Simpson

Brilliant to see some praise for both Tapsalteerie and our pamphlet Sardines in the latest Northwords Now (Summer 2014) magazine. Mandy Haggith says that Sardines is:

"An inspired way for a new book producer to break into the Scottish poetry scene... a collection full of voices you’ll recognise, but won’t read in books from the mainstream poetry publishing houses."

She goes on to quote directly from one of the poems called "Only Three Lines for Mrs Simpson". In celebration of receiving such a nice review in one of the top Scottish literary periodicals we've decided to reproduce the poem in full here. Hope you enjoy it!

Get the full pamphlet here :)

Dug by Tom McGrath

Dug is the opening poem from Sardines by Tom McGrath

Tom McGrath on "Off the Page"

Once upon a time STV produced a series of excellent programs called "Off the Page", each of which featured an in-depth interview with a famous Scottish cultural figure. Looking back at it now, the list seems almost like a 'who's who' of Scottish writers. You can find each program on YouTube through the STV People channel; it really is worth spending some time going through them. It's certainly rare to find TV that good nowadays...

Below we present a fascinating interview with Tom McGrath, whose pamphlet "Sardines" we have recently republished. Tom speaks about his upbringing, writing, and much else besides.

Lift off for Sardines!

Highlights from Neu Reekie #46 via Summerhall TV, which featured the launch of our most recent pamphlet - Sardines by Tom McGrath. Catch the Sardines for yourself through the Tapsalteerie bookshop.


Neu! Reekie! #46 from arts-news on Vimeo.

Sardines by Tom McGrath

Sardines is due for release on 25 April

Tom McGrath – poet, playwright, musician and maverick – was born and grew up in Glasgow. In the early 60s he went to London to take part in the emerging counter culture, and by 1962 his first poems were published. He appeared in 1965 at the first International Poetry Olympics held in the Royal Albert Hall with Allen Ginsberg and Gregory Corso (amongst others). He was also founder editor of the seminal International Times, first artistic director of the Third Eye Centre, Glasgow (now the CCA), and instrumental in founding the Tron Theatre Club, later to become the Tron Theatre.

Sardines was first published in 1986, and it's with some delight that Tapsalteerie has teamed up with the excellent folk at the Tom McGrath Trust to republish this unique collection. Come along to the launch event at Neu! Reekie! on 25 April to hear Calum Rodger, Ron Butlin and Cora Bissett read from it:

http://www.summerhall.co.uk/2014/neu-reekie-46/

Copies will be available through the Tapsalteerie website from 26th April.