Scots Language Awards 2024: Shane Strachan

Weel duin tae Shane Strachan wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Book o the Year sponsored by Scottish Book Trust in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!

The Scots Language Awards are in the Cumnock Toon Ha, Cumnock in pairtnership wi East Ayrshire Cooncil on 14th September at 7pm. Tickets fir the ceremony are available tae buy here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/.

We askit Shane Strachan o Shane Strachan thae speirins.

Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
I'm a scriever and performer o Scots. My debut poyetry collection, "DWAMS", wis published by Tapsalteerie in April tae muckle acclaim and I've performed wirk fae it aa ower the country, includin Aiberdeen, Glaesga, Dundee, Helensburgh Book Festival, Borders Book Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival. I love tae share these North East Scots poyems oot and aboot in ither airts an pairts!
I recently did a twa-wik residency at Hospitalfield in Arbroath explorin Angus Scots wi the local community and scrievin new poyems in Scots. I also won the North Heat Slam o the Loud Poets competition, performin a series o poyems fae "DWAMS".
Last year I won Scots Champion at the 2023 Scots Language Awards follaein my year as the National Library o Scotland's Scots Scriever, and I'm affa chuffed tae be back this year is co-host, and tae hae "DWAMS" nominatit fir Scots Book o the Year.

Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
I grew up in the Broch (Fraserburgh) and Peterheid in Aiberdeenshire, so I've been spikkin North East Scots (Doric) aa my life, and been scrievin stories and poyems in it for ower 15 years. Initially, I wis scrievin oot o fear that the Scots aroon ma wis dyin oot, but there's been ahs muckle chynges since then that's seen a gryte improvement in folks' understandin, appreciation and celebration o Scots athort the boord!

Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
It's been pairt o my ivveryday life since I wis a bairn, and sae tae nae eese it is tae neglect a big pairt o my identity and my wye o seeing the warld. I also think it's important fir folk thit dinna ken Scots tae realise that it is being spoken in gryte numbers, but mebbe nae necessarily in their earshot!

Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
I love 'clype' because I wis ayewis being caad een as a bairn! I also love words fir tired like 'foonert' and 'fair forfochan'.

Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Aabody in my faimly in Aiberdeenshire are Scots spikkers and are the reason I spik and scrieve in it til this day!

Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?

Ony particlar career heighlichts
Being the National Library of Scotland's Scots Scriever for a hale year (2022-23) wis affa rare as it meant gettin tae share my love for Scots wi folk athort the country. It also led tae ma winnin Scots Champion at last year's awards!

Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
I'm workin on a series o new poyems, een o which his jist been shortlistit for the Wigtown Scots Poetry Prize, wi the winner annoonced in October. I'm also continuin tae scrieve the creative memoir project I began during ma time as the National Library o Scotland's Scots Scriever and I howp tae feenish that bi the ein o this year!

The Scots Language Awards are in the Cumnock Toon Ha, Cumnock on 14th September at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy here: https://eastayrshireleisure.com/events/scots-language-awards/ There wull be some grand entertainmint oan the nicht tae, includin a recital fae Billy Kay, Susie Briggs, alang wi musical performances fae Claire Hastings an Sèan Gray.

If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians please consider supporting our Patreon campaign. We have 3 tiers starting at $1 a month and everything helps support us in our work. Read more at www.patreon.com/handsupfortrad