Hamish Hawk commission comes to life with Edinburgh International Book Festival first ever record release
Edinburgh International Book Festival today announces that Life in a Scotch Sitting-room, Vol. 0, a limited-edition LP by Scottish indie songwriter Hamish Hawk, will be released on 5th December.
Article Source: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Last Updated: 27 November 2025 14:15
Edinburgh International Book Festival today announces that Life in a Scotch Sitting-room, Vol. 0, a limited-edition LP by Scottish indie songwriter Hamish Hawk, will be released on Friday, 5 December. This marks the festival's first ever record release - representing the latest output from the festival's commissioning programme, which brings literary works to audiences in unexpected and creative ways.
The announcement comes as the Festival celebrates a recent accolade: winning the 2025 Thistle Award for Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival, recognising its innovative approach to programming and contribution to Scotland’s cultural landscape.
The Festival commissioned Hamish to create a lyrical homage to poet and musician Ivor Cutler and his spoken-word work Life in a Scotch Sitting Room. The project premiered at the Festival in August 2025, across two sold-out events in a nostalgic living room setting (courtesy of Scottish design firm getMade) reminiscent of Scottish life past and present, within the Festival's iconic Spiegeltent. Hamish and members of his band Hamish Hawk & the New Outfit – one playing Cutler’s very own harmonium – performed new stories and songs inspired by his own Edinburgh childhood home in Fairmilehead, alongside reworkings of Cutler's original works.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We’re immensely proud of this project and it’s been an absolute joy to work with Hamish and the team. When I first approached him to explore a writer who has shaped his work, and he brought the idea of Ivor Cutler to the table, you could immediately see the connections and the possibilities - but the process of bringing it all to life has been just magical, as anyone who was in the Spiegeltent in the summer will tell you. Releasing the album now means both that so many more people can hear these amazing pieces but also that we have created a lasting tangible piece of cultural history.
Our commissioning programme is about creating space for writers and artists to experiment and create new work and collaborations that just wouldn’t otherwise happen. Bringing together Hamish’s songwriting and Ivor’s legacy, we’ve created a bridge between artforms, and between Scottish sitting rooms across the decades; and it’s a thing of absolute beauty!”
Hamish Hawk said: "The Book Festival approached me about creating something bespoke, and it became the most personal thing I've ever done. It's about two Scotch sitting rooms – Cutler's idiosyncratic version of his childhood in Govan, and my own family home. Ivor fictionalised his family history and created something as tangible as if it had been videotaped. I wanted to honour that approach."
This project continues the Festival’ssupport for cross-disciplinary artistic work. Previous commissions include 2024's Perambulations of a Justified Sinner Experience – an immersive audio-visual walk through Edinburgh's Old Town by Grid Iron's Ben Harrison, Louise Welsh, and Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, celebrating the 200th anniversary of James Hogg's novel.
Bringing Cutler's work to new listeners through Hawk's contemporary songwriting this limited-edition vinyl – marking the Festival's first record release – captures the wit, warmth, and intimacy of the original festival performances, offering fans and collectors alike a piece of Edinburgh's literary and musical heritage reimagined for today.
Life in a Scotch Sitting-room, Vol. 0 will be released on 5 December via Hamish Hawk's official store and select retailers, and is available for pre-order now from https://hamishhawk.tmstor.es.
Image credit: Sally Jubb
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Free beer for gingers over Burns Weekend at Wee Vault Taproom
An Edinburgh brewery is offering free beer to gingers this Burns Weekend to mark the annual celebration of national poet Robert Burns.
READ MORE
Wonder Fools return to The Events by David Greig
Wonder Fools, in association with Cumbernauld Theatre, will tour their new staging of David Greig's modern classic The Events across Scotland next month.
READ MORE
Scotland... the wait is over
After years of passionate requests, capital-letter enthusiasm and a steady stream of “BRU??” in their DMs, IRN-BRU has finally arrived at Cineworld Scotland.
READ MORE
Missing portrait of poet Robert Burns is found after 220 years
A lost portrait of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, by the renowned artist Sir Henry Raeburn has been found after over 200 years.
READ MORE
Vue Edinburgh Omni welcomes a luxurious new seat
Film fans in Edinburgh can enjoy the latest releases in the ultimate comfort with the arrival of Vue's biggest and comfiest Ultra Lux seat!
READ MORE
Deer Park to screen a full year of live sport alongside its golf and leisure offering
As part of its wider leisure offer, Deer Park will screen a wide range of major sporting events, allowing guests to relax, socialise and enjoy some of the biggest moments in sport!
READ MORE
Award winning Edinburgh restaurant Eleanore will close at the end of January for refurbishment
Roberta Hall McCarron's award-winning restaurant Eleanore will close at the end of January for a refurbishment, reopening in March with a renewed focus on a warm, neighbourhood bistro.
