It's Lovely To Be Here : the Touring Diaries of a Scottish Gent

Presented as a series of tour diaries, It's Lovely to be Here offers a mix of deadpan humour and wide-eyed wonder whilst mapping out the realities and endless disorientations of life on the road. By turns poignant, witty and philosophical, James Yorkston's account becomes an ongoing search for meaning in the lyrics, chords, bars and van window-views of a modern day troubadour. James' style of songwriting: self-aware, self-deprecating, conversational and highly romantic - paired with his gift for storytelling - has made a natural transition to the printed page. Like the man himself it is by turns amusing, charming and occasionally a little despondent. A welcome antidote to the celebrity memoir, this compelling account of life on the road is a must for music fans across the board. All human life is here, and quite a lot of whisky. 'I wouldn't have imagined that the unglamorous reality of the tour bus, the antithesis of the rock-star lifestyle, would make for good reading. Yet this book succeeds in being both very readable and hugely enjoyable; full of poetic humour and honesty.' -- David Shrigley 'I've loved James' music for years now and booked him repeatedly for my festivals so what a joy to have a book by the man. His laidback prose is like having a conversation with an old chum sat by the fire nursing a wee dram on a windy night on some slightly desolate Scottish island. My kinda night out so thanks for the writing James!' - Rob Da Bank 'A beautiful book about being on the road: brilliantly funny, unsentimentally poignant and shot through with the clear-eyed honesty that James Yorkston brings to his music-making. It's Lovely To Be Here is, quite simply, unmissable.' - James Barton