May Day is the long-awaited new poetry collection from Jackie Kay, former Makar (Scottish Poet Laureate) and Guest Curator for Scotland Unwrapped.

As the title suggests, these poems cast an eye over several decades of political activism, from the international solidarity of the Glasgow of Kay’s childhood, accompanying her parents’ Socialist campaigns, through the feminist, LGBT+ and anti-racist movements of the 80s and 90s, up to a global pandemic intersecting with the urgency of Black Lives Matter.

Jackie Kay will be joined by singers Olatunde and Olivette Cole-Wilson. Olatunde has always had a love for music inspired by her Sierra Leonean heritage. She has performed with various choirs and groups- more recently with Voicelab at the Southbank centre. Olivette has sung with a variety of groups including Church choirs, Opera Integra, Sistah’s in Song, Spirit of joy and Voicelab.

Book Ali Smith & Jackie Kay event — Wed 2 Oct

This event will last approximately 70 minutes, without an interval.