City Halls

Darren McGarvey – Trauma Industrial Complex

Tickets: £51.90, £46.30, £40.70, £35.10, £29.50 (includes booking fee and restoration fund)

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Box office telephone: 0141 353 8000
Dates and times: Wednesday 15th Oct 2025
7:00pm
Age: Over 14s only. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult over 18.
Venue: City Halls

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Live In Conversation in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London

Orwell Prize-winning author Darren McGarvey, AKA hip-hop artist Loki, offers a revealing, deeply personal exploration of the dangerous stories we tell ourselves about trauma.

Hailed as the new voice of a generation everywhere from the New York Times to the Guardian, Darren McGarvey is a boldly outspoken working-class writer and activist unafraid to speak to truth to power. In his bestseller Poverty Safari he did more than anyone to give voice to the anger of Britain’s underclass; as hip-hop artist Loki, his albums Trigger Warning and Government Issue Music Protest made him one of the most significant and thrilling musicians in Scotland today.

Now he returns to question the consequences of our trauma obsessed society.

Today, trauma permeates media, from music and television to films and books. While the increasing openness is welcome, Darren has observed that this rise has been accompanied by a parallel explosion of disinformation and sometimes harmful guidance about how to deal with personal trauma. In this series of live, in conversation events, he will ask: How did we get here? And are the stories we’re telling ourselves liberating us or keeping us trapped?

It’s time to pull back the curtain, sharing the hard-won wisdom Darren has gained from the events brought on by telling his own story.

Praise for the work of Darren McGarvey:

‘An Orwell for today's poor’ – The Times

‘The standout, authentic voice of a generation’ – Herald

‘McGarvey is a rarity: a working-class writer who has fought to make the middle-class world hear what he has to say’ – Nick Cohen, Guardian

Bestselling Author, Broadcaster, Hip-Hop Artist

Darren McGarvey grew up in Pollok, Glasgow. He is a writer, hip-hop artist, broadcaster and campaigner. His bestselling and acclaimed first book Poverty Safari was awarded the Orwell Prize for political writing in 2018.

Booking Information

A 12% booking fee is included in the ticket price, as advertised. At check-out this fee will be shown separately for receipt purposes and to ensure the face value of your ticket is correct. Prices are subject to change. Prices may vary on the night of a show. Transactions fees may vary depending on event.

Dispatch Charges

E-tickets - Free of charge
Fulfilment Fee - £1.95

Transaction Charges apply as follows

Online up to £1.50

Phone up to £1.75

Counter/ In Person: Free

Tickets Booking Line:
0141 353 8000.
Lines open Monday-Saturday 09:00-17:00 (excluding Bank Holidays). Please check opening hours over any Bank Holiday period.

To view the full Ticket Purchase Policy please click here

Restoration fund

From 1 September 2024, for any new events going on sale at our Concert Halls venues (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and Old Fruitmarket and Kelvingrove Bandstand), a new Restoration Fund of £1.50 per ticket may be added at checkout. To view the full Restoration Fund T&Cs please click here

Accessible toilets

There are accessible toilets on level 2 next to the Gents toilet, adjacent to the Candleriggs Bar and on Level 5 next to the Club Room.

Assistance dogs

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.

Wheelchair access

Lift access to all areas.

There are designated spaces for wheelchair users. Wheelchairs are left with the patron. A companion may sit with you. Companions sit next to you.

There is a wheelchair to borrow. To borrow a wheelchair,please ask a member of staff.

Baby changing

There are baby changing facilities next to the cloakroom on level 2. One in the ladies toilet and an adjacent additional area in our first aid room.

Baby feeding

Available on request

Cloakroom

The cloakroom is located on the 1st floor next to the toilets. There is a £2 charge - card payment only. The cloakroom is only open for events or where a client has requested the facility.

Parking

On street, metered parking and nearby multi-storey.

Photography and video recording

At times, Glasgow Life will be on the premises to film and take photos.

The public are only permitted to record and take photos where explicit permission has been granted in advance.

Free wifi

There is free public Wifi access. To connect, visitors have to register with City Halls Public Wifi which should pop up on their browser. After that visitors will only need their password for future uses.

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Location Map

The meeting rooms and conference spaces within the complex are suitable for hosting from 15 – 400 delegates. Visit the City Halls' venue hire web page to find out more.

box_office_enquiries@glasgowlife.org.uk 0141 353 8000