\n Set as always in Irvine, the festival will run from Thursday, September 25 to Sunday, September 28, with some cracking events in store.\n<\/p>\n
\n It will include alternative versions of Tam O’Shanter, an evening of crime and whisky, some Italian-Scottish cookery, an exposure of the dark side of Scottish history, comedy and plenty of events to keep the wee ones entertained.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tickets are already selling fast for one of the stand-out shows this year – featuring Dreghorn woman and former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon.\n<\/p>\n
\n Nicola brings her debut book \u2018Frankly\u2019 to her hometown. In this deeply personal memoir, she recounts her journey from working-class Ayrshire to the steps of Bute House.\n<\/p>\n
\n (Image: Tidelines) She will appear at the Harbour Arts Centre on Saturday, September 27 in conversation with broadcaster Sean McDonald.\n<\/p>\n
\n In his article for this year’s programme, award-winning author, Tidelines patron – and Kilwinning\/Irvine man – Andrew O’Hagan writes: “It\u2019s a joy to see how many of this year\u2019s events draw on a great wealth of what I would call local talent.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Some of that talent, of course, is now world famous. Former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, is also first and foremost a Dreghorn lassie, and a brilliant statesperson who has devoted all her adult life –\u00a0as well as quite a bit of her teenage life –\u00a0to public service.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I\u2019ve read an early copy of her memoir Frankly, and I can tell you she pulls no punches. Her brilliant book is certain to be one of the publishing highlights of the year, and her event for Tidelines, on prime home turf, will be an outstanding event.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Key events for your diaries include:\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n (Image: Tidelines) A very special opening event on Thursday, September 25, marking the publication day of Mat o\u2019 Shanter, Ayrshire poet Simon Lamb\u2019s stunning reimagining of \u2018Tam o\u2019 Shanter\u2019. He will be in conversation with Vivian French.\n<\/p>\n
\n Friday, September 26 will see a Drink To Die For. Join authors Natalie Jayne Clark and Martin Stewart for an evening of crime and whisky. They will explore the compelling power of Scotch \u2013 and the extreme lengths to which their characters will go for the \u2018water of life\u2019.\u00a0 Optional whisky tasting included… with an Irn Bru alternative.\n<\/p>\n
\n The day will also include Dear Zoo sessions, a Moxie Kids storytelling event at the HAC for the wee ones where they can create their own books.\n<\/p>\n
\n And Irvine Lasses Burns Club will lead everyone on harbourside walks on both Friday and Sunday during the festival.\n<\/p>\n
\n On the Saturday morning, kids can enjoy My Dog Max, as author Alan Dapr\u00e9 shares his pawsome picture book.\n<\/p>\n
\n Foodies will love the Saturday lunchtime event, when the Contini Cookbook is revealed. Carla Contini will discuss how her\u00a0family\u2019s Italian-Scottish heritage enriched the recipes on the menu at her award-winning Contini restaurant in\u00a0Edinburgh.\n<\/p>\n
\n From 2-3pm on Saturday, prize-winning author and hip-hop\u00a0artist Darren McGarvey will discuss his new book\u00a0Trauma Industrial Complex \u2013 How Oversharing Became a Product in a Digital World.\n<\/p>\n
\n (Image: Tidelines) Saturday’s events conclude with\u00a0\u2018How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy’.\u00a0Human rights lawyer Claire Mitchell and novelist Zoe Venditozzi will talk about their fascinating book, which exposes a dark side of Scottish history.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tidelines kicks off Sunday at Irvine beach for a\u00a0A Dook & A Book Workshop, featuring\u00a0\u00a0Chantal McFeely and Lynn McNally. Join them\u00a0for a guided dip in the sea, then back to the HAC for luxury hot chocolate. Hear how local swimmer Chantal used cold water and the art of journaling to combat grief, then create a personalised journal cover with talented artist Lynn.\n<\/p>\n
\n In the afternoon, Claudia Esnouf will be in conversation with Munro conqueror Eleanor Freckleton.\u00a0Claudia walked 1,500 miles through\u00a0India, Nepal, Europe and Scotland. Along the way, she faced down a rampaging water buffalo, survived a freezing glacier crossing, and unknowingly camped in a minefield.\u00a0Above all, she unexpectedly endured the worst of heartbreak, where walking became the only cure.\n<\/p>\n
\n In the afternoon,\u00a0Our Gaelic Bookcase will feature singer songwriter David Douglas and\u00a0Whitehirst Park Primary, while later that day you can join\u00a0Alastair MacDonald Jackson who will take you on a literary\u00a0journey around Scotland\u2019s west coast islands.\n<\/p>\n
\n A 7pm you can\u00a0\u2018Coorie doon\u2019 with acclaimed Scottish writer Jackie Kay in conversation with Ayrshire poet, Tracy Anne Harvey. The pair will follow the journey of life, starting and finishing with Jackie\u2019s latest children\u2019s book.\n<\/p>\n
\n The whole event will conclude with Nicola Sturgeon’s book launch event at Fullarton ConneXions. Tickets for all the Tidelines events are now on sale through the Harbour Arts Centre box office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Set as always in Irvine, the festival will run from Thursday, September 25 to Sunday, September 28, with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":57253,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[457,96,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-57252","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"tag-books","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57252\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}