Shows
A Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanPaul Black on Govan Fair QueenSend us a textThis week, we’re chatting about comedian, writer and director Paul Black's terrific new BBC short film - Govan Fair Queen - which sees nine-year-old Abigail reluctantly roped into entering the annual local pageant by her fired-up granny Linda - played by Elaine C Smith. It’s a really warm and funny love letter to family, community and pride, via footballers, flatpack furniture and crufts…And it also features surely the three greatest-named siblings you’ll ever hear… We recorded this episode in the Pearce Institute in Govan, and I...2025-07-2641 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanCarrie Marshall & Laura Jane WilkieSend us a textBefore we get to this episode, recorded at the brilliant Glasgow Women’s Library, a reminder that A Kick Up The Arts is live at the Edinburgh Fringe in August…I’d love you to join me at the Stand, which is only a five-minute walk from Waverley Station, for lunchtime chats with guests Gavin Mitchell on August 18, Gordon Buchanan on the 19th, Barbara Dickson on the 20th, Grant Stott on the 21st, Justin Currie on the 23rd, and then - on the 24th - the iconic Horse will be celebrating 35 years o...2025-07-1752 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanJordan Young & Jemima Levick: Man's Best FriendSend us a textWe’re at one of my old places of work for this episode - The Tron theatre in Glasgow, to celebrate a terrific one-man play called Man’s Best Friend - you might have seen the dogs who’re ostensibly at the heart of it all over social media - and it’s there until the 12th of July, before touring Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee, Edinburgh, Greenock and Inverness in the Autumn.It’s written by Scottish theatre lodestar Douglas Maxwell, and directed by Tron artistic Director Jemima Levick, who was previously at the hel...2025-06-2636 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanGlasgow Jazz Festival 2025Send us a textBefore we get wired into this week’s episode, I’ve just announced that wildlife cameraman, film-maker and rock ‘n’ roll lion tamer Gordon Buchnanan is the latest guest to join me for A Kick Up The Arts at the Edinburgh Fringe… We’ll be at the Stand on August 19th, and we’d love you to join us. My other guests that week - so far - are Gavin Mitchell on the 18thl, Barbara Dickson on the 20th, Grant Stott on the 21st, Justin C...2025-06-1828 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanBloody Scotland 2025: with Ian Rankin, Natalie Jayne Clark & Gordon BrownSend us a textJust very quickly, a reminder that I’d love you to join me for A Kick Up The Arts - live at at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, I’ll be at The Stand, with Still Game's Gavin Mitchell on August 18th, Barbara Dickson on August 20th, Grant Stott on August 21st, and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie on August 23rd - and I’ll be announcing more fab special guests soon…Before that, the awesome Val McDermid will join me at 2025-06-1224 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanKathryn Joseph and Lomond CampbellSend us a textJust very quickly, a reminder that I’d love you to join me for A Kick Up The Arts - live - at at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, I’ll be at The Stand, with Barbara Dickson on August 20th, Grant Stott on August 21st, and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie on August 23rd - and I’ll be announcing more fab special guests soon…Before that, the awesome Val McDermid will join me at The Portobello Bookshop on July 9th…...2025-05-3041 min
The Glasgow School of ArtDegree Show 2025 PodcastDegree Show - the annual exhibition of student work at The Glasgow School of Art - is one of the highlights of the Scottish arts calendar, and as ever our graduating students have put on a show that represents the ingenuity and bold spirit of our creative community.This preview of Degree Show 2025 features background and insights on student work from across the four schools of the GSA. You can visit in person from 30 May–8 June on the Garnethill Campus. Or, you can view student work from anywhere in the world via our digital showcase at...2025-05-3037 min
The Scottish Opera PodcastEpisode seven - Introducing Scottish Opera's 2025/26 SeasonThis podcast features audio from an exclusive live broadcast originally shared with our patrons and donors and produced by Broadcast students at City of Glasgow College.Join acclaimed broadcaster Nicola Meighan (BBC Radio Scotland's Friday Afternoons and podcast, A Kick Up The Arts) in conversation with General Director Alexander Reedijk OBE FRC and Music Director Stuart Stratford as they unveil Scottish Opera's exciting 2025/26 Season.What's Coming This SeasonOur upcoming season promises a season to fall in love with opera with, from the contemporary drama of The Great Wave to beloved c...2025-05-2932 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanKELI (The National Theatre of Scotland)Send us a textIn this episode, we’re celebrating brass bands, activism, teenage angst and community spirit, thanks to the National