Some events where you will find Ryan reading or performing in some manner. Please come.
January 2012
Saturday, 14 September — The Golden Hour Toronto — Placebo Space, Toronto, Pay What You Can, BYOB. 21:00
The Golden Hour arrives in North America. Featuring the wizardry of many fine performers:
DAMIAN ROGERS: Electrifying. RYAN VAN WINKLE: Award-winning, Edinburgh-dwelling bearded poet. MATTHEW J. TRAFFORD: Crafter of surreal short stories featuring Jesus clones & mermaids. TRAPLINESA: banjo. Some poems. NEIL QUIN: The guitarist from Zeus will blow you away with his shiny solo act. PHANTOM SHORES: Ottawa-based folk rockers with lush harmonies and blazing lyrics. Violin, sex & rock’n’roll. CHLOE CHARLES: This hypnotizing songstress will leave you spellbound – just try to resist.
AT PLACEBO SPACE. 1409 Bloor Street West, Apt A
September 2011
Auckland, New Zealand
Tuesday, 13 September — Poetry Live — The Thirsty Dog, Auckland. FREE – 20:00
New Zealand’s longest running, dedicated poetry event, Poetry Live has been a hub for the poetry community for over thirty years with a weekly guest poet, guest musician and open mic section where anyone can perform or read.
Sydney, Australia
Wednesday, 7 September — Tuning in the World @ The Sydney Fringe
Four poets and six musicians from Sydney will read alongside live, improvised music. There are no rehearsals. Featuring the legendary poet Shane Koyczan.
Camelot Lounge 19 Marrickville Rd — $20 — 19:00
Tuesday, 6 September — Word in Hand, The Friend in Hand Hotel — 8pm, $5 – 10
This is Sydney’s premier regular and enduring poetry / spoken word event. Featuring Ryan and two USA based poets: Shane Koyczan and Jive Poetic, moderated by Miles Merrill.
Melbourne, Australia
Saturday, 3 September — Poetry @ The Dan, The Dan O’Connell Hotel, 14.00 – 17.00
The Dan is Melbourne’s longest running weekly poetry venue. From January 1st 1994 the Dan has featured some of the best National and International poets.
August 2011
Melbourne, Australia
Wednesday, 31 August — City of Literature Connect, The Wheeler Centre — 19.00 – 20.00
The Melbourne Poets Union and Australian Poetry presents a Melbourne / Edinburgh collaboration, a Cities of Literature soiree. Two international poets based in Edinbugh: American-born Ryan Van Winkle and Australian-American Emily Ballou read from their work.
Tuesday, 30 August — Edinburgh Unbound, Melbourne Writers Festival, The Toff in Town – 20.00 – 22.30, $25.00
Unbound Edinburgh is many things. Part reading, part gig, part party. Join the irrepressible Ryan van Winkle as he hosts a killer evening of rakish words, independent films and eclectic music all in a beautiful space. We’ll be celebrating the flourishing partnership between MWF and the Edinburgh Book Festival in our sister UNESCO City of Literature. In the capable hands of Ryan, poet, reader in residence at the Scottish Poetry Library and host of The Golden Hour at Edinburgh’s iconic Forest Café, we’ll meet experimental writer Ewan Morrison, one of Scotland’s most innovative young novelists, and Emily Ballou, the brilliant young Australian poet, novelist and screenwriter (The Slap) now resident in Scotland, and one of Melbourne’s superstars, Christos Tsiolkas, (The Slap). Featuring music from Andy Hazel and closing with Rapskallion’s unique blend of vaudevillian, cabaret, and junkyard gypsy blues.
Friday, 26 August – Words Per Minute at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, The Spiegeltent, Charlotte Square, 9-11pm, FREE
Join your hosts, Kirstin Innes, Kirsty Logan and Helen Sedgwick for an evening of special treats where all performers get ten minutes to impress the audience – no matter how famous they are. Expect the unexpected and some familiar faces at WPM at Unbound including, novelist, playwright and dazzling performer, Alan Bissett and American author Adam Levin and other American — me.
Wednesday , 24 August — The Golden Hour , The Forest, FREE – 1pm – 3am
Here it is — the last ever Golden Hour at the Forest Cafe at 3 Bristo Place. After this marathon event, we’re going to all rest up and think about new ways to do what we love — mixing poetry, stories, cartoons, music, drunkeness and dancing. In the meantime — you’ll have this massive event to remember us by — featuring: Tom Pow, Jonny Berliner, William Letford, Emily Ballou, Robin Grey, Anna Crowe, Ericka Duffy, Kirstin Innes, John Glenday, The Little Big Band, Alan Bissett, The Ghost of Joseph Seal, Wax, Paper Cinema, Jason Morton and Dolphin Boy + much more including films byRoxana Pope and some special Reel Festivals gubbins. You will want to buy a hamburger.
