Kevin P. Gilday is an award-winning poet and performer from Glasgow. He was the founder of poetry performance collective The Scribbler's Union and co-founder of much loved spoken word cabaret night Sonnet Youth. He is a National Theatre of Scotland Breakthrough Writer, a BBC Writersroom Scottish Voice and one of Scotland’s most celebrated contemporary poets. He was recently included in the Saltire Society’s ’40 under 40’ list celebrating outstanding Scottish creative talent.
Kevin has performed all over the world, from Hollywood to East Kilbride, including major festivals (BBC 6Music Festival, Glastonbury), Fringes (Edinburgh, Toronto, Vancouver), literary festivals (Edinburgh International Book Festival, Verve Poetry Festival) as well as large scale tours of the UK, Europe, the US and Canada. He has supported artists and public figures such as Akala, Saul Williams, George the Poet, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, Sage Francis, The Silencers and Jeremy Corbyn MP.
He has published five books of poetry, with his most recent - Anxiety Music - released by Verve Press in September of 2022 to universal acclaim and promoted via a 22-date tour of the UK and Europe.
He is an experienced theatre-maker with a range of writing, directing and performing credits. His theatre work includes Spam Valley (★★★★★ - The Wee Review), Courier Culture (★★★★★ - The Scotsman), Suffering from Scottishness (★★★★ - The Scotsman), Exiles (★★★★★ - The Morning Star), Gigantic Lying Mouth, thick skin, elastic heart and Confessionals (★★★★ - The Herald). He has twice been shortlisted for the Scottish Short Play of the Year Award.
Under the guise of Kevin P. Gilday & The Glasgow Cross he has released two albums – Experience Essential and Pure Concrete – via Iffy Folk Records.