READ MORE
An unforgettable celebration of Robert Burns on Calton Hill
Café Calton is welcoming guests to celebrate Scotland's national poet in one of the most distinctive and awe-inspiring spaces in the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh pub serves up ultimate Burns Night Stab a Haggis experience
An Edinburgh pub is adding a touch of drama to its Burns Night celebrations by serving up the ultimate 'Stab a Haggis' experience over the weekend of 23rd to 25th January.
READ MORE
Winter magic sought for West Lothian country parks
West Lothian Council is inviting commercial events operators to add some sparkle to the area's fantastic country parks this autumn and winter.
READ MORE
Stars start to roll in for Fringe By The Sea 2026
Fringe By The Sea - East Lothian's award-winning, independent multi-arts festival - is gearing up for another ambitious year, unveiling its first wave of shows!
READ MORE
Five unique Valentine experiences to enjoy across Scotland
With Valentine's Day falling on a Saturday this year, couples have the perfect excuse to celebrate with experiences rather than traditional gifts.
READ MORE
DF Concerts summer events generate 164.5million for Scottish economy
DF Concerts has today announced that its programme of summer 2025 live music events generated £164.6 million in total economic impact for Scotland.
READ MORE
The Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition returns
The official glass for whisky, the Glencairn Glass, is once again raising a toast to crime fiction with the return of its popular annual Crime Short Story Competition.
READ MORE
Pomelo to pop up at two restaurants this January, including a veganuary chef table experience
Jun Au, chef-owner of Edinburgh's award-winning Asian restaurant, Pomelo, will be holding pop-ups in two neighbourhood restaurants across the city - Argile in Marchmont and Norah in Newhaven.
READ MORE
Over half of British holidaymakers to opt for touring holiday over flights abroad in 2026
Survey of 2,000 UK holidaymakers commissioned by Scotland's largest touring and holiday home show reveals shift in UK's holiday of choice.
READ MORE
Tour de France unveils route for Scottish stage
The official route of the opening stage of the Tour de France in 2027, known as the Grand Depart, has been revealed with the event starting in Edinburgh on Friday 2nd July.
READ MORE
The Scottish Gallery Press Announces the publication of James Morrison: Under a Northern Sky
The Scottish Gallery announces the publication of James Morrison: Under a Northern Sky, celebrating the life, legacy, and extraordinary landscape career of one of Scotland's most admired painters.
READ MORE
World Party: Celtic Connections lights up winter as global festival begins
Glasgow bursts into life today welcoming the world to the biggest traditional winter music festival on the planet - as Celtic Connections kicks off 18 days of music, culture and celebration!
READ MORE
The best of British theatre takes centre stage at Vue
There's lots for theatre lovers to be excited about at Vue, with several productions taking over the big screen in the coming months.
READ MORE
BFFs over Boyfriends: Flight Club is the ultimate Galentines therapy
Flight Club is calling all those focusing on friends this Valentine's to round up their gang of guys or girls and celebrate platonic love with its Galentine's Brunch.
READ MORE
Duck & Waffle Edinburgh partners with BLANK Running Club to launch healthy living set menu and January Breakfast Run
Duck & Waffle Edinburgh, located in the heart of St James Quarter, is teaming up with BLANK Running Club this January to inspire healthy living through food, movement and community.
READ MORE
Scotch malt whisky liqueur brand pours out support for Edinburgh Team GB curlers at Winter Olympics
The country's only Scotch malt whisky cream liqueur brand, Magnum, is throwing its support behind Edinburgh's Team GB men's curling team at this year's Winter Olympics!
READ MORE
The Cool Hand Cup is back!
Marston's is calling on punters to step up to the oche in over 500 pubs, to be in with the chance of winning £10,000 and a game of 501 darts against champion Luke Humphries!
READ MORE
Viral Buckie Bomb beer returns after trending on Reddit across Scotland and Ireland
A cult Buckfast-inspired beer is making a comeback this January after fans demanded its return across Reddit.
READ MORE
Dobbies hosts free Little Seedlings Club this February
Children will learn what compost is, the difference between green and brown waste, and what can and can't be composted at February's Little Seedlings Club from Dobbies'!
READ MORE
East Lothian Information Hub announce events for 2026
East Lothian Information Hubs are 'One Stop Shop' events, where members of the public can engage with multiple organisations face-to-face.
READ MORE
World Gaelic Week grows as 2026 programme launched
Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) is set to grow for the fifth consecutive year as it launches its funded programme of events.
READ MORE
17 Edinburgh gyms open up to corporate fitness users in new city wide partnership
EGYM Hussle and Edinburgh Leisure unite to strengthen corporate fitness offering to help create a city 'where everyone is inspired to engage in physical activity'.
READ MORE
Edinburgh theatre redevelopment hits major milestone with funding secured from the Scottish Government to complete the main construction work
The King's Theatre has been awarded £2.5million from the Scottish Government, closing the funding gap for the main construction works needed to redevelop this much-loved Tollcross landmark.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links