Kevin P. Gilday is an award-winning poet and performer from Glasgow. He is a National Theatre of Scotland Associate Artist, a BBC Writersroom Scottish Voice, a UNESCO City of Literature Writer in Residence 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 and is the official Makar of Stirling.
Kevin has performed all over the world, from Hollywood to East Kilbride, including major music festivals (BBC 6Music Festival, Glastonbury), Fringe festivals (Edinburgh, Toronto), 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 shared stages with artists and public figures such as Akala, Saul Williams, George the Poet, Jackie Kay, Liz Lochhead, Sage Francis, The Silencers and Jeremy Corbyn MP.
Kevin has published five books of poetry, with his most recent - Anxiety Music - released by Verve Press to universal acclaim and promoted via a 22-date tour of the UK and Europe. He is the founder of online writers collective The Scribbler’s Union and in-person poetry workshop series The Verse Foundry. He has facilitated hundreds of individual writing workshops in schools, theatres, prisons and community groups – helping people of all ages to find their poetic voice and express themselves creatively through spoken word.
He is an experienced theatre-maker with a range of writing, directing and performing credits. His theatre work includes Spam Valley (★★★★★ - The Wee Review, North West End), Courier Culture (★★★★★ - The Scotsman), Suffering from Scottishness (★★★★ - The Scotsman), Exiles (★★★★★ - The Morning Star), Gigantic Lying Mouth (★★★★ – Edmonton Journal) and Confessionals (★★★★ - The Herald). He also created the pop-up arts hub The Bank of Springburn in association with National Theatre of Scotland, repurposing a disused high-street bank to create a vibrant community space with a curated line-up of guests and events. He has twice been shortlisted for the Scottish Short Play of the Year Award.
Kevin is also an accomplished singer and lyricist, creating work with songwriting partner Ralph Hector as Kevin P. Gilday & The Glasgow Cross. The band’s third album, How I Won the Culture War (★★★★ - The Scotsman), showcases their unique sonic palette – taking in moments of experimental pop, moody post-punk and modern classical composition.