Sunday, 21 August – Edgelands — a conference from the borders of performance, 11am-7pm at The Forest Fringe, FREE
A ‘flash-conference’ on topics such as public perception of art, theatre, performance and the audience. I’ll be discussing ‘How can we stop making capitalism?’ with other interesting people. For more details, visit the Edgelands website. It should be interactive and exciting! This day is not about railing against authority or the great institutions of the arts. It is a day for everybody to gather at the edges of those big institutions and organisations, on equal terms. To ask daring questions and suggest implausible answers. To share a spirit of generosity and a galvanising sense of hope; that despite or perhaps because of the political, financial and environmental circumstances in which we find ourselves, the arts can and will play a part in imagining and realising a better possible future.
A ‘flash-conference’ on topics such as public perception of art, theatre, performance and the audience. I’ll be discussing ‘How can we stop making capitalism?’ with other interesting people. For more details, visit the Edgelands website. It should be interactive and exciting! This day is not about railing against authority or the great institutions of the arts. It is a day for everybody to gather at the edges of those big institutions and organisations, on equal terms. To ask daring questions and suggest implausible answers. To share a spirit of generosity and a galvanising sense of hope; that despite or perhaps because of the political, financial and environmental circumstances in which we find ourselves, the arts can and will play a part in imagining and realising a better possible future.
Saturday, 20 August – The Edinburgh International Book Festival with Rachael Boast & Will Eaves, Charlotte Square, 8.30-9.30pm, £7/5
Considering all the things they’ve done, it is perhaps surprising that these three talented poets are only now publishing their debut collections. Will Eaves is an established author and Arts Editor of The Times Literary Supplement; Ryan Van Winkle is host of the much-loved Edinburgh literary evening The Golden Hour; and Rachael Boast has a PhD in Creative Writing from St Andrews University. Join them to hear how their experiences translate into fresh, exuberant, thought-provoking new verse.
Thursday, 18 August — The Golden Hour at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, The Spiegeltent, Charlotte Square, 9-11pm, FREE
Live and Kicking in the Spiegeltent! With Kelly Link, William Letford, Joe Dunthorme, Billy Liar, Mikel Krumins and Earl Grey and the Loose Leaves!!!

Sunday, 7 August — The Naughty Boys at Faceplant, The Forest, 6-9pm, FREE
The Naughty Boys make improvised electro po-noize. Poems vs computers vs drums vs salvaged keyboards and whatever else we can find. You will come.
The Naughty Boys are: * DanSeizureon keys and computer loop. * Stevie Patersonon keys and percussion noises. * Ryan Van Winkle —Spoken Words.
Also appearing: Alison Smith, Colin Herd, Fiona Soe Paing, Mark Mace Smith, Nuala Watt, Rachel McCrum, ShellSuit Massacre & Sophie Mayer
Friday, 5 August, the Tolbooth Theatre Attic Room in Stirling, 6.30pm
A reading for the Summer School students of Creative Writing at Stirling University.
July 2011
20 July, The Golden Hour, The Forest, FREE BYOB
Degna Stone – The new Newcastle poet rocks up and rocks on!
Amy Burns – A little American Class.
Luke Williams – original, inconceivable, brilliant says Ali Smith.
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Olivia Salazar — singing the Spanish ‘copna’!!!
Portnawak & The Woo – gypsy folk hop, psychedelic tribal dance music and organic punk…with the added element of Woo!
BenOfficial – electro art performance for which you are all woefully unprepared!
BYOB! enjoy! x
13th July (wed) 2011, 7pm, £2 – Poetry @ The Ivory
Ivory Hotel – 2 Camphill Avenue Shawlands
Glasgow friends, come along to The Ivory for a night of poetry. I’m reading and the rest of the line-up is yet to be confirmed but sure to be excellent if reports of other brilliant nights at the Ivory are to be believed. Also, I’m told — I’ll be doing a brief interview. Should be interesting. And, I would love to see you. And to read you poems.
