1. Lewis Capaldi in Perth

Continuing his unbelievable start to 2019, Lewis Capaldi has announced his eagerly awaited debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent - out May 17th on Virgin EMI.

Consisting of recordings that capture the charm & feeling of how they were originally written, including hit UK singles ‘Grace’, Bruises’ and ‘Someone You Loved’, Lewis’ stunningly identifiable voice, coupled with its turbulent themes of love, loss and heartache, make it a debut record that is unequivocally relatable.

Since debut track ‘Bruises’ exploded online last year, Capaldi has been able to boast incredibly rare markers in his still fledgling career. The young Scot, whose incredible humour sets him apart from fellow heartbreak songwriters, has already secured his first UK Number 1 single, achieved successive Radio 1 A-List tracks, amassed over 330 million plays across streaming services & has sold out no less than three back-to-back headline tours, with demand outstripping supply at every turn.

2018 was a remarkable year for Lewis Capaldi, and as 2019 rolls on, things continue to get bigger and better. Lewis has taken pairing sad songs with an incredible wit, and a rampant social media following to match, and made it his very own. The results are hilariously beautiful.

• Age 12+
• Sat 18^th May
• More and Ticket Info >>>

2. Be Charlotte Comes Home To Tayside

Since starting to find her voice as a teenager in her native Dundee, Be Charlotte has been all about finding inner strength and inspiring others to do the same, and is ready to speak up.  Leaving school at 17 to concentrate on music, she has played extensively around Europe, North America and Africa, honing her songwriting craft by taking in influences from classic songwriters, modern pop and hip hop. 

Taking on a male-dominated industry, Be Charlotte aims to challenge that hegemony with her mix of anthemic songwriting, shimmering pop synth sounds and banging beats. You can dance to her music, but there's meaning behind it too. 

• Open to all ages
• Special homecoming Tayside concert in Joan Knight Studio Theatre
• Friday 17^th May
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3. Vistas, Joining Us From Edinburgh 

Hailing from Edinburgh, Vistas have been surging to the forefront of the indie-rock scene with a steady stream of catchy, radio ready releases leading the band to pick up extensive praise from the likes of Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and 6 Music. With every release defining the band in a clearer light, Vistas have now come through with their latest single ‘Eighteen’ which will only continue to solidify their position as clear ones to watch for the year ahead.

Having picked up over 15 million streams and cultivating 650k monthly listeners on Spotify, the Scottish trio have quickly become known for their brand of colourful and energetic guitar-based indie pop. Vistas will be touring in 2019 with confirmed support slots for later in the year alongside Circa Waves and Fatherson as well as their own UK headline tour.

“The band are continually reaching for the heights, with each new song seeming to punch further and further.” – Clash Magazine 

Supported by Stop The Rain – a Scottish band from Perth.

• Age 18+
• The Loft Nightclub - includes FREE entry to the nightclub.
• Fri 24^th May
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4. Callum Beattie, For The Last Night of the Festival 

For Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie, 2017 was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Then it was the best of times all over again. 

To get to that positive point he just had to skip the country, establish himself somewhere new, dye his hair white, learn a new language, survive a couple of iffy flat-shares, have his heart broken (and break a heart or two), and write the best songs of his young career.

They were trying times, for sure. Not that that might be apparent from the effortless melodicism and surging uplift of his brand new single,Connection.

“It’s the perfect single to come back with,” says the young singer-songwriter from Edinburgh of a pop anthem with a spring in its step.“Yeah, the song is about having a special connection with someone. But also, after a few ups and downs, I’ve reconnected with myself.”

That tumultuous time two years ago started on the upswing, with the release of Beattie’s debut single. We Are Stars is a rhythmic piano belter that showcased his muscularly soulful voice, ability to pack an emotive punch, and his deft way with a melody. To date it’s had over 3.5 million Spotify streams. It was followed by second single Man Behind The Sun, an airtime hit at Radio 2. The song’s success catalysed a run of headline and festival shows, including a debut Glastonbury performance and London’s Hyde Park, when Beattie supported The Killers.

And then the wheels fell off. His decade-long relationship with his hometown girlfriend had come to an end. The fallout was intense. Beattie left London for Berlin, meeting new people and joining the creativity of the place.

Collaborations and inspiration followed, including the recording of new songs that were emerging from the Berlin Period. These include Play, an irresistible dance-rock anthem, inspired by the German capital’s legendary club culture and unrequited love.

From Edinburgh to London to Berlin and back again, these are the songs of Callum Beattie’s lives, both his childhood ups and downs, and his more recent upheavals. 

Supported by the Scottish band Dogtooth.

• Age 18+
• The Loft. Includes FREE entry to the nightclub.
• Sat 25^th May
• Tickets and More >>>

Perth Festival of the Arts is grateful to the National Lottery through Creative Scotland for their support of our Be Charlotte, Vistas and Callum Beattie concerts in 2019.