at Cardney Steading, Perthshire, Scotland
Friday 3oth October - Sunday 1st November

... Shades of Amber 2026

LINKS TO : PROGRAMME: TICKETS: ARTISTS: FOOD: BIG KNIT: MEGASTREAM:

Following the success of our autumnal weekend of music and art in 2022, 2023 and 2025 we are thrilled to be returning to Cardney Steading in rural Perthshire for another special three days in Autumn 2026! We thoroughly enjoyed the new concert venue last year and look forward to bringing more wonderful musical talent to 'The Dalradian' stage ...enhanced by the great sound and lighting from our talented techie team!

We love the whole Cardney Estate setting, the fabulous concerts and sessions, the food, the exhibition and the whole feeling of special musical friends getting together with a totally enthusiastic audience for a great weekend! One of the elements of Perthshire Amber that we were thrilled to re-introduce in 2023, was the Open Mic .... so we are glad that our 2026 Saturday afternoon will see a return of that special feature! Another element, that only a select audience got to enjoy, was the Firepit Music ... a wonderfully atmospheric music session that we will further expand on in 2026. In 2025 we turned the Old Mill into special space for viewing films and enjoying spontaneous music sessions and the positive feedback encourages us to develop that further as well!

So ... there will be a series of concerts during the weekend in the beautiful new venue (named The Dalradian) where Dougie will be joined by musical friends from over the years, the Open Mic in the Rustic Cattle Shed, as well as informal music sessions and films in the Old Mill, and a sing-song around the Firepit! Once again, apart from concert and open Mic start times, there's no script or tight schedule and we want to keep this as informal and spontaneous as possible ... and see where the music takes us!

We also hope to combine this once again with a smaller exhibition of Jenny's watercolours and weavings in the Rustic Cattle Shed, along with a cosy corner there for The Big Knit (our fundraising initiative for the Cyrenians charity) should make for another truly great weekend!

The Venue - Cardney Steading, Perthshire

A move to the stunning Cardney Steading for our concerts and festival was planned after our last Perthshire Amber Festival in 2019. Little could we have imagined the two years that followed ... with the uncertainties of the covid pandemic, lockdown, flight cancellations and cancelled concerts and festivals.

During 2022 we had three concert events at Cardney Steading in March, June and September and each was special and memorable. Then the success of the first and second Shades of Amber in November 2022 and 2023 convinced us that Cardney Steading is the right place for our annual musical get together!

Since then a brilliant new building houses a 200 seat venue, bar, kitchen and toilets ... with a long balcony with stunning views of the loch and countryside below.

The flow of audience from one building to another for Concerts. Open Mic, Films and Music Sessions (via the bar and food truck!!) in 2025 was really successful.

The wonderful design of the new building The Dalradian, (4 x photos bottom left...including the view from the balcony!) and the attention to detail in the loving restoration of their old buildings and the concern of the Cardney team (Lewis, Katriona and Eva) with the comfort and enjoyment of their visitors make this the perfect place for this year's Autumn Experience .... Shades of Amber 2026!

Concerts, Open Mic & Music Sessions

Shades of Amber 2026 will be in part a series of concerts and in part a get together and chat with friends and food and some great music sessions! We have always felt spontaneous music sessions to be the lifeblood of any musical event and Dougie is very much looking forward to a weekend with less travel to and from venues and the necessary sound and lighting checks involved … and more time for making music with friends!

We are lucky that so many of the musicians who’ve performed with Dougie in the past are still great friends and will be here for the performances during the weekend including: Tim Edey, Ross Ainslie, Pete Garnett, Sorren Maclean and Hannah Fisher, Mairi Sutherland, Gina Macleod, Gordon Maclean, Alan Sutherland, Ali Ferguson, Chris Agnew to name but a few….with other 'surprise' guests for 2026 still to be announced. We are thrilled that these and other great musical friends are joining us!

The added attraction of the new venue, the afternoon of (free of charge) Open Mic performances and the Firepit and Old Mill Sessions will make this Shades of Amber even more memorable for our audiences.

Exhibition - Jennifer MacLean's
Available Watercolours and Weavings

Jenny's artwork has delighted people for many years ... her art cards and prints have been framed and displayed on mantlepieces and walls in many homes and offices throughout the world. This year will be an exhibition of her more recent artwork ... with all available to buy.

You can view the exhibition from 6pm on Friday 30th October at Cardney Steading or online from Wednesday 28th October 2026.

The Big Knit - 2026

Our Shades of Amber Big Knit 2026 will once again be a hands on way of raising funds for our favourite charity Cyrenians. Festival-goers and knitters from afar contribute their time and energy to hand knit special articles that are auctioned, raffled or sold to help show our support in a unique, creative and involving way.

This is a chance for those enjoying the event at Cardney Steading, as well as those far away, to support a wonderful charity while securing some great winter woollies for yourself or for Christmas gifts!...from hand knits ranging from small rugs and large blankets to special knitted toys, socks and kiddies cardigans, hats, scarves, rugs, teapot cosies and cushion covers!
View what's available this year from Friday 23rd October 2026...
(The photo is of some of our 2023 Big Knit goodies!)