6 July — London, Concrete Bar @ Pizza East, 56 Shoreditch High Street
The Special Relationship
June 2011
24 June – 19.00, £5/4 – Neu Reekie 6 @ The Scottish Book Trust
The Naughty Boys — * computers vs drums vs loops vs spoken words *
Once a year the elusive and enigmatic Naughty Boys take the stage and with the best of intentions — to create improvised electro po-noize. Poems vs computers vs drums vs salvaged keyboards and whatever else we can find. You will come. The Naughty Boys are: * DanSeizure on keys and computer loop. * Stevie Paterson on keys and percussion noises. * Ryan Van Winkle— Spoken Words.
22 June, 8pm, The Forest, Edinburgh. Free. BYOB.
The Golden Hour!
Ladies and gentlemen — join us for the first in the final trilogy of monthly Golden Hour Events. We promise the usual melange of zesty new words, honourable music and visual rubbish all in a beautiful space. Bring yourself. Bring friends. Bring booze. This is a night we can not prepare you for. Words from: Tracey Emerson (The Short-Story Doctor is In!), Richie McCaffrey (young poems with a familial lustre) & Gavin Bowd. With Music From: BenOfficial (electro art performance for which you are all woefully unprepared), Doug Johnstone (acoustic and solo and acoustic and alone), & Jade and the Jacks
- Pure, relentless, funky fun. You will hot up.
14 June, 8.30pm, The Stand, Edinburgh — £4 / 3
It is not often I get to read in a comedy club. Yet, here I will be. Reading poems at the legendary Stand. A stage which has featured Daniel Kitson. Everyday I get closer. I’ll be doing a chatty poetry set. While I’ve been trying to trim the intros, it seems like this one requires a bit o’ banter. Come along if you like that kind of thing. Also performing: Fiona Herbert, Las Zorras, Liz Ely and Ryan Van Winkle.
May 2011
Reel Festivals: A Month worth of readings, translation workshops and more with the Reel Festivals writers from Syria, Lebanon and Scotland. Events include:
The Golden Hour in Beirut & The Forest, Edinburgh
Readings at the Scottish Poetry Library (Edinburgh) and The Scottish Writer’s Centre (Glasgow)
Translation Workshops and Poetry Panel on ‘Crossing Boundaries / Bearing Witness’ in Lebanon.
You can download our free E-book here featuring:
From Syria, Golan Haji and Rasha Omran, from Lebanon, Yehya Jaber and Mazen Maarouf and from Scotland, Tom Pow, Emily Ballou, William Letford and Ryan Van Winkle, along with beautiful Arabic Calligraphy by Everitte Barbee.
We are immensely thankful to Creative Scotland for making this festival, book and all these outcomes possible through the Vital Sparks funding, to the British Council for their sponsorship and ongoing support and to the Scottish Poetry Library, Literature Across Frontiers and all Reel Festivals supporters.
As the poet Andrew Philip said: ‘it fairly makes a difference when you know the poetry makes a difference’. We couldn’t agree more and hope you do too.
March 2011
Wed. March 23rd, 20.00 — The Golden Hour — The Forest, 3 Bristo Place – FREE
Tue. March 22nd — Nothing But the Poem — Central Library, Edinburgh — 19.00 — FREE
Fancy a poetry chat? Nothing But The Poem is a relaxed and informal way to meet and discuss poems. Moderated by ECL / SPL Reader-in-Residence Ryan Van Winkle.
* We read a poem * We discuss the poem * Only the poem we’ve read. * No Jargon * No experience needed * Nothing to fear * Nothing but the poem.
Wed. March 16th, 19.30 — The Golden Hour @ StAnza – The Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews — Free!
Readings by: Ryan Van Winkle , William Letford Music By: Hailey Beavis & John Langan Band — an extravagant, eclectic three-piece melding Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy swing, and progressive music into a remarkably high-octane and super big sound.
February 2011
Sun. 27 Feb — A Lyrical Death Match: Cargo vs Chemikal — The Caves, Edinburgh. £13 / £9
Two of Scotland’s hottest cultural nests – Cargo publishing and music label Chemikal Underground – come head to head armed with prose, poetry and song. Authors Alan Bissett, Rodge Glass and Doug Johnstone, poet Ryan Van Winkle and emerging talent Kirstin Innes get up on stage to face former-The Delgados and revered singer songwriter Emma Pollock, and the multi-talented Lord Cutglass and his band. Stand-up comedian AL Kennedy referees the evening. Expect great music, and great writing at a great venue. Sponsored by City of Edinburgh Libraries.
Sat. 19 February — 16.00: The Golden Hour @ Stereo, Glasgow. Part of Cargo‘s Margin Festival — ONLY £1
Readings From: Ryan Van Winkle, Nick Holdstock, & Ericka Duffy.
