Dinner & Entertainment
Conference Dinner
Thursday 15 October - from 19:30
We are pleased to announce an amazing evening of dining together and a specially curated night of entertainment, celebrating Scottish culture with poetry, comedy, music and dance.
The Scottish Makar, Peter Mackay will welcome us and start the evening with some poetry. This will be followed by dinner.
After which, comedian Elaine Malcolmson will bring some humour into the room and plentiful laughter.
After dinner we move into the final part of the evening with some lively music and dance led by Chitterybite Ceilidh Band.
Please note: You will need to purchase a dinner ticket to enjoy the poetry and comedy. However, everyone will be welcome to the Ceilidh entertainment after the dinner and desserts. The Ceilidh band will start playing from around 21:15.
Tickets for the Conference Dinner are on sale, priced at £45 per person and includes a two course buffet dinner.
They can be purchased when you book your conference ticket using the booking form. Alternatively, if you wish to purchase a dinner ticket after you have purchased your conference ticket, please contact Mint Events on afspevents@mintevents.co.uk to add this on.
Pre Conference Welcome
Wednesday 15 October - from 19:00
For those arriving on Wednesday evening, AFSP will be hosting a pre-conference welcome.
We are mindful that conferences can be busy and this event will be a relaxed space to slow down and catch up with colleagues and friends before the conference starts.
The event is very informal and free to attend. There will be a bar and some space to chat.
Evening Contributors Spotlight
Chitterybite Ceilidh Band
Chitterybite are a dynamic Scottish ceilidh collective and will bring top-quality live music to the conference cultural evening. Featuring outstanding musicians on fiddle, accordion, piano, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki and whistle, the band plays an eclectic mix of traditional Scottish ceilidh and contemporary songs. Every line-up includes an expert caller to guide you through the dances and keep the energy high.
Elaine Malcolmson
Elaine is an award-winning comedian, writer and actor and has worked for and appeared on various TV and Radio shows. She has performed her comedy shows all over the place including the Reykjavik Fringe, Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, the New York Comedy Festival and Gothenburg Fringe. Currently a regular on BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News, you may recognise her as Penny from BBC’s fantastic Soft Border Patrol.
‘terrific and unique’ Broadway Baby
‘bone-dry and talented...exquisite material’ Edinburgh Evening News
‘a downbeat delight’ List
Pàdraig MacAoidh (Peter Mackay)
‘S ann à Leòdhas a tha Pàdraig MacAoidh, agus chaidh dà leabhar bàrdachd leis fhoillseachadh le Acair – Gu Leòr (2015) agus Nàdur De (2020) – agus pamflaid le Clutag Press, From another island (2010). ’S e àrd-ollamh aig Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn a th’ann agus ann an 2024 chaidh ainmeachadh Makar na h-Alba.
Peter Mackay is a poet, broadcaster, translator and lecturer. He has two collections of poetry with Acair – Galore (2015) and Some Kind of (2020) – and a pamphlet, From another island (2010), with Clutag Press. Originally from the Isle of Lewis, he lives in Edinburgh and is a Professor in the School of English at the University of St Andrews. In 2024 he was appointed Scottish Makar.
