Mull Historical Society to share stage with authors

It is a line-up of literary talent that could grace any book festival in the world - but now some of Scotland's finest writers are preparing to take to the stage for a different type of gig.

Liz Lochhead, Val McDermid and James Robertson will join the singer-songwriter Colin MacIntyre for a unique show at Oran Mor in Glasgow.

MacIntyre, who performs as Mull Historical Society, previously collaborated with a number of writers on his last album, In My Mind There's A Room.

The project saw several authors contribute lyrics about a room that meant something personal to them, which MacIntyre then built up into new songs.

MacIntyre now plans for the 8 February show to mix together discussion with the writers on their ideas, readings of the original words they provided for him, and music from both his latest record and the 2004 album This Is Hope, which he will play in full.

Lochhead also provided a spoken word reading for a track on the album, which will be replicated on the night, while McDermid is likely to provide some additional backing vocals of her own.

She told BBC Scotland News: "As a teenager I played guitar, and I tried writing my own songs as well. Thankfully there's no recordings out there of them, but I have always loved music.

"I really liked the idea of this whole project. It's interesting to compare writers with lyricists and musicians, and then hear what Colin did with the song from those words. It was really transformative to hear it."

Among the other writers who contributed to the record were children's author Jacqueline Wilson, crime writer Ian Rankin and Fever Pitch novelist Nick Hornby.

Each contribution focused around a room that carried personal memories for the writer, from Ms Lochhead recalling the first room of her own that she had as a child to the American-Mexican author Jennifer Clement reminiscing about the room she learned to Highland dance in, and Ian Rankin writing about his teenage bedroom.

"I wanted to be Elton to their Bernie," jokes Mr MacIntyre, referencing Sir Elton John's long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin.

"I did feel there was a responsibility to take these words and to do justice to them, given the emotion and memories involved, but I also felt confident about doing it.

"Jacqueline Wilson told me that she had cried when she heard her song – hopefully in a good way!"

The record, and overall experience, has been an emotional one for the singer too.

Having returned to Tobermory to record the album, the 52-year-old found himself using a studio that had previously been the flat of his grandparents, Angus and Betty.

A poem by his grandad, who was both bank manager on the island and a poet, was used for the track Memories of Mull.

For those reasons, the singer found returning to Tobermory "serendipitous".

He explained: "The live room for recording was where my grandparents bedroom was, and there were times I had to check myself as it was so much like being a child again.

"It was literally like having a time machine and going back to the past.

"I always remember bounding up the stairs and there’d be a piece of cake already out when I got there.

"It all came back to me being there, so the whole experience has felt very special."