Burns Night Riverside Light Nights

January's about to get a whole lot brighter folks! Perth's glorious Riverside Light Nights 2020 is finally upon us, transforming dreary dark evenings into a sparkling colour-drenched, music-soaked, fun and food filled spectacular with a little something for all the family!

Now in it's third year, the ever-popular Riverside Light Nights has become a must-do in our calendars, promising to bring back cheer, laughter and good times with its series of imaginative themed nights, starting with this weekend's Burns Night celebrations.

transforming dreary dark evenings into a sparkling colour-drenched, music-soaked, fun and food filled spectacular!

And yes, its Burns, but with a 2020 twist! Transformed into a stunning, light-bedecked gathering space, the Norie Miller park plays host to a string of fantastic live music and performance acts under the atmospheric, illuminated arches of the bridge.

This is all taking place alongside mesmerising light shows and, of course, a terrific selection of food and drink vendors with something to tempt every tastebud!

A special parade will kick things off at 5pm beginning at 2 High Street, going into St John's Street and South Street with a Massed Pipe Band leading revellers over the bridge to the Norrie Miller Riverside Light Night. A small firework display will also take place at 5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tay Street will also be the location for Horne’s Funfair, Massed Pipe Band Performances, Robot Wars and the Twilight Market which we have more details about this below.

After you've taken in the lights, pop into some of our local pubs and bars for even more fantastic live music from some of the area's best bands.

Just to make it a little easier for you to plan your evening, we've put together a list of timings for events at the Riverside Night Lights this coming Saturday and Sunday, what stallholders you can expect to see at the Twilight Market and what bands are playing and where, in the town later.

Bands Performing

Riverside Light Nights

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th January

5:00pm - 9:00pm

Saturday 25th January 

Large Arch : Norie Miller Park : Saturday 25 January 2020

Sunday 26th January

Large Arch : Norie Miller Park : Sunday 26 January 2020

Small Arch : Norie Miller Park : Sunday 26 January 2020

Stevie McCrorie is a Scottish singer-songwriter best known as a firefighter who won the fourth series of the BBC television singing competition The Voice UK in 2015, where he auditioned and all four coaches turned their chairs for him! 

Supa & Da Kryptonites are an award winning Alternative Ska, Grime, Drum & Bass band. Composed and lead by Front man J-Supa who brings an infectious energy to any show, we challenge you to not dance along...It’s almost impossible!

The Mad Ferret Band are known on the Scottish music scene for their hard-hitting blend of traditional and contemporary folk music. Their lively, energetic performances are packed with “blisteringly fast mandolin solos”, tight vocal harmonies, driving Cajon beats and earth-moving guitar sounds.

GALLERY

The Bag Rockers fuse the Great Highland Bagpipes with classic rock in a way that is guaranteed to get any event rocking. Featuring the best musicians around and two acrobatic female dancers, their own inimitable twist on Scottish tradition makes them one of the hottest acts on the entertainment circuit.

Gary Coupland from FunBox will be bringing Scottish family entertainment and dancing. Gary will have you all participating in this family celebration of Burns. Known throughout the country as the Music Man, he knows how to keep every age entertained!

we challenge you to not dance along...It’s almost impossible!

Norrie 'Tago' Maciver is a singer/songwriter from Carloway, Isle of Lewis, currently living in Fife. Front man of Skipinnish, who celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2019. In 2011 he was the first male singer to win Gaelic singer of the Year at the MG Alba Scot Trad Music awards.

Clanadonia are a Drums & Pipes band with a difference – their music, passion, culture, history, people, ancestral bloodlines – are all bonded within the music. Clanadonia’ s mission, is to spread bagpipe and drum fuelled havoc amongst the general public throughout the known world. 

