Books might not make you think loud and lively, but Unbound is just that — a thrilling cabaret-style event with live music, hilarious and haunting readings from authors often showing new sides to their work, and a bar. And it’s completely free to attend!

Taking place nightly at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, we’re excited to bring the same wild, wordy session to East Kilbride this month. Popping up at East Kilbride Arts Centre at 8.30pm on Saturday 19 August, this two-hour extravaganza is free for you to drop in and out as you wish, with authors and musicians taking short spots on stage, all hosted by writer, presenter and publisher Keith Charters. Find out more about the great artists and authors involved below.

M R Carey

As a writer, Mike Carey wears almost as many masks as the costumed characters which made his name. He’s worked for the comic world’s big behemoths, DC, Marvel and 200AD, putting his name to titles including X-Men and Fantastic Four. Like all good superheroes he has an alter ego; as M R Carey he’s a novel writer extraordinaire, the man behind The Girl with all the Gifts – a word-of-mouth bestseller and later a critically acclaimed movie which Carey himself adapted for the screen. Which identity will he wear at Unbound? Regardless, audiences are in for a treat from one of the UK’s most formidable genre-crossing talents.

Joe Hill

Speaking of assumed identities, Joe Hill was born under a different name, to a father who might be familiar… the fact he doesn’t use nor need this literary connection is testament to his terrific talent. Winner of a clutch of awards on both sides of the Atlantic for his harrowing thrillers and blood-stilling horror writing, Hill has turned his hand to everything from short stories to poetry, is an accomplished writer of graphic novels, and even saw his 2010 novel Horns be adapted for a film starring Daniel Radcliffe in one of his first post-Potter roles. As well as reading tonight, we’ve been promised a piano performance which will surely get you singing too.

Neill Cameron

Completing a triumvirate of writers immersed in the world of graphic novels is Neill Cameron, a regular for the immensely popular weekly comic The Phoenix and creator of books involving robots, pirates and everything in between. A cartoonist and writer, he’ll have us laughing as he brings his award-nominated skills to the stage for Unbound.

Katharine Macfarlane

A bright star in the current constellation of exciting spoken word poetry performers, Katharine Macfarlane has taken part in slams and events across the country, showing her deft skill for wordsmithing in everything from the Rally and Broad revue to her own Fringe show last summer. As if that wasn’t enough, she’s also nurturing the next generation of readers and writers as a Children’s Librarian in Inverclyde – and helped us run last summer’s Inverclyde Booked! Festival too. Phew. Make sure you catch this singular talent while she’s in town!

Ian Donaldson

Readers of a certain vintage may recognise Ian Donaldson as the lead singer of 70s/80s Glasgow band H20. He’s recently turned his writing talent towards novels, publishing debut A Rainbow in the Basement, a tale of life and death which moves between Scotland and the USA, earlier this year. Get a taste of that book tonight and see Ian perform with a new band too.

Electioneer

More live music comes courtesy of local noise rock band Electioneer, whose sound blends spiky guitar melodies with a grungy bassline in a spotlessly produced mix. Check out two songs – State of Address and Little Sun – on the left, then see them perform at Unbound.