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.

Know yr Stuff Review

"Rodger’s investigation into the hedonistic psyche is powerfully desperate and ironic. On my first reading it made me want to join in, get drunk and simply screw it all into oblivion! It is easy at surface level to relate to the frustration and humorous subjects within but on a second or third reading you are able to ponder the textual depths of the existential void portrayed."

Read the excellent full review by Jennifer Edgecombe in Sabotage Reviews.

(and get yr desperate investigations into the hedonistic psyche)

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.

Know yr Stuff

from "Know yr Stuff: Poems on Hedonism" by Calum Rodger.
Out Saturday March 08.

Stanza poet's market

Tapsalteerie make our first ever appearance at the Stanza poetry festival this year, bringing our stall to the poet's market on Saturday 8th March (which is on between 12 and 4pm). That's the launch day for Calum Rodger's "Know yr Stuff: Poems on Hedonism" too, and we're tremendously excited to have the chance to show it off to the distinguished poetry readers of Stanza. Of course we'll also have "the Quait Chiel" by Bill Thom making its first poetry market appearance, a poem that has proven a great favourite with readers so far. We're currently concocting some special Tapsalteerie cupcakes to give away to the first stall visitors, and are working on a selection of other "enticing" freebies too. So if you're at the stanza festival please pop by the stall for a cake and a chat, we'd love to meet you and hae a news aboot poetry!

See you there!