Massed Pipe Band Performances

Tay Street

Saturday 25th January

5:45pm - 6:45pm

It is always a thrilling sight to see a Pipe Band play live, but a massed band will make your hair stand on end. After the Burns Parade at 17.00 hours and under the leadership of Pipe Major Ian Findlay there will be 2 massed band performances commencing at 17.45 & 18.45 in Tay Street with participation by the following bands:

• Combined Band of the Boys Brigade
• RAF Central Scotland Pipes and Drums Band
• Glenrothes & District (2020) Pipe Band
• Perth & District Pipe Band
• Alyth & District Pipe Band
• Cupar & District Band

War of the Robots

Tay Street

Saturday 25th January

5:00pm - 9:00pm 

The Ultimate Robotic Combat Experience is coming to Perth. This is exciting new spectator and player event features Robot Wars style entertainment for all ages. No experience necessary and it is great fun for all ages, spectators and players! Robert Wars will be live from 17.00 to 21.00.

The Twilight Market

Tay Street

Saturday 25th January

12 noon - 9pm

Have a leisurely stroll through the range of fantastic stallholders, including Lindsay butchers, who are teaming up with Perth’s most famous greengrocer Peter Martin from Martin's Fruit Bazaar alongside the Glenturret distillery to create a 'Burns in a Bag!'

Look out for Clootie McToot Dumplings, Highland Cottage baking Clantastic Treats with amazing fudge, the wonderful Charlotte Flower Chocolates, Strathearn Cheese Co. and the lovely Kate from Perthshire Preserves.

If you want to "whet yer thrapple", Birken Tree and Cairn o Mohr Real Fruit Wines will be on hand.

And we've got words and ancient heritage all taken care of - Big Dog Books, Perth’s very own independent book seller will be on hand as will, local treasure Robert Nicol Kilts for the first time ever. 

There will be unique crafted silver jewellery from Diana King Jewellery, hand made by Diana herself right here in Perth - and available on the day!

There will also be Womble Shoe Art, fabulous pieces of art made from reclaimed horse shoes.

Faerie Fire are bringing their wax candles tealights and a host of other magical hand crafted goodies alongside North Star quilting with bespoke Harris tweed ladies wear. Truly special gifts from truly special craft makers.

Here's a complete list of the stall holders you'll get a chance to see:

• D Lindsay Butchers
• Jim Fairlie Kitchen Farmer Burgers
• Martins Fruit Bazaar
• Clootie McToot Dumplings
• Birkentree Tree Drinks co
• Highland Cottage home baking
• Glenturret distillery
• Clantastic treats fudge
• Strathearn Cheese
• Perthshire Preserves & Jams
• Charlotte Flower Chocolates
• Cairn O Mohr
• Robert Nicol Kilts
• Big Dog Books
• Diana King Silver
• Womble Shoes
• Horse Shoe Art
• Faerie Fire Ltd
• Candles tea lights
• Robert Hannah
• Sheepskin Harris Tweed
• North Star Quilting
• Harris weed scarves bags

Live music in the Pubs!

Various pubs in Perth

Saturday 25th January

Once you've visited Riverside Light Nights on Saturday, 25 January, head into Perth City Centre for an evening of live music from some of the best local bands!

The Twa Tams will have music from noon including Mad Ferret, Heidrum, Calum campbel lmusic, Jock The Box & Dunky and The River

󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿The Venue will be hosting a good old knee's up ceilidh night

The King James Pub and Kitchen has Jock The Box & Dunky playing from 8.30pm

The Abbotsford Lounge Bar have Kyle Walker playing from 8.30pm

The Caledonian Bar has Connal Ross playing from 8.30pm

T󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿he Old Ship Inn will have The Sibellas playing from 9.00pm

The Auld Hoose have Alan Carberry - Music and a live music showcase from 6.30pm onwards

The Tavern on South Street have Brimstone & Blake performing from 8.30pm

The Bridgend Inn have China Blue playing from 8.30pm

󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Greyfriars Bar have a set from Bob Stewart at 8.30pm

 ***

Perth's Riverside Light Nights will run for nine dazzling nights from 25th January to 2 February and will feature five fantastic themed events.

All events will run from 5pm to 9pm with special Parade events on both the 25th January and 1st February. All events are free of charge with the exception of Jurassic Perth and The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which have a £5 entry fee (concessions apply).