SCOTTISH singer-songwriter Callum Beattie is heading to Dunoon’s Queen’s Hall this December as part of a surprise tour celebrating the biggest year of his career.
The chart-topping musician will take to the Queen’s Hall stage on Friday, December 4, in a deliberately more intimate show after a year which has seen him headline some of Scotland’s biggest venues.
Beattie has performed at the OVO Hydro, Edinburgh Castle, Belladrum and Queen’s Park over the past 12 months, but is now getting back to his roots with a tour of smaller Scottish venues and towns which played a part in his journey to success.
The Dunoon date will form part of an eight-town Scottish tour before Beattie rounds off the year with three shows at Glasgow’s famous Barrowland Ballroom.
Describing the tour as a thank you to the people who have supported him, Beattie said returning to smaller venues offered something completely different from the huge stages he has become accustomed to.
“This is really a thank you to the fans because we owe everything to them,” he said.
“They have made dreams come true for my manager Dave and I time and time again – the Hydro, the Castle, Bella, the album success. It’s been the biggest and best year we could ever have dreamed of.
“It’s been incredible playing these huge shows but it feels really special for all of us to go back to some of the places around Scotland that helped us get to this level.
“More intimate shows bring a different buzz and intensity, so it just feels like the perfect way to show our love and appreciation for fans all over the country.”
The tour begins at Edinburgh Playhouse on November 26 before heading to Oban, Dunfermline and Troon, with Beattie arriving in Dunoon on December 4.
From the Queen’s Hall, the tour moves on to Strathpeffer, Aberdeen and Perth before culminating in three performances at Glasgow Barrowland on December 18 and 19.
Supporting Beattie in Dunoon and throughout the tour will be Pistol Daisys, whose Lorna and Lewis have also performed as part of Beattie’s band during his larger shows.
Beattie said: “These guys are phenomenal – really special. They’ve been a big part of this last year, Lorna and Lewis play with us as part of our band at the big shows.
“So we had to have them with us, playing as themselves and joining our show too.
“They really have something unique and I want more fans to see that and get on board.”
The announcement follows a landmark year for Beattie, whose first fully independent album, INDI, was released in January.
It became his most successful record to date, reaching number four in the UK album chart and number one in Scotland, while a run of major live appearances has taken him to festivals, arenas and Edinburgh Castle.
But despite the scale of those performances, Beattie said there was something about returning to smaller venues – including Dunoon’s Queen’s Hall – that could not be replicated on an arena stage.
“It’s been the best gigging year of my life – the best year in music of my life,” he said.
“Truly bucket list stuff with these massive landmark moments at the most iconic venues. Incredible for a wee guy from Musselburgh.
“But there’s nothing like the intimacy of the smaller rooms. The energy is different and I am excited to share that with you all again.
“Business stuff says this tour doesn’t make sense but that’s not what it’s about – it’s for fun and the sheer love of our fans and what they have helped us achieve.
“I can’t think of a better way to end this amazing year than with the people who made it happen.”
Callum Beattie will play Dunoon Queen’s Hall on Friday, December 4, with support from Pistol Daisys.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday.
