The Big Gig (Light the Blue
Get ready for The Big Gig – an electrifying showcase celebrating the extraordinary musical talent of young people from Aberdeen and the wider North East of Scotland. Taking centre stage at Aberdeen’s iconic Music Hall, this youth-led concert promises an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.
Featuring inspiring performances from SC&T Youth, Big Noise Torry, Aberdeen City Music Service, Aberdeenshire Music Service, Sound, and Universities Folk & Trad Society, The Big Gig will shine a spotlight on the incredible diversity and creativity of young musicians across our region. The evening will culminate in a spectacular collaborative finale, bringing together young performers from all participating organisations, with a special addition from dancers of the Emma Lowson Dance School for a truly memorable closing performance.
The excitement also begins well before the actual event. In the lead-up months to the concert, NESCol Film and TV students will be capturing behind-the-scenes footage, documenting the rehearsals, preparations, and growing anticipation. This exclusive film will be premiered live during the collaborative set on the night.
So mark your calendars and spread the word – The Big Gig is a must-see celebration of the vibrancy, passion, and talent of youth across Aberdeen and the North East. We can’t wait to welcome you for an evening filled with incredible music and unforgettable moments.
YOUNG ARTISTS | SHOW
Free, ticketed, with option to donate.
Aberdeen City Instrumental Music Service is in every school in the city, providing instrumental music tuition through lessons, projects and experiences. Our Music Centre ensembles range from Wind Bands, String Orchestras, Choirs and Guitar Groups to Rock Band, Jazz Ensemble and Folk Collective. Intermediate String Orchestra and Rock Band are looking forward to taking part in this year’s Light the Blue Festival.
Weesht!, meet every Thursday lunchtime at Mackie Academy. This 10-piece band have spent the last 12 months exploring the world of the Modern Scottish Traditional Music scene. This typically involves blending Scottish tunes with modern, pop-sounding backing, focusing on getting audiences to dance!
The Instrumental Music Service operates in all 17 Community School Networks across Aberdeenshire, providing group and individual lessons.
We are committed to working together with schools and communities to secure continuous improvement in outcomes for children and young people and to have better, integrated working arrangements within Education and Children’s Services in pursuit of improved outcomes for children and young people.
Our ambition is to offer the best opportunities for as many people as possible to benefit from our Service. We aim to provide and maintain an efficient and modern service which maximises digital technology and new ways of working in order to support instrumental music tuition in Scotland by working in partnership with communities, schools, organisations and individuals.
SC&T Youth offers a year-round program of engaging and high-quality opportunities for young people aged 6-26 with an interest in Scottish Traditional music, extending across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and beyond. Every Tuesday during term time, the SC&T Youth performance group, made up of young musicians from various locations in the City and Shire, meet to play music, collaborate on new sets, and collectively learn and develop their musical skills whilst making valuable friendships too!
Big Noise Torry is a music and social change programme delivered by Sistema Scotland. They work with over 750 children and young people from the Torry community, including babies/toddlers, nursery and primary school children, and older young people at Lochside Academy, plus children who live in Torry but attend school elsewhere. Big Noise uses the orchestra as a community through which children gain an invaluable range of life skills and experiences.
sound is a new music incubator based in North East Scotland which aims to increase access to new music, encourage excellence and experimentation, and nurture talent. It achieves this through a variety of activities including the annual soundfestival, a composer support programme, and Get Creative, a year-round youth programme.
sound’s monthly Get Creative workshops prompt the creation, improvisation and exploration of new music collaboratively. Led by composers and music educators, the Get Creative Ensemble for 12-18 year olds allows participants of grade 2-3 level and above to explore creativity and music through improvisation, group composition, making graphic scores and playing contemporary works.
Light the Blue is our multi-artform festival for and by young people returning on 2 – 14 June 2026 with a programme of theatre, music, dance, visual arts and more taking place across Aberdeen city.
With over 24 events across 13 days, this year’s festival asks our artists and audiences What’s your story?
Whether it’s ‘our story so far’ or ‘our hopes and dreams for the future’ – our stories and imaginations can shape who we are, who we want to become and even the world around us.
Join us for Light the Blue 2026, where over 1,000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland will come together to celebrate new and emerging talent, creating opportunities and connection.
