Glam rockers Slade and hip hop star Professor Green will headline Perth’s biggest ever Christmas party – alongside Basil Brush.
An eclectic line-up of music acts has been revealed for the highly anticipated seasonal switch-on ceremony on Saturday, November 19.
The city centre event is a key part of the annual Winter Festival, but its success could also be crucial to Perth’s bid for City of Culture status.
Wolverhampton icons Slade – whose music is synonymous with the festive season – are tipped to be the biggest draw on the night.
Professor Green, who topped the charts with his INXS-sampling single I Need You Tonight, will also play the main stage.
X Factor runner-up Fleur East, fresh from signing to Simon Cowell’s Syco Music record label, will also be performing.
The performances will follow a full day of entertainment in the city centre, with more live music, reindeer, huskies and ice skating.
The council also promises a silent disco in an igloo.
Provost Liz Grant will join Father Christmas on a festive parade through city centre streets, starting at 5.30pm.
She will then taken to stage to perform the switch-on, followed immediately by a fireworks display over the River Tay.
She said: “This year’s City of Perth Winter Festival promises to be the biggest the Fair City has ever seen, with entertainment, shopping, music and fun for all the family spread across the city centre.
“Christmas in Scotland really does start here.”
Last year, Billy Ocean and pop stars Lawson helped bring tens of thousands of people into the city centre.
A study revealed that the event had helped pump around £1.6 million into the local economy.
This year’s live entertainment runs from 4pm to 8pm with compere Charlie Healy, best known as a member of X Factor finalists The Risk.
There will also be live music from Lorraine Cosby and boy band Half Eight.
Top designer Wayne Hemingway, who was recently appointed to a group tasked with driving Perth’s future growth, will keep the crowds warmed up with a Northern Soul DJ set.
A children’s stage, which opens at 12pm, will star quick-witted fox Basil Brush.
He will be joined by tribute acts to Mini Mixx and Justin Bieber.
There will also be a community stage in King Edward Street for local, up and coming musicians and artists.
The event also coincides with the two-day Outdoor Festival of Chocolate.
The switch-on ceremony – plus city centre events the following day – has been paid for with £50,000 of council common good cash.
However, the local authority has not revealed the amount spent on each performer.
Slade
The Wolverhampton-band pretty much owned the music charts in the 1970s, with 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones.
Their best-selling single Merry Xmas Everyone has sold over a million copies since it was first released in 1973.
Original members Dave Hill and Don Powell remain in the line-up, with former frontman Noddy Holder going separate ways in 1992.
The band has been hailed as a major influence by the likes of Oasis, Nirvana and the Sex Pistols.
Professor Green
Professor Green, aka Stephen Manderson, shot to fame after success on the record label run by British rap pioneers The Streets.
The infectious first single on his debut album Need You Tonight went straight in at number one. It was followed up by Just Be Good to Green, featuring Lilly Allen, which was also a top five hit.
He published his autobiography Lucky last year and has presented hard-hitting TV documentaries for the BBC.
Fleur East
Walthamstow rapper Fleur East first appeared on the X Factor back in 2005. At the time, she was part of girl group Addictiv Ladies.
She launched a solo career in 2012 and returned to X Factor two years later.
Fleur was the first contestant to have a number one hit – with her version of Uptown Funk – during the series run. She is now signed to Simon Cowell’s label, Syco Music.