Music From: Small Feet, Little Toes, Billy Liar, Toby Mottershead
Wed. 16 February The Golden Hour with Let’s get Lyrical! — The Forest, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh — FREE
with performances by writers with work that sings and bands who provide thought provoking words with brilliant chops.
Words from: Kei Miller + Jim Carruth + Rodge Glass &&& Music: Burnt Island + Endor + Manje!
Thurs. 10 February — 19.00: St. Mungo’s Mirrorball, Glasgow @ Poetry Club , Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street — FREE
Featuring the poetry stylings of — Nalini Paul, James McGonigal, Graham Fulton and me.
Tue 1 February — 24 February — Poetry Month @ Blackhall Library — FREE
Join me for a month full of poetic activities!
January 2011
Fri. 28 January — 20.00 – 00.00: Verse Beats @ The Sugar Factory, Amsterdam – 9 euros (7.50 for students)
A literary extravaganza with poets, mc’s and slammers all taking the stage. If you or your friends are in Amsterdam please come / spread the word.
Wed. 19 January — 20.00 – 00.00: The Golden Hour, The Forest, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh — FREE
Words: Juliet Wilson – The Green Poet, Kirsty Logan – unleashes the story, JL Williams / James Iremonger / Atzi – Experi-Mental PoAmbient Fusion for your soft ears….
Music: Lipsync for a Lullaby – Loud and long songs composed of classical harmonies, beats of slo-core, remains of post-rock, ashes of punk, and modernist intervals. Zebra-Eye – Boom Bang Crash!!! &&&
John Knox Sex Club – The sound of a warm tea cup…. On a fresh paper cut.
December 2010
Thurs. 23 December — 19.00 – 20.00: Hometown Book Launch! — Blackstone Library, FREE
Poems from Ryan Van Winkle’s prize-winning début collection ‘Tomorrow, We Will Live Here ‘. Music from John Farias.
Free drinks and nibbles.
Wed. 15 December — 20.00 – Late: The Golden Hour Holiday Hell-Ride, The Forest — FREE
Samuel Taradash + Jarred McGinnis – Release a special double chapbook, boom! * Jason Morton – the annual roar * Tim Turnbull — Beware the tinselled Succubus * Ben Lancaster — Live from Canada with Holiday Tidings. * Music From: Pockets & Alex — Fantastic Uke Boogies!!! * Forest Choir — A full chorale opens their lungs. * John Langan Band — Do you like the party?
Sun. 12 December – 16.00 – 18.00: Words Per Minute — The Arches, Glasgow £ tbc
Performance from Kieran Hurley, Dark, sexy new stories from Kirsty Logan, Anarchic NYC poetry from Ryan Van Winkle, A live electronica set from Miaoux Miaoux, Christmas karaoke
+ more to be confirmed
November 2010
Tue. 23 Nov. 19.00 – 20.00 An Evening of Poems… Newington Library, FREE
Featuring Ryan Van Winkle and Andrew Philip. Philip’s ‘The Ambulance box’, has been short-listed for the Forward and Seamus Heany prizes. His moving poems explore loss and discovery while addressing the death of his first child. One of our favourite Edinburgh poets. Ryan Van Winkle is Reader in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library and his book, ‘Tomorrow, We Will Live Here’ is focused on parting from America. His collection won the Crashaw Prize in 2009.
Thursday 18 November, 6.30pm Tomorrow, We Will Live Here, Book Launch — Blackwells, Edinburgh
There will be wine, readings from my début collection published by SALT and a rocking after party at The Forest with some of our musical friends and probably a few readings of work that I don’t read any more and which is not in the book. Stir the soup, old friends, stir the soup. With: Billy Liar, Jed & Hailey, and Black Diamond Express! Free!
Wednesday 17 November, 8pm — The Golden Hour v. Plastic Fork — FREE, The Forest
That’s right — Forest Publishing versus Forest Records in a hard-core, art-core freak out featuring: Ewan Morrison – Getting his malls out, Jon Stone + Kirsten Irving – going from 8bit to 32bit and back. There will be many art installations and video games and new ways to absorb the music and literature of Forest. Do Not Miss It.
Thursday, 11 November, 7pm, LONDON BOOK LAUNCH Phoenix Artist’s Club, at Charing Cross Road, London
I’ll be reading from my new book live and in person. That means you’ll be the first people in the world to be able to buy and hold my first ever book. So, London friends, fetch your diaries and prepare a place in your loo — my book is coming and I want it in your WC.
