News/Events
Should an event turn up whereby the public might gain access then details will be advertised with links on the time-table. below.
Otherwise, should you need my services and need to know of my availability then my email link is on the envelope icon on this website as is my phone number or go to the contact page
Otherwise, should you need my services and need to know of my availability then my email link is on the envelope icon on this website as is my phone number or go to the contact page
Latest project - Great Time Falkirk - Tales on-line -
Click scroll down to the bottom, click again and listen:
The Drover, the Saint, and the Tryst
The Battle of Falkirk and the death of John de GraemeThe Big Grey The Big Grey Man of the Falkirk Tryst
Click scroll down to the bottom, click again and listen:
The Drover, the Saint, and the Tryst
The Battle of Falkirk and the death of John de GraemeThe Big Grey The Big Grey Man of the Falkirk Tryst
Latest review (s)
Wallace Wha Hae Saturday 14th September, 2019
" We have had nothing but lovely feedback about your storytelling and I think it really added to the day. " Event organiser
Wallace Wha Hae Saturday 14th September, 2019
" We have had nothing but lovely feedback about your storytelling and I think it really added to the day. " Event organiser
Latest Book review - De Moray
" This is something I have waited for for many, many years and have made the easy, more than reasonable purchase. A true bard is, above all, a story teller. Homer was a story teller. Virgil was a story teller. But this is far more. In fact, it is absolutely everything a fine Scots poem needs to be, and by that I do mean everything. It is at once supremely literary, technically masterful, beautiful, meaningful, and profoundly engaging. This is no slavish emulation of the past here, this is Scots poetry as it needs to be now and for the future. And yes, it is timeless. A treasure. I am reassured that there are so many fine Scots poets serving so many poetical functions in their world. However, the the men of the Renaissance (think of George Buchanan among your Scottish humanists) were correct in their assertion that there is a hierarchy among poetic genres with the epic taking the highest place. Why? Because it is united with History. And, speaking of Renaissance, many of us in the States could only stomach the likes of Edwin Muir and very few others. For the most part, the entire "Scottish Renaissance" movement seemed over-marketed. Excessive emulation of the dead and boring 20th century is dangerous: I think, with the likes of Paraig MacNeil and others working in the other poetic registers, it is entirely possible that we are living in a real Scottish Renaissance at this very moment. Something worth considering. In conclusion, I can only say: Scotland, please learn to cherish and honor the good Scots poets you have with you now. The culture they offer is health, it balances. Why spend time in newspapers and pundits who never have anything but the same old things to say in their little dualistic bubble? Read your poets, listen to your story tellers, buy their books, enjoy them, let them lift you, let them stabilize your spirit in these troubled times. They do all of this not for themselves, but for you! "
Joseph MacKenzie 10th May, 2020
" This is something I have waited for for many, many years and have made the easy, more than reasonable purchase. A true bard is, above all, a story teller. Homer was a story teller. Virgil was a story teller. But this is far more. In fact, it is absolutely everything a fine Scots poem needs to be, and by that I do mean everything. It is at once supremely literary, technically masterful, beautiful, meaningful, and profoundly engaging. This is no slavish emulation of the past here, this is Scots poetry as it needs to be now and for the future. And yes, it is timeless. A treasure. I am reassured that there are so many fine Scots poets serving so many poetical functions in their world. However, the the men of the Renaissance (think of George Buchanan among your Scottish humanists) were correct in their assertion that there is a hierarchy among poetic genres with the epic taking the highest place. Why? Because it is united with History. And, speaking of Renaissance, many of us in the States could only stomach the likes of Edwin Muir and very few others. For the most part, the entire "Scottish Renaissance" movement seemed over-marketed. Excessive emulation of the dead and boring 20th century is dangerous: I think, with the likes of Paraig MacNeil and others working in the other poetic registers, it is entirely possible that we are living in a real Scottish Renaissance at this very moment. Something worth considering. In conclusion, I can only say: Scotland, please learn to cherish and honor the good Scots poets you have with you now. The culture they offer is health, it balances. Why spend time in newspapers and pundits who never have anything but the same old things to say in their little dualistic bubble? Read your poets, listen to your story tellers, buy their books, enjoy them, let them lift you, let them stabilize your spirit in these troubled times. They do all of this not for themselves, but for you! "
Joseph MacKenzie 10th May, 2020
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Iain McNeill of learntoLoveDigital has new new website/app:
Highland Discovery
This allows participants to interact in a journey including hearing local tales from myself and others.
The Launch of the project going live took place at The Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday 15th March where pictured below include:
New Book available:
The Brig And Rock Declaimers
Click on the image of the book to the left in order to enter into Amazon and either 'Look Inside' or purchase the book.
Below the image to the left is an article in the Stirling Observer about the book 31/05/2017
Below the image to the left is an article in the Stirling Observer about the book 31/05/2017
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Published on Jan 27, 2017Below is a selfie footage of myself here is at the Battle Stone of Sheriffmuir in May 2015 on the year of the 300th Anniversary of the Battle of Sheriffmuir in the hills above Dunblane during a morning run singing Sileas MacDonnell's (Sileas na Ceapaich) excellent nationalist/Jacobite song Tha Mi nam Chadal.
Below is a rough video of footage of Norwegian Independence Day's parade, Edinburgh, May 2016 on the year of The Scottish Norwegian Society's 50th Anniversary.
The main theme of this production is that of 'Sinklars Visa', i.e. The Battle of Kringen, 1612 near Lillehamer, a Scottish army under Sinclair of Caithness and Captain Ramsay were surrounded and attached by a few hundred Norwegians and wiped. out. Being mistaken for an invading force,Sinclair's men were badly armed and were actually on their way to join the King of Sweden when they were attacked.
A tartan plaid or kilt survived the battle and the local folk still wear that tartan on their 'bunad' (national costume). Although Norwegians have their own native tartans, this is the only tartan from Scotland that they wear in honour of Sinclair who fell with his men. The song beginning and ending the film is local folk doing a ring dance singing the epic song of the battle.
The main theme of this production is that of 'Sinklars Visa', i.e. The Battle of Kringen, 1612 near Lillehamer, a Scottish army under Sinclair of Caithness and Captain Ramsay were surrounded and attached by a few hundred Norwegians and wiped. out. Being mistaken for an invading force,Sinclair's men were badly armed and were actually on their way to join the King of Sweden when they were attacked.
A tartan plaid or kilt survived the battle and the local folk still wear that tartan on their 'bunad' (national costume). Although Norwegians have their own native tartans, this is the only tartan from Scotland that they wear in honour of Sinclair who fell with his men. The song beginning and ending the film is local folk doing a ring dance singing the epic song of the battle.