GO TO LIGHT THE BLUE 2026
Featuring inspiring performances from SC&T Youth, Big Noise Torry, Aberdeen City Music Service, Aberdeenshire Music Service, Sound, and Universities Folk & Trad Society, The Big Gig will shine a spotlight on the incredible diversity and creativity of young musicians across our region. The evening will culminate in a spectacular collaborative finale, bringing together young performers from all participating organisations, with a special addition from dancers of the Emma Lowson Dance School for a truly memorable closing performance.
The excitement also begins well before the actual event. In the lead-up months to the concert, NESCol Film and TV students will be capturing behind-the-scenes footage, documenting the rehearsals, preparations, and growing anticipation. This exclusive film will be premiered live during the collaborative set on the night.
So mark your calendars and spread the word – The Big Gig is a must-see celebration of the vibrancy, passion, and talent of youth across Aberdeen and the North East. We can’t wait to welcome you for an evening filled with incredible music and unforgettable moments.
YOUNG ARTISTS | SHOW
Free, ticketed, with option to donate.
Aberdeen City Instrumental Music Service is in every school in the city, providing instrumental music tuition through lessons, projects and experiences. Our Music Centre ensembles range from Wind Bands, String Orchestras, Choirs and Guitar Groups to Rock Band, Jazz Ensemble and Folk Collective. Intermediate String Orchestra and Rock Band are looking forward to taking part in this year’s Light the Blue Festival.
Weesht!, meet every Thursday lunchtime at Mackie Academy. This 10-piece band have spent the last 12 months exploring the world of the Modern Scottish Traditional Music scene. This typically involves blending Scottish tunes with modern, pop-sounding backing, focusing on getting audiences to dance!
The Instrumental Music Service operates in all 17 Community School Networks across Aberdeenshire, providing group and individual lessons.
We are committed to working together with schools and communities to secure continuous improvement in outcomes for children and young people and to have better, integrated working arrangements within Education and Children’s Services in pursuit of improved outcomes for children and young people.
Our ambition is to offer the best opportunities for as many people as possible to benefit from our Service. We aim to provide and maintain an efficient and modern service which maximises digital technology and new ways of working in order to support instrumental music tuition in Scotland by working in partnership with communities, schools, organisations and individuals.
SC&T Youth offers a year-round program of engaging and high-quality opportunities for young people aged 6-26 with an interest in Scottish Traditional music, extending across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and beyond. Every Tuesday during term time, the SC&T Youth performance group, made up of young musicians from various locations in the City and Shire, meet to play music, collaborate on new sets, and collectively learn and develop their musical skills whilst making valuable friendships too!
Big Noise Torry is a music and social change programme delivered by Sistema Scotland. They work with over 750 children and young people from the Torry community, including babies/toddlers, nursery and primary school children, and older young people at Lochside Academy, plus children who live in Torry but attend school elsewhere. Big Noise uses the orchestra as a community through which children gain an invaluable range of life skills and experiences.
sound is a new music incubator based in North East Scotland which aims to increase access to new music, encourage excellence and experimentation, and nurture talent. It achieves this through a variety of activities including the annual soundfestival, a composer support programme, and Get Creative, a year-round youth programme.
sound’s monthly Get Creative workshops prompt the creation, improvisation and exploration of new music collaboratively. Led by composers and music educators, the Get Creative Ensemble for 12-18 year olds allows participants of grade 2-3 level and above to explore creativity and music through improvisation, group composition, making graphic scores and playing contemporary works.
Light the Blue is our multi-artform festival for and by young people returning on 2 – 14 June 2026 with a programme of theatre, music, dance, visual arts and more taking place across Aberdeen city.
With over 24 events across 13 days, this year’s festival asks our artists and audiences What’s your story?
Whether it’s ‘our story so far’ or ‘our hopes and dreams for the future’ – our stories and imaginations can shape who we are, who we want to become and even the world around us.
Join us for Light the Blue 2026, where over 1,000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland will come together to celebrate new and emerging talent, creating opportunities and connection.
GO TO LIGHT THE BLUE 2026
Where & when
No performances found.
Event data provided by DataThistle