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THE HOMECOMING SCOTLAND Tartan Clef Awards will this year take place on Fri 27 Nov at the SECC in Glasgow, in a bid to create a bigger profile for the event. Last year Peter Kay attended to award Sharleen Spiteri with her Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. FOLLOWING ON FROM its success last year, Glasgay! Is set to return with the title Reclaiming the Rainbow, celebrating families and the various ways in which relationships are formed around them. The film strand will open with the UK premiere of Shank, while the theatre section will include works by Jackie Kay and Louise Welsh.

WEST END ACTOR Darren Day will join former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy, in this year’s upcoming production of We Will Rock You at the Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre this Autumn.

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK Tom Kitchin EAT Scotland’s youngest Michelin- starred chef prepares to take the publishing industry by storm with his first cookbook, From Nature to Plate. See page 12. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, out Thu 6 Aug, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Mon 17 Aug.

David Peace BOOKS The popular Damned United author releases Occupied City, the second part of a planned trilogy set in postwar Tokyo. Our reviewer finds him ‘blazingly inventive.’ See page 17. Faber, out now. Piping Live! MUSIC The annual piping festival returns to debunk some of the hoary old myths about our national instrument. Highlights include a California collective and an Indian- Cletic fusion group. See page 33. Various venues, Glasgow, Mon 10–Sun 16 Aug.

One More Tune CLUBS The multi-genre Glasgow club celebrates making it to that important second birthday with a night at Glasgow School of Art. See page 18. Glasgow School of Art, Sat 8 Aug. Spin on This VISUAL ART Recoat Gallery celebrates its second birthday with this exhibition of street art and graffiti art inspired by the Scottish biking industry. See page 41. Recoat Gallery, Glasgow, Sat 8 Aug–Sun 6 Sep.

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6–13 Aug 2009 THE LIST 5

Michael Palin discusses the second part of his autobiography, including his work with Monty Python

Word up An array of names from the world of politics, TV and comedy set their stall for the Conversation Pieces’ line-up Words: Anna Millar

public gardens.

American singer Andy Williams will chat about his life story and forthcoming autobiography Moon River and Me in a special one-off evening event, which will also feature some of the musical icon’s best known songs. His rise to fame has been chronicled for the first time in his forthcoming autobiography Moon River and Me. Events close with composer Peter Maxwell Davies, who appears in conversation as part of a festival of events in Glasgow to celebrate his life and works in the year of his 75th birthday. Davies recently hit the headlines when he revealed that he is working on a comic opera about the MPs expenses scandal.

M ichael Palin, Kenny Logan and Sir Peter Maxwell are just a clutch of the names rocking up to the Royal Concert Hall as part of their Conversation Pieces season. The talks, held in September and October, boast talents from across the board, including Dennis Canavan, Kenneth Cox and Angus Konstam. Music fans can also look forward to an evening of conversation and music with Andy Williams. The events will be hosted by BBC Radio Scotland’s Iain Anderson, John Beattie and Alistair Moffat.

Writer, performer and comedian Michael Palin will appear in conversation with Alistair Moffat to discuss the second volume of his diaries, Halfway to Hollywood, and discuss tales of him time making Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and his BAFTA-winning performance in A Fish Called Wanda. Rugby player-come-Strictly Come dancer Kenny Logan will discuss his autobiography Just for Kicks, which focuses on his time on and off the field, as well as his much-publicised dyslexia.

Scottish gardener Kenneth Cox will discuss his book Scotland for Gardeners: The Guide to Scottish Gardens, Nurseries and Garden Centres, featuring descriptions of virtually all of Scotland's