Spotlight Club

Open Mic Event

Contact: Ron Baker 01524 381642 or spotlightclub@btinternet.com

Mixed event: poetry, music, comedy, prose; guests and open mic(very limited - book in advance).

This Month’s Writing Line-up:
Angus Macmillan has worked across Dumfries & Galloway as a psychiatrist for 20 years. He was raised in Lewis as a native Gaelic speaker, and his poetry in English and Gaelic has been widely published in magazines and anthologies and in a pamphlet published by ‘Markings’ magazine. His recent work has involved collaborative exhibitions with the photographer Derek Ross, focusing on the landscape of Dumfries & Galloway. He is co-editor of ‘Southlight’ Magazine.

Mary Smith is based in Castle Douglas. A freelance journalist, she is the author of ‘Before The Taliban: Living with War, Hoping for Peace’, an insightful portrayal of the daily lives of Afghan women. In 2006 she graduated with an MLitt in Creative Writing from Glasgow University and is currently working on the final stages of a novel. Her poems have won several prizes and have been published in ‘Markings’, ‘Poetry Scotland’, ‘Nomad’ and ‘Lallans’ as well as in two anthologies – ‘My Mother Threw Knives’ (Second Light Publications, 2006) and ‘Outside of a Dog’ (Chroma, 2006).

Vivien Jones writes poetry, short stories and drama. Her poetry has been published in a range of magazines and anthologies, including ‘Markings’ and ‘The Red Wheelbarrow’. In 2006 she was shortlisted for the Wells Festival of Literature International Poetry Competition. She is a driving force behind the Crichton Writers, a writers group based at the Dumfries campus of Glasgow University. She is also a founder member of the early music ensemble ‘The Galloway Consort’, and has worked on collaborative events featuring music, poetry and drama. She is part of the editorial team of ‘Southlight’ Magazine.

Jackie Galley is a poet and short story writer. Her poetry has appeared in ‘Chapman’, ‘Markings’ and other magazines, and she was a category winner of the DGAA ‘Poetryonthebus’ competition in 2004. Her short story ‘The Paper Boy’ was selected for the Scotsman/Orange competition anthology in 2006. She works as an ecologist and runs poetry workshops as part of a themed project focusing on the environment. She is also joint editor of the new magazine ‘Southlight’.

And Music:
Spotlight serves up a double-helping of song-writing genius this month. If you have yet to hear Martin Chitty or Kr!ss Foster then prepare to be more than impressed. Inspired by Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and mid to late 90s britpop Martin Chitty. says ‘I sing sad, story-like songs with rural and surreal themes. Think time-travelling door-to-door salesmen, crop circles and rusty bicycles.’ Originating from Liverpool Martin is now living in Lancaster as a student at the university. www.myspace.com/martinlloydchitty

Kr!ss Foster Kriss Foster’s appearance with MArtin Chitty at Spotlight back in May last year was regarded by those who witnessed it as the most hilarious act to grace the Spotlight stage in years. ‘If you can appreciate a cross between Billy Bragg, Wreckless Eric and Bernard Manning you'd love him’ (Andy O’Hare BBC Hereford & Worcester). With songs about Dale Winton, supermarkets, hound-dogs and murders at sixth-form parties alongside freestyle improvisation and a healthy disregard for anything remotely normal Kr!ss Foster is at the forefront of Lancaster’s performing talent.
www.myspace.com/krissfoster

Price: £3.00 / £2.00

Time: 8.30