If you've had enough of hearts, flowers and the loved-up excesses of this time of year, head to the Library tonight at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, for an event which acknowledges the dark side of love.
Shetland Arts and Shetland Library have put together a programme of local writers, readers and musicians to highlight the fact that Love is not all flowers and chocolates and all things nice… or even always serious. The event, which will include readings by the Library’s very own Morag Nicolson and Kat Brack, will celebrate the wealth of poetry which has been written about Love. It will also celebrate, through the golden larynxes and guitar picking of Trevor Jamieson and Milford Georgeson, both the sad and the funny side of love in song.
Completing the bill will be three of Shetland’s finest writers who will read from their own work, and add a contemporary slant to proceedings. Donald S Murray a celebrated writer of poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction, will need little introduction to Shetland Literary audiences. His published work includes “The Guga Hunters” (Birlinn Books 2008) and he is set to launch a new collection of poetry and prose, “Small Expectations” (Two Ravens Press).
Donald Murray will be joined by Matt Wright, whose first collection of short stories, “Topping Up” was published in 2007 by North Idea. He has since been runner up in the prestigious Bridport Prize (in 2008) and is currently working on his first novel.
The third writer will be Martin Platt, a relative newcomer to the scene and a regular member of the Lerwick Writers group who has recently given some thoroughly impressive performances of his work, especially during the final event of John Hudson’s residency in November.
“Choosing material for this event has been very entertaining,” says Karen Fraser of Shetland Library: “Poets and writers can wax very lyrical about the joys of love, but when they vent their spleen about love gone wrong, things get much more interesting.”
“Not the Valentine’s Ball” is free entry and everybody is welcome. Start: 7.30pm; doors open 7pm.
