A Gray Day celebrate Alasdair

The first ever Gray Day is to take place today celebrating one of the country's most important literary and artistic talents.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the publication of Gray's novel Lanark and a special, one-off evening hosted by Neu Reekie at Oran Mor is to take place.

Sorcha Dallas, of The Alasdair Gray Archive, said; “Gray Day was born of a desire to foster a continued dialogue with Alasdair through the rich and multi-faceted works he has left behind.

"Alasdair was an incredible man and we hope this tribute will allow his admirers a chance to reminisce, while bringing his work to many more who have still to discover it.”

A Gray Day Broadcast is a collaboration between the Archive, publishers Canongate and his many admirers.

The hour long online program is a tribute to his masterwork of Scottish fiction and will feature readings, conversation and music.

There will be special appearances from Ali Smith, Yann Martel, Alan Cumming, Denise Mina, Irvine Welsh, Gemma Cairney, Chitra Ramaswamy, Alex Kapranos, Ewen Bremner, Louise Welsh, Salena Godden, Gavin Mitchell, Bernard MacLaverty, Rodge Glass, The Vaselines’ Eugene Kelly and more.

Gray Day will also see the launch a new website, a podcast entitled Gray Matters and a new online film commissioned by artist Craig Mulholland.

Chairman of Glasgow Life David McDonald said: “The literary and artistic prowess of Alasdair Gray has rightly made him one of Scotland’s most revered artists.

"On the 40th anniversary of his landmark novel, Lanark, it is fitting that his home city pays tribute to his outstanding talent and Glasgow Life is pleased to be part of the celebration.

Lanark was first published in February 1981 by Canongate.

Alasdair, who died in 2019, took 30 years to complete it during which he faced personal and professional struggles in bringing his masterwork to completion.

On its publication Lanark was critically acclaimed and heralded as a ground breaking work in Scottish literature.