Latest news with #125Live!
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Talent to hit Perth for 'Scotland's biggest street party'
The event is being described as a testament to the 'enduring importance of live performance in Scottish cultural life'. Designed in part by Cathie Boyd, who created Sound To Sea for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, 125 Live! will unfold in an immersive format across three live stages stretching from Perth Concert Hall Plaza to Perth Theatre Courtyard. The headline act for the anniversary street party, which will mark Perth Theatre's 125th anniversary and Perth Concert Hall's 20th birthday, is Walt Disco, the glam-pop sensation whose debut album earned Scottish Album of the Year and AIM Independent Album of the Year nominations. The six-piece band, which includes three Perth-raised members, have performed at Glastonbury, Latitude, Austin City Limits, and SXSW festivals as well as opening for acts such as Simple Minds, Duran Duran and Primal Scream. The show will open with a spectacular Highland welcome as members of Perth & District Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Alistair M Duthie, perform from the Perth Concert Hall roof. Other acts include Perthshire piper Ross Ainslie (below) and the Sanctuary Band, Skye trad and electronic duo Valtos, Scottish swing and big band That Swing Sensation, and Scottish DJ Jack David. The city's Mill Street will be crammed with food stalls and bars creating a festival atmosphere at the heart of Perth. The show will culminate in an audiovisual display which will see the surrounding buildings displaying Catalonian visual artist Alba Corral's live projection mapping and award-winning designer Will Potts's light display, celebrating both the venues' rich history and their future. READ MORE: 'Absolutely crazy': Scottish jazz artist scores new film by Hollywood director There is also a programme of free daytime activities for families. Christopher Glasgow, director of Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, said: 'What's particularly exciting about this lineup is how it showcases the incredible talent that continues to emerge from Perth and the surrounding area. 'We have a wonderful mix from big names like Walt Disco, who despite their international success have never actually performed on their hometown stage, to artists like Ross Ainslie who played at the opening of Perth Concert Hall 20 years ago and performs regularly in the venues. 'It's a testament to the creative spirit of this city that we can fill three stages with such diverse, world-class talent with many having roots right here in Perth.' The events take place on September 6 and 7.
The Courier
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Perth Concert Hall needs £3m overhaul in 20th birthday year
Perth Concert Hall needs almost £3 million of taxpayers' money spent on its upkeep. Perth and Kinross councillors have agreed to fund a £2.895m overhaul of the venue. It comes as preparations are under way to celebrate Perth Concert Hall's 20th anniversary later this year. The council says the funding will pay for 'essential maintenance and upgrades'. There are no details of precisely what's required. But a council spokesperson told The Courier the works are needed 'to improve the general condition and energy performance of the building'. They added: 'The initial phase of works will prioritise the roof, heating and air conditioning systems and building fabric improvements.' The steel and glass venue was completed in 2005 at a cost of £12.3m. The new funding package was approved by Perth and Kinross Council's finance and resources committee. The same meeting also agreed to award £75,000 towards celebrations in September to mark the 20th anniversary of the Concert Hall opening. The 125 Live! street party will also commemorate the 125th anniversary of Perth Theatre. The two venues are run by a charity, Horsecross Arts, on behalf of the council. A spokesperson there referred questions back to the council. The Concert Hall was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 following a two-year construction project. It has hosted many top acts, as well as political conferences and other large gatherings. And its Gannochy Auditorium is said to be one of the best-sounding halls in Europe. The arrival of the Concert Hall rendered the old Perth City Hall redundant as an events space and it closed. The city centre landmark lay empty for more than a decade and was slated for demolition before it re-opened as Perth Museum after a £27m facelift last March. Councillors were warned in 2021 that Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre needed millions of pounds spent on them in order to upgrade 'fairly elderly' equipment and infrastructure. The cost of keeping both premises ventilated was described as 'prohibitively expensive.' A meeting in December 2021 heard: 'Horsecross had not any history of setting aside funds – probably because there wasn't the funds to set aside – for investment in its own internal equipment and infrastructure.'
