The parallel lives of music and literature increasingly occupy a blurred netherworld on record, in print, online and in the live arena.

Writers perform, musicians write and collaborations abound. The impulse to create comes from the same place, and the cross-pollenisation of the written word, the clang of an electric guitar, the beat of a drum and the skronk of a horn stretches back some time - be it the Beats' connection to jazz, Lester Bangs's outpourings on primal garage rock, Led Zeppelin's obsession with Tolkien, Patti Smith's poetry, Bowie's homage to Jean Genet, post-punk's fascination with JG Ballard or Morrissey's flirtation with Oscar Wilde. And the love affair continues to the present.

Novelists are often keen to get in on the act by namechecking their music taste in prose too. Revelling in this relationship are Scottish authors Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh, Christopher Brookmyre, Alan Bissett and Doug Johnstone, who reference music in their books and are rightfully celebrated for it.

Glasgow record label Chemikal Underground led the way in 2007 with an impressive project entitled Ballads Of The Book, curated by Idlewild's Roddy Woomble, a self-proclaimed poetry lover. Writers of all descriptions teamed up with musicians to produce a unique album and Tramway concert. Since then, indie darlings Aidan Moffat and James Yorkston have become published authors. And I've documented the outer reaches of East Fife's psychedelic underground in my own tome, Songs In The Key Of Fife.

Perhaps the reason for this increased interest in both media is because rock'n'roll spans many generations. No longer the unsophisticated domain of wild teenagers, the original hepcats are now into their seventies with future peers biting at their heels. Why not put on a Rolling Stones or Sex Pistols album, and settle down with your pipe, slippers and a good book?

There are shared problems facing both industries. Musicians and writers alike have trouble selling work. The ability to stream, source or steal music is mirrored by low cost or free e-book giveaways. For music, the iPod; for books, the Kindle. As a means of combating this erosion of sales, artists now fashion unique, handcrafted items of greater value. For music, the heavyweight vinyl and box-set; for books, the hardback and limited edition.

Seasoned festival goers with specialist tastes are now catered for by weekends such as Latitude, where the literary element is as important as the bands. Journalists, storytellers and celebrities wax lyrical on books and music across genres in a family-friendly atmosphere. It's less akin to a rave and more like an indie-rock garden fete.

I attended the Laugharne Weekend in south-west Wales this April for an event that commemorates the enlightened work and bacchanalian life of Dylan Thomas. The eclectic bill saw a veritable feast of stand-up comedy from Josie Long, pub quiz antics from Keith Allen, songwriting from Ray Davies, filmmaking stories from Julien Temple and even conspiracy from David Icke, spread throughout the weekend. Crammed full of cerebral thrillseekers, there was a tangible feeling of excitement from young and old.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival now has a sizeable music programme within its packed schedule. Not only do renowned rock biographers preview their new works, or established stars reveal warts'n'all autobiographies, but the Unbound nights offer up free evenings in the Spiegeltent, where acoustic singers follow authors reading onstage to entertain the whisky-fuelled onlookers. I've been involved for two years and these evenings feel special.

Having returned from the tenth annual Loopallu festival on Ullapool, this symbiosis was in effect. Celebrating a decade of sell-out events is no mean feat, especially if your shindig happens in late September in the north of Scotland. The glorious setting is key, but its success is also testament to a diverse booking policy that has seen the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Mumford & Sons, Paulo Nutini and The Stranglers grace the main stage. In 2014 they added a literary tent, teaming up with the modest but well-respected Ullapool Book Festival. Esteemed broadcaster and radio stalwart Mark Radcliffe happily ventured there to talk through his 35-year career as a presenter, author and musician, before hot-footing it into the music tent to play with his current group The Foes. The aforementioned Christopher Brookmyre and Doug Johnstone also spoke to appreciative bookworms casually attired in cagoules, woolly hats and wellies. Himself a musician, Johnstone even strummed a few songs to accompany his readings.

Current masters of the literary/music mash-up must be Edinburgh's own Neu Reekie! Their nights have popped up all over the capital, Glasgow, UK festivals and even New York City. Unashamedly bringing rock'n'roll, club culture, rappers, wordsmiths, decadence and defiance onto a stage near you with hosts Michael Pederson and Kevin Williamson at the helm, you can next enjoy their brand of beautiful, beatific bedlam as part of Edinburgh's excellent Pleasance Sessions this week.

Whether wistfully penning an ode to your favourite piece of music, banging your head to some poetry or simultaneously enjoying a good book and a noisy guitar, the combination certainly works and the scope for future invention is huge. It seems the hills are alive to the sound of words and music.

Vic Galloway presents on BBC Radio Scotland at 8.05pm on Mondays; tomorrow's programme features live tracks by Fatherson from BBC At The Quay. He also presents Rapal for BBC Alba on Thursday at 10pm. Vic's book Songs In The Key Of Fife is published by Polygon. Contact Vic at www.twitter.com/vicgalloway