October 2010
Wednesday, 27 October, MKC, Skopje, Macedonia 7pm
Poets Ryan van Winkle (Scotland/USA) and Faruk Šehi? (Bosnia) travelling direct from events in Belgrade will join hosts Xhabir Deralla and Kalina B Isakovska and local writers Jovica Ivanovski, Aleksandra Dimitrova, and Elizabeta Bakovska for an evening of poetry and debate.
I’ll be hosting the Hidden Doors cabaret of spoken word talent! Featuring an insane amount of brilliant readers including friends like Dave Coates, JL Williams, Jane Flett, Sophie Cooke, Kevin Williamson, Andy Philip and many many more. Go here for Saturday listings and here for Sunday listings.
Friday 22 October, The List 25th Anniversary Party, The Arches, Glasgow 8pm — £12
The List goes live! After 25 years we’ve decided to put on our own event … and it’s been worth the wait. We’re taking over The Arches for one Friday night only, showcasing the best of Scottish culture, including many of our favourite bands, DJs and writers. The line-up so far can be found here.
Wednesday, 20 October, 8pm — The Golden Hour — At The Forest — FREE
An Open Doors Spectacular with these fine people already confirmed: Sophie Cooke – releases a chapbook of new stories, Kevin MacNeil – gets behind the method actor’s mask, Doug Johnstone – actually doesn’t mind the taste of soap, thank you very much & The Kevin MacNeil Band – hitting you with music.
19 October – 6 December, Residency at Newington Library, Edinburgh — All Events Free
I’ll be semi-based in Newington Library hosting free poetic events and workshops! The month will also feature a display with my favourite poetry collection. It should be a brilliant month so come along to any of the TOTALLY FREE events mentioned below or feel free to pop into the library and see what excellent poetry books are on offer! Details coming soon ….
September 2010
Wednesday, 22 September — The Golden Hour, The Forest Cafe, FREE
Featuring: Michel Faber — Novelist & accidental Train Spotter brings stories, Lorraine Mccauley Trio — featuring Guitar / Vocals, Cello / Glockenspiel , Viola / Mandolin and Accordion, Michael Pedersen — award-winning lexical butter churner and fluffy maned man, Screen Kids — power comes out and at you, Nalini Paul, and Ottersgear.
13 September – 18 October, South Queensferry Library — All Events Free
I’ll be semi-based in South Queensferry hosting free poetic events and workshops! The month will also feature a display with my favourite poetry collection. You can come and meet your Reader in Residence and join our Nothing But the Poem workshop on Monday 27 September at 19.00. It should be a brilliant month so come along to any of the TOTALLY FREE events mentioned below or feel free to pop into the library and see what excellent poetry books are on offer! All details and dates are HERE.
August 2010
Wednesday 4th August, 6:00pm – Free
Blackwell, 53-62 South Bridge Edinburgh
Join us to celebrate the launch of the latest volume of New Scottish Writing. My poem is in there. Buy the book.
Word Express – from Istanbul via Athens to Edinburgh — EMERGING WRITERS ON A TRANS-EUROPEAN ODYSSEYEdinburgh International Book Festival
The Word Express project has taken young writers on literary journeys through the Balkans and South-east Europe. In this event, six poets involved in the project give a special performance. Come and hear Gokçenur Ç and Efe Duyan from Turkey; Katerina Iliopoulou and Yannis Isidorou from Greece; Marko Poga?ar from Croatia; and Raman Mundair and Ryan Van Winkle from Scotland in this truly international event.
Part of our After The Wall: The New Europe series of events.
In association with Literature Across Frontiers and the Scottish Poetry Library

lidija haas – stops the presses with her new chapbookal kennedy – novelist, comedian, rude and wonderful.
Earl Grey and the Loose Leaves – A brawling bar-room blues band that sounds like Captain Beefheart oan the train over tae Howlin’ Wolf’s hoose fur a bevvy and a brace with Sonny Terry and the Mississippi Sheiks. Contagious.&&&& loads more!!!!

Download the FREE CD HERE
WORDS:
Ryan Van Winkle – Reader in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library
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Surprise Book Festival Guests
Music From ::::::::
Withered Hand – intense, eccentric, bittersweet and very wry original songs.
The Sea, The Sea — lyrical lushness from Jed Milroy and Hailey Beavis featuring bouncing bluegrass licks and double bass band.
&&&&
Black Diamond Express ‘are like the fastest train of the Lehigh Valley Railroad… a nine-piece band soaked in poetry, myth and bourbon.’ (Mark Edmundson, The L




