This year’s Culture Perth and Kinross’ Soutar Festival of Words programme launched today, unveiling a jam-packed in-person and digital line-up that will prove to be a real treat for literary fans. 

The three-day annual festival returns from the 22nd to the 24th of April, with Culture Perth and Kinross bringing together a variety of writers, poets, and musicians, celebrating the diversity of Scots Language, literature and culture inspired by Perth poet and writer William Soutar. 

Following the success of last year’s digital-only festival, this year will see a combination of digital and in-person talks, events and workshops, including live Q&A sessions for book fans. For the first time, Culture Perth and Kinross are taking the festival region-wide, partnering with other organisations. The Perth and Kinross-focused celebration will see events taking place at Innerpeffray Library, the Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy, Strathearn Arts Space in Crieff and libraries and museums run by Culture Perth and Kinross directly.  

Kathleen Jamie, the Scots Makar, leads a line up featuring Elaine C Smith, Alistair Heather, Ashley Douglas, Lenniesaurus, Graeme Armstrong, Hamish Macdonald, Gerda Stevenson, The Witches of Scotland, Linda Cracknell, Jim Mackintosh, Caro Ramsay, Joe Donnelly, and more. 

Full details of the Soutar Festival of Words programme and limited tickets can be found on the Culture Perth and Kinross website http://www.culturepk.org.uk/soutar2022  

Helen Smout, Chief Executive of Culture Perth and Kinross, said, “I’m so pleased and excited to share with everyone our stellar line-up of some of the most interesting voices in the Scots language and contemporary Scottish culture. In the Year of Stories, and after two very challenging years, we are delighted to bring back in-person events alongside our online programme giving opportunities for local audiences and for those from much further afield to enjoy such a strong festival line-up. I hope that people take this opportunity to book early for everything they would like to attend as I am sure tickets will move quickly as we all look forward to the biggest locally based Festival of the Spring.” 

The Soutar Festival of Words will run from 22nd to 24th April 2022. The Soutar Festival of Words 2022 has been made possible with support from Perth and Kinross Council, The Friends of William Soutar, and The Forteviot Charitable Trust.