Bandstand Bar & Restaurant

14/09/2026

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

Get ready for a healthy dose of West African sunshine as our Carnival weekend combines infectious rhythms with a delicious taste of Senegal – that's on Saturday, with a Sunday Session takeover also on the bill from host Samba Sene & Diwan. Plus from the fantastic Rhuari Campbell. And don't forget, the Wheels of Nairn returns to the links on Saturday – check out some fabulous vehicles before you come along to feel the beat! Here's the full bill...

WEDNESDAY: Rhuari Campbell aka Slow for a Poet, alt-folk singer-songwriter from Scotland’s central east coast. Drawing inspiration from legendary figures like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Leonard Cohen, as well as contemporary voices such as King Creosote and Bon Iver, Rhuari weaves raw ballads, dynamic riffs, and unforgettable hooks into his deeply personal storytelling. Music from 8pm.

SATURDAY: it's the big one! Hosted by Samba Sene & Diwan and Chef Pape, there's loads to enjoy throughout the day, starting with a Senegalese BBQ from 2-7pm to excite your tastebuds. From 3pm, you can get involved with a drumming session and workshop – bring your own percussion instrument if you can. Then from 9-11.30pm, Samba and the band take the stage with their exuberant mix of Afrobeat grooves tinged with ska and reggae – original songs with impassioned vocals, infectious guitar licks and irresistible dance grooves. Carnival attire encouraged!

: Samba Sene & Diwan take over the open mic. They'll kick off with a set at 6.30pm before inviting guests to the stage. Come down early to secure your slot, get into the groove and see what all our brilliant local musicians have to offer.

Wheels of Nairn Nairn Loves Local VisitScotland Bandstand Bar & Restaurant Samba Sene & Diwan

07/09/2026

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

What a night last night! A big thanks to everyone who came along and brought the house down for our Book & Arts after party Sunday Session. A fantastic end to a fabulous week of arts and culture that really helps put Nairn on the map. We’ve three more great gigs on the way this week – and with the Rat Race coast to coast challenge, another busy weekend in store. Good luck to all the contestants and please do book ahead if joining us for a meal. Here's the full bill...

WEDNESDAY: with Mat Tyrer. Originally from Liverpool, Mat has found a second home in Scotland. As a folk singer-songwriter, his music blends skilful guitar playing with catchy melodies. Expect original songs alongside classic folk and rock covers – music from 8pm.

SATURDAY: Eilidh & the Energy – this Inverness-based four-piece plays a mix of crowd favourites from the 70s through to the present day. Bring your dancing shoes and singing voices – they’ll bring the tunes! The party starts at 9pm.

: open mic hosted by ToeKnee Hands. Always tremendous fun, ToeKnee blends blues, hip-hop, rock, reggae, disco and even heavy metal – songs you may know, in a quirky style, and musical mashups with a cheeky helping of humour. He'll start with a set at 6.30pm, then it's over to you! Managed sound and a brilliant atmosphere guaranteed.

See you soon!

05/09/2026

31/08/2026

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

Nairn Book & Arts Festival is in full swing – we hope everyone is enjoying this amazing showcase of talent from near and far. We'd love to hear about your highlights in the comments! In honour of the celebrations, we’re having a special jam night on Wednesday – alongside our festival finale. Plus, Jazz at the Bandstand returns on Saturday. Here’s the full bill...

WEDNESDAY: host Jo Turner and her Blaze Bros bandmates lead our festival jam night from 8pm – a chilled, acoustic open mic. Everyone’s invited – musicians, storytellers, spoken word performers, poets and all – feel free to jump in, collaborate and have fun :)

SATURDAY: Jazz at the Bandstand returns with JazzyNess – the smooth sound of jazz in the Highlands. Featuring fabulous musicians who play regularly at Inverness Jazz Club – Lizzie Pearce on vocals, John Sharkey on saxes, Adrian Beckwith on keys, Neil Sharkey on bass and Michael Sharkey on drums, they bring raw talent and years of experience to the jazz stage (and yes, there is a family connection in there!). Music from 8.30pm.

: our regular open mic from 6.30pm, hosted by Davy Cowan – singer-songwriter and frontman of Celtic rock band Rhythmnreel, known for his powerful vocals, commanding stage presence and deep connection to Scotland’s musical roots. At the end of Book & Arts Festival finale day, consider this your after party – live and loud, with all performers welcome, some off-the-cuff bands fully expected and a great crowd to bring this wonderful week home.

Enjoy it folks – we’ll see you soon!

27/08/2026

RIP Good Friend!

26/08/2026

Reliever acoustic sounding 👌❤️

24/08/2026

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

The dust has settled from Games Weekend, the kids are back in school and we’re soaking in some late summer sun in the b**r garden where we can! We’ve got a rare acoustic performance from Reliever on Wednesday, and we’re looking forward to a highlight of our town’s calendar, the Nairn Book & Arts Festival, which launches this Saturday with a brilliant programme of literature, music, drama and more. We’re proud to continue our involvement as a patron of the festival – we’ll be collecting discretionary contributions and taking part in the celebrations with several events, starting with this week’s Sunday Session, hosted by Scots singer and storyteller Pippa Wallace. Full details below – and you can check out the festival programme at nairnfestival.co.uk.

WEDNESDAY: one of our favourite local bands, Inverness indie rockers Reliever are back on stage for another acoustic session, bringing stripped-down versions of their originals and a few covers for good measure. Music from 8pm.

: hosted by Pippa Wallace. The singer and guitarist is deeply rooted in Scots song, bringing a fresh perspective to traditional music. Her captivating versions connect audiences to the songs in a way that feels heartfelt and alive. She'll play from 6.30pm before the stage opens up, with all performers welcome.

19/08/2026

James Herriot at The Bandstand!

Huge thanks to Nairn's own Nicholas Ralph for coming off the hills of Yorkshire, spending a wee bit of time with the Bandstand team last night - after a dinner with a lovely group of golfing friends.

Keep an eye out for Series 7 of All Creatures Great and Small. A fantastic series!

Loves Local

17/08/2026

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

And just like that, another brilliant Games Weekend is over. We had so much fun, with belter sets from John B’s Daughter and Pariah keeping the energy high and an impressive crowd for last night’s open mic, even after all the festivities 😉 A big thanks to everyone who came to enjoy it with us and to our amazing team. There’s more great stuff on the way – you might want to dust off the legwarmers for this weekend’s headliner!

WEDNESDAY: with JD Hawkins and Graeme Gardener from 8pm. JD is an acoustic singer-songwriter delivering heartfelt songs with a folk-Americana feel, mixing honest originals with well-loved classics. Graeme plays a range of well-known covers from the 70s to 00s in his own distinct style that gets people singing along and feeling good. Music from 8pm.

SATURDAY: ESP – Everything Synth Pop. From iconic synth anthems and new-wave classics to the biggest electronic hits, you can expect to hear the sounds of Depeche Mode, The Human League, Soft Cell, Erasure and many more. We can’t wait to dance to some incredible throwbacks – outfits from the era fully encouraged, music from 9pm.

: the brilliant Cammy T returns as open mic host. He’s known for his acoustic covers of classic rock songs as well as hard-rocking originals, and will be kicking the night off with a set from 6.30pm before the stage opens up to all performers.

See you all soon 🎶🍺

15/08/2026

BANDSTAND is BOUNCING!!

We're having an absolute blast today... the bar and b**r garden have been jumping all day. A wee snap of the afternoon crew celebrating another fantastic day!

Don't forget tonight, if energy levels are still high, will be on stage at 9pm. Ebo and co providing the end to the best day of the year!!

Nairn Rocks!!