City to City – Lahore Literature Festival, Lahore

The next leg of our ever-growing City to City project is happening in Pakistan at the Lahore Literature Festival from 19-21 February.

We’re very excited to have three unique events at the festival featuring 16 artists from the UK and Pakistan in conversation and collaboration in Lahore. They will share newly translated poems and musical outpourings which aims to reflect the role that art plays in creating bridges between cultures.

The three events will feature: Afshan Sajjad, Jim Carruth, Dr. Khalid Javaid Jan, Katherine Sowerby, Kishwar Naheed, Gerry Cambridge, Ali Akbar Natiq and Vicki Husband reading new translations plus music from Sara Kazmi & Sarah Hayes who will play together for the first time. Storytellers Mujahid Esha and Ian Stephen will speak of legends and fables from Pakistan and Scotland with visuals and illustrations from Mehreen Fatima and Kate Leiper.

Visit our artist page to read various biographies and info about the performers and collaborators.

Exact dates and details will soon be published by the Lahore Literature Festival and will be added here.

City to City: Poetry from Glasgow to Lahore

Leading lights of Glasgow’s poetry scene along with contemporaries from Lahore will be reunited on stage for a unique evening of readings to celebrate the launch of a new anthology of Urdu & English poetry.  The poets will share translated poems & collaborations which reflect their friendships as well as the role that art plays in creating bridges between cultures.

Featuring: Afshan Sajjad, Jim Carruth, Dr. Khalid Javaid Jan, Katherine Sowerby, Kishwar Naheed, Gerry Cambridge,Ali Akbar Natiq, Vicki Husband

In partnership with The British Council and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The first leg of the project began in Lahore back in November 2014. Last year City to City  visited both London & Glasgow in the UK.

Ali Akbar

Ali Akbar Natiq

Music Cities: Songs from Glasgow and Lahore

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Sarah Hayes

Join Lahore’s Sara Kazmi & Glasgow’s Sarah Hayes for an audial adventure as they explore traditional and contemporary sounds through song & stories. In this very special collaboration these musicians blend ragas with celtic folk tunes, loops, electronic effects and Punjabi poetry.

Featuring: Sara Kazmi and Sarah Hayes

In partnership with The British Council and the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Story Swap: Stories and Illustration from Scotland & Pakistan

Storytellers Ian Stephen and Mujahid Eshai share legends, lies, & fabled delights from the Scottish islands to the Pakistani mountains in a gripping evening of newly learned & freshly translated tale-telling. Close your eyes and let your imagination drift or keep them open to enjoy stunning new visuals from Mehreen Fatima and Kate Leiper.

Featuring: Mujahid Esha, Mehreen Fatima, Kate Leiper and Ian Stephen

In partnership with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Scottish Government Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund and the British Council

Ian Stephen

Ian Stephen