Festival will be ‘piping hot’
OBAN has a piping hot forecast starting tomorrow (Friday May 4) with the 35th Highlands & Islands Music and Dance Festival.
The weekend will be a blast with more than 1,100 pipers, fiddlers, pianists, accordion and clarsach players, as well as Highland dancers battling for trophies in 125 competitions.
Organisers say the competition, supported by EventScotland which is part of VisitScotland’s Event Directorate, has woven its way into every hall and public venue in the town, with many local pubs and hotels supporting the event with live music.
The Perle hotel, Oban Inn, Markie Dans, the Tartan and the Barn are just some of the venues joining in.
Adding to the fun is an open mic stage on Saturday at the outdoor showcase in Station Square with Oban FM. There are still slots between performances from Neon Sheba and Turas if any local performers want to showcase their talent.
Among the many pipers at the festival will be newcomer Anna Kummerlow from Germany