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PODCAST

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns

Alastair R Turnbull

Did you know that Robert Burns was the first person to feature on a Coca Cola bottle? Or that a book of his poems has orbited the earth 217 times? And he NEVER signed his name as Rabbie? This is a modern and light hearted look at the life and works of Robert Burns; poems explained; myths busted; songs sung and stories told. Listen, laugh, and maybe even learn something new with Alastair Turnbull and guests.

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All Episodes

10:56

Burns Banter - Your Bard! (Edinburgh Fringe Show 2025)

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2025/08/07

Send us a text I am performing a show called 'Burns Banter - Your Bard' at this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is all about the darker side of Robert Burns, with drinking songs and poems you probably haven't heard before. In this episode I tell you about the show and play a couple of clips from a recent warm up gig I played in a local pub. I'm playing at 'The Three Sisters - Live Room' from the 18th - 24th August 2025. Show starts at 1.45pm and lasts for one hour. Even if you can't make ...

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23:43

Burns Banter S2 Ep12 - Robert Burns Death

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2025/05/01

Send us a text In this episode we look at the last few years of Robert Burns life, his death., and what happened after that. Where did he die? What caused his death? . We look at what was happening in his personal life, is he is he happy? is his work as an excise officer going well? We look at the last poems and songs he wrote and collected, were any of them of note? We also look at what happened in the days and months after his death. If you want to find out about the life and death of Rober...

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20:35

Burns Banter S2 Ep11 - Dumfries

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2025/03/04

Send us a text In this episode Robert leaves Ellisland farm and moves to Dumfries. We look at his work as an excise officer and a famous incident involving Robert attacking a smugglers Schooner on the Solway Firth. I also look at Roberts visit to Edinburgh to see two women, for very different reasons. We also talk about a man called George Thomson and the influence he had on Robert. There is lots going on in this episode, dive right in and enjoy! Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns

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29:54

Burns Banter S2 Ep10 - The Ellisland Years

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2025/01/09

Send us a textIn this episode Robert has moved from Edinburgh To Ellisland Farm, which is by the banks of the river Nith, about 6 and a half miles north of Dumfries. He has become a farmer again, as well as an Excise Officer.How does he do this? it is two FULL TIME occupations. As well as working he is socialising, writing poetry and contributing songs to 'The Scots Musical Museum'. How much energy can one man have?!!!Find out which songs and poems he wrote here, what trouble he got himself i...

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18:59

Burns Banter S2 Ep9 - Big Decisions

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/12/20

Send us a textWhat does Robert Do after the the fame of being a great Poet in Edinburgh and touring around Scotland?He has to make some big decisions about his future. In this episode of Burns Banter I look at five things that influence his decisions. They are James Johnson, The Excise, a farm called Ellisland, Agnes Maclehose and Jean Armour.This is a confusing time for Robert and not all of his decisions are good ones. Listen to this podcast and learn more about the direction Robert goes. W...

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44:10

Burns Banter S2 Ep8 - Touring around Scotland

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/08/09

Send us a Text Message.It is 1787, Robert Burns has published the second edition of his poems, now known as 'The Edinburgh Edition'. He has sold the rights to all of his poems to William Creech and he needs to write some more....What does he do?He goes on tour around Scotland to get inspiration for new poems and songs. He also wants to introduce himself to the great and good people of Scotland. The Dukes and Duchesses, the captains of industry and the just plain wealthy. He does this as he wa...

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33:35

Burns Banter S2 Ep7 - The Edinburgh Edition

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/07/29

Send us a Text Message.In this episode I talk about Robert Burns journey to Edinburgh to produce a second volume of his book 'Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect'. I also talk about the reception he received when he arrived in Edinburgh, how he published the book, the people he met and other things he did in his time there.This is Robert at the hight of his poetical fame, meeting the great and good of Scottish society. Earning money, creating friendships, enjoying life to the full. This is ...

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15:51

Burns Banter S2 Ep6 - Burns Banter Live ! 16th - 25th...

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/07/12

In this Episode I talk about my up coming shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Yes, I'm taking Burns Banter to Edinburgh and will be performing upstairs in The Pear Tree. The venue is called The Counting House and the room is called The Attic. I'm on from the 16th to the 25th, (not the 24th), 10.30am till 11.30am each day. The show is called 'Burns Banter Live' and is basically an hour long episode of this podcast with extra stories, songs, quizzes and even a few jokes. Yes, jokes about Ro...

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20:30

Burns Banter - Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect...

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/07/05

In this episode we look at how, why and when Robert published his book, Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. We look at the problems he had to overcome before John Wilson agreed to publish the book. We look at the poems and songs in the book, such as, Twa Dogs, A Tale - The Cotters Saturday Night, To a mouse and Composed in August. We see how the public reaction to the book affected him and the direction his life was taking. Specifically we look at his decision not to go to Jamacia an...

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19:15

Burns Banter - Mossgiel, Women and a Book

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/06/28

In this episode we look briefly at Robert's father, William - Then a Farm called Mossgiel - Roberts turbulent private life and a book called 'Poem Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect'. This is a wild and unpredictable time in Roberts life, (roughly 1784 - 1786). His father passes away in 1784, they need to move to a new farm, Mossgiel, and as Robert is the eldest son, he is now the head of the family. This responsibility does not sit well on his shoulders and he needs a lot of help from his broth...

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24:46

Burns Banter - Lochlea, Tarbolton & Irvine

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/06/21

In this episode we see the Burns family move to a new farm, Lochlie. Is it better than Mount Oliphant? How well / badly do they do there? At this point in Roberts life he is in his late teens and is starting to try and move away from farming. He is also spreading his wings socially with country dancing lessons and the formation of the Tarbolton Bachelors Club. Robert also moves to Irvine and tries a new business venture, Flax dressing. What is flax dressing? How successful is this new b...

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18:15

Burns Banter - Mount Oliphant & Roberts first poems

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/06/14

In this episode we look at Robert life from age 7. We look at his education, the schools and tutors he had. We look at the farm that Roberts Father moved the family to, (Mount Oliphant), and whether it was a good decision. We also look at Roberts health during this period of his life, which was affected by the amount of work he was doing on the farm and the food they were limited to. Then we look at Roberts first poems - what were they about? Why did he start writing?...

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12:53

Burns Banter - Robert Burns birth & early life

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/06/07

In Series two of Burns Banter I am taking a look at the life of Robert Burns. Each episode will look at one part of Robert's Life - as this is episode one, I am looking at the Birth Of Robert Burns. I also take a look at William Burnes, (Robert's Father), and Agnes Broun, (Robert's Mother). where did they come from, what were they like, what influence did they have on Robert? I look briefly at what was happening in Scotland at the time - all of these aspects helped to make Robert into t...

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8:50

Burns Banter - Ep. 21 - Robert Burns 'The Rights of...

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/03/13

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7:32

Burns Banter Ep. 20 Robert Burns - Address to the...

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/03/02

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15:58

Burns Banter - Ep. 19 A Robert Burns Quiz in Sweden

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/02/23

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9:31

Burns Banter - Ep.18 Robert Burns 'My love is like a...

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/02/16

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8:20

Burns Banter - Ep.17 Robert Burns - To A Louse

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/02/09

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16:15

Burns Banter - Ep. 16 Holy Willie's Prayer

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/02/02

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34:56

Burns Banter - Ep. 15 What is a Burns Supper ?

Burns Banter - A fresh look at Robert Burns ·

2024/01/30

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