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Banking on the climb up a childhood mountain in Troon The Ballast Bank is my favourite walk in the world, and not just because Troon’s legendary harbourside fish and chip shop, the Wee Hurrie, huddles next to the fishmarket at one end. Though the thought of what deep-fried delights may be waiting for you certainly…

Zetlandic diary, week ending 19 November Everything’s been off all week, pretty much. Ferries to and from the mainland, freight boats, most of the inter-island links. Supermarket shelves are being stripped. Fresh fruit has vanished, scurvy is endemic and there are reports of cannibalism in Ollaberry… Well, not quite. Perhaps a few fingernails are being…

My weekly diary of Zetlandic doings  We’re half-past Hairst, waiting for winter,  the Great Darkness descending. Beyond 60 degrees north, it’s a battle now for light and warmth. Our household’s carbon neutrality is, to say the least, questionable. Here we run, to quote those surprise musical superstars of the Western Isles, on peat and diesel,…

The late Kenny Macdonald played a crucial part in the city’s most vibrant music period BOUGHT BEGGED AND STOLEN – remembering Kenny MacDonald. 60 North Radio 7.00pm UK time, on Radio Garden, the 60 North app and on Mixcloud – link below. If you remember the 80s Glasgow music scene, were you really there? For…

Conducting funerals: first secure your trousers… I have three black suits. One is wool, two are various forms of electrically charged hydrocarbon byproduct. One is in Ayrshire, just in case. Two are here in Shetland . I tend to wear the waistcoat from one and the jacket and trousers from the other. The waistcoat is…

Tom Morton’s two-hour show as heard on 60 North Radio Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler — The Eagle and the Dove Simple Minds — The American (acoustic) The Magpie Arc — Love Never Dies Mary Chapin Carpenter — Between the Earth and the Stars Steve Earle — Guitar Town Unthanks — The Old News John…

As heard on 60 North Radio Link to Mixcloud stream is here PLAYLIST: James Yorkston — Sometimes the Act of Giving Love Nick Lowe — A Better Man Suzy y Los Quattros — Radio! Stereo! Dada — The Last Time Led Zeppelin — Communication Breakdown Dropkick — Until I Fall Away Pugwash — The Perfect…

As heard on 60 North Radio, Friday 16 September Tonight’s Bought, Begged and Stolen show is on 60 North Radio 7-9pm. Previewing now on Mixcloud, link below playlist. Mickey Jupp — Learning to SwimJames Edwyn and the Borrowed Band — Buy Me a TicketDel Amitri — ShamePaolo Nutini — Shine a LightFirst Aid Kit —…

Two hours of music from Nashville to Kelvin Way New show for the week of 26 August. 7-9pm on 60 North Radio, also on Mixcloud and the 60 North archive after 9.00pm. From Nashville to Kelvin Way via some Lost Horizons. Listen here or via link after playlist: Al Stewart — Terminal Eyes Nick Drake…

Byron Rogers is the ex-feature writer’s feature writer They lurk in the double-page spreads of newspapers no-one cares about and few buy, his disciples, imitators and conscious or unconscious clones. Not that Byron Rogers is without his own influences. Earlier Fleet Street giants like William Connor (Cassandra) and Anthony Carson, masters of observed eccentricity and…