Theatre of Scotland’s latest production - KELI, which opened last week at Stirling’s Macrobert Centre and Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum.It’s running at Dundee Rep this week, before marching on to Perth Theatre and Glasgow Tramway in June…Marking 40 years since the miners’ strike, it tells the story of a stressed, and funny, and fired-up seven...2025-05-2240 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanDavid Keenan on Volcanic TongueSend us a textJust very quickly, a reminder that I’d love you to join me for A Kick Up The Arts - live - at at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, I’ll be at The Stand, with Barbara Dickson on August 20th, Grant Stott on August 21st, and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie on August 23rd - and I’ll be announcing more special guests soon…Before that though, the brilliant Val McDermid will join me at The Po...2025-05-1349 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanRestless Natives: The MusicalSend us a textBefore we jump on board with this episode, I’m delighted to tell you that the writer and legend Val McDermid will be joining me for A Kick Up The Arts live from Edinburgh’s Portobello Bookshop to celebrate her latest book, Queen Macbeth, on July the 9th. She’ll also chat about a favourite Scottish album, film and book - and we’d love you to come along. I’ll put ticket links everywhere…There are also tickets on-sale now for A Kick Up The Arts liv...2025-04-2438 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanLive from the Glad Cafe with Michael PedersenSend us a textBefore we get wired into this episode, I’m delighted to tell you that the podcast is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe this Summer! I’ll be at The Stand, which is a five minute walk from Waverley Station, with very special guests every lunchtime, from August the 18th to the 24th…So far, I can tell you that I’ll be joined by Barbara Dickson on August 20th, Grant Stott on August 21st, and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie on August 23rd - and I would love you to join us… 2025-04-0755 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanRicky Ross & Lorraine McIntosh: Deacon Blue's The Great Western RoadSend us a textJust before we get wired into this episode, a quick reminder I’ll be in conversation with the brilliant writer David Keenan - whose hallucinogenic books include Xstabeth and This Is Memorial Device - about his new collection of music writing, Volcanic Tongue, live from Edinburgh's Portobello Bookshop, on March 27th - there’ll be loads of tunes too - and we’d love you to join us… But onto this episode, and it's with a band I've loved madly since I was at primary school...It's...2025-03-2150 min
Scots Whay Hae!Ewan Morrison - For EmmaFor the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer Ewan Morrison to talk about his latest novel For Emma, which is published on the 25th March with Leamington Books.Ewan gives an overview of the novel before talking about Robert Louis Stevenson, his choice of quotations which are the book's epigraph, the structure of the novel, the central characters, and the sense of paranoia which runs throughout.The two also discuss the central themes which include technology and transhumanism, but also the very human traits of love, regret, addiction, and grief. They...2025-03-1851 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanOn Derek Jarman: with Gavin Mitchell & Matthew Arthur WilliamsSend us a textJust before we get wired into this episode, a quick reminder that I’ll be in conversation with the brilliant writer David Keenan - whose hallucinogenic books include Xstabeth and This Is Memorial Device - about his new collection of music writing, Volcanic Tongue, in Edinburgh later this month…It raves about, and roves across, artists like The Pastels, Nick Cave and John Martyn, and we’ll chat about all that for A Kick Up The Arts, live from the Portobello Bookshop, on March 27th - there’ll be lo...2025-03-1343 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanLive from Granite Noir: A Kick Up The Arts with Dawn SteeleSend us a textBefore we dive into this week’s episode - recorded live at Aberdeen’s Granite Noir festival - a reminder that if you’re in or around Glasgow on the afternoon of March 1st, we’d love to see you at the Glad Cafe for A Kick Up The Arts live with award-winning poet and writer Michael Pedersen - Alan Cumming loves him, Shirley Manson from Garbage loves him, Nicola Sturgeon loves him - everyone loves him, and little wonder…Michael will be chatting about a favourite Scottish album, film and book along...2025-03-0158 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanGlasgow Film Festival special with Allison Gardner and Chris KumarSend us a textThanks so much if you joined us at Granite Noir in Aberdeen on Sunday, for a lovely live recording with actor Dawn Steele - that podcast is coming soon!And don’t forget, if you’re in Glasgow, I’m joined by writer Michael Pedersen and musicians Siobhan Wilson and Raveloe for A Kick Up The Arts live from the Glad Cafe, that’s on Saturday afternoon, March 1st - and then, the mighty David