Big Burns Supper 2020: All you need to know ahead of the Dumfries festival

The world’s biggest contemporary Burns celebration is returning for its ninth year.

Dumfries’s Big Burns Supper kicks off on January 23, 2020 and will see 11 days packed full of world class musicians and performers, in a celebration of Scotland’s national bard.

Dumfries was the home of Robert Burns, and locations across the town will be used for the 114 events at the festival, including the banks of the River Nith.

Here we break down all you need to know ahead of the celebration.

When’s it on? 

Big Burns Supper runs from January 23  – February 2, 2020.

Who’s performing? 

The full line up is yet to be announced, but big names performing at this year’s celebration so far include Newton Faulkner, Peat & Diesel, Morcheeba and Elephant Sessions.

If you fancy something a bit different, Le Haggis provide a contemporary reflection of celebrating Robert Burns through cabaret.

International touring music and circus performers, The Electric Swing Circus are also bringing their six-piece fusion of swing and electro beats to Dumfries.

Anything for the kids?

Family Le Haggis brings all the brilliant and bizarre from the cabaret show, but this one is suitable for audiences young and old.

For families and kids who love a boogie, there’s a Silent Disco in the Spiegeltent, as well as Nick Sharratt’s smash hit, Shark in the Park and two family fun days.

What else can we expect?

Brexit is confronted head-on as the community of Dumfries will come together during the festival on January 31 as part of Europa Picnic– a farewell to Europe!

The local community join forces with artists, poets and songwriters to pen a community wide poem, marking the potential last days as part of the European Union.

Executive Producer, Graham Main said: “Next year’s festival heralds the start of a new decade, with redefined borders throughout Europe, and collaboration is a key theme with lot of sessions featuring different artists playing together.

“Perhaps where politicians have failed, artists and communities might make more sense out of the last couple of years.”

www.bigburnssupper.com