Idlewild singer launches music and literature project

Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble's ambitious music and literature project is launched at a gig in Glasgow tonight (January 30).

'Ballads Of The Book' unites the great and the good of Scottish literature with the country's indie elite and will be released on March 5 through Chemikal Underground.

Inspired by Idlewild's work with writer Edwin Morgan on their 'The Remote Part' album, Woomble wanted to explore the possibilities for cross-pollenation further.

With the help of the Scottish Arts Council and the label, the project soon grew and the finished product features appearances from Arab Strap's Aidan Moffat, Sons & Daughters, and Aereogramme.

The tracklisting is:

Heron and John Burnside - 'Song For Irena'
De Rosa and Michel Faber - 'Steam Comes Off Our House'
James Yorkston and Bill Duncan - 'A Calvinist Narrowly Avoids Pleasure'
Foxface and Rody Gorman - 'Dreamcatcher'
Lord Cut-Glass and Alasdair Gray - 'A Sentimental Song'
Aidan Moffat and the Best Ofs and Ian Rankin - 'The Sixth Stone'
Norman Blake and John Burnside - 'Girl'
Karine Polwart and Edwin Morgan - 'The Good Years'
Sons and Daughters and AL Kennedy - 'The War On Love Song'
Alasdair Roberts and Robin Robertson - 'The Leaving'
Strike The Colours and Rody Gorman - 'Message In A Bottle'
Aereogramme and Hal Duncan - 'If You Love Me You’d Destroy Me'
Malcolm Middleton and Alan Bisset - 'The Rebel On His Own Tonight'
Trashcan Sinatras and Ali Smith - 'Half An Apple'
Vashti Bunyan and Rodge Glass - 'The Fire'
King Creosote and Laura Hird - 'Where and When'
Emma Pollock and Louise Welsh - 'Jesus On The Cross'
Idlewild and Edwin Morgan - 'The Weight Of Years'

The album will be launched with a special performance at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall tonight (Janaury 30).