Keenan will be in conversation about his new collection of music writing, Volcanic Tongue, at Edinburgh’s Portobel...2025-02-2532 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanLiz Lochhead & Steve KettleySend us a textI promise I’ll stop going on about this soon, but I’m still very excited about the first three LIVE episodes of A Kick Up The Arts - at Aberdeen’s Granite Noir on February 23rd with actor Dawn Steele, at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on March 1st with writer Michael Pedersen AND musicians Siobhan Wilson and Raveloe…PLUS - on March 27th, I’m joined by David Keenan to celebrate his new book of...2025-02-1559 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanAlan Bissett & Sorcha Dallas on Alasdair GraySend us a textJust a reminder that I’d love you to join us for A Kick Up The Arts live in Aberdeen at Granite Noir festival with the fab actor Dawn Steele, that’s on February 23rd - then award-winning poet and writer Michael Pedersen will join me at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on March 1st, with live music from the sublime Siobhan Wilson and Raveloe - and THEN literary livewire David Keenan launches his new new collection of music writing, Volcanic Tongue, at ...2025-02-1146 min
A Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanMaud Sulter: You Are My Kindred SpiritSend us a textJust a reminder that there are a few live events coming up, and I’d love to see you there - actor Dawn Steele - who’s starred in Monarch of the Glen and Shetland among others - joins me at Granite Noir in Aberdeen on Febrary 23rd, award-winning poet and writer Michael Pedersen’s with me at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on March 1st - Siobhan Wilson and Raveloe will play some live music at that one too…And then...2025-02-0336 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanBethlehem CallingSend us a textFirstly! A reminder that A Kick Up The Arts is live in Aberdeen, at Granite Noir book festival, where my guest will be the fab Dawn Steele, star of Granite Harbour, Monarch of the Glen, Shetland and more - that’s on the 23rd of February, it’s in the afternoon, and we’re love you to join us. We’re doing another live recording at Glasgow’s Glad Cafe on the 1st of March with award-winning writer Michael Pedersen, and there’l...2025-01-2435 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanKarine Polwart and Su-a LeeSend us a textBefore I go any further, I want to tell you that A Kick Up The Arts is coming to a venue near you, very soon! If you’re in Aberdeen, I’ll be at Granite Noir on February 23rd, which is a Sunday afternoon, with a very familiar face from your telly - she’s a legend, and she’ll join me for an afternoon chatting about her life, and work, and her choice of a favourite Scottish album, film and book. If you’re in Glasgow, we’re having a simil...2025-01-1757 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanAll Back To Mine with Jonathan WatsonSend us a textBefore I go any further, I want to remind you that A Kick Up The Arts is coming to a venue near you, very soon! I've got some really lovely events to announce in Glasgow, and Edinburgh - and elsewhere all over the country - but, for now, I'm delighted to be coming to Aberdeen's fab book festival, Granite Noir, on the 23rd of February, which is a Sunday afternoon, with special guests, and all sorts of chat, and it'll be great fun. I'll tell you all about it in...2024-12-3047 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanAll Back To Mine with Dave AndersonSend us a textBefore I go any further, I want to tell you that A Kick Up The Arts is coming to a venue near you, very soon! I've got some really lovely events to announce in Glasgow, and Edinburgh - and elsewhere across the country - but, for now, I'm delighted to be coming to Aberdeen's fab book festival, Granite Noir, on the 23rd of February, which is a Sunday afternoon, with special guests, and all sorts of chat, and it'll be great fun. I'll tell you al...2024-12-2137 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanMalachy Tallack: That Beautiful Atlantic WaltzSend us a textThis week, I’m revisiting the very first place I ever worked, with one of my very favourite writers…Malachy Tallack was raised in Shetland, so you might think that we’d meet up there - and I’ll hopefully get there soon enough - but we actually caught up in Cupar Library, what with Malachy living in Fife these days.I had a Saturday job there when I was at primary school, so it was a lovely, if slightly unsettling, experience going back after more than 35 years, but it hasn’...2024-12-1244 minA Kick Up The Arts with Nicola MeighanAll Back To Mine with Clare GroganSend us a textCome in, take your coat off, ruffle your hair, and thanks for bringing that bottle of wine. The fire's on, get your feet up...It's time for an A Kick Up The Arts: 'All Back To Mine' special with one of our best-loved actors, and pop stars, thanks to her starring role in Gregory’s Girl, and her brilliant songs with Altered Images, and really that is not the half of it. Clare Grogan is in the house.Or rather, we're virtually round at hers, as...2024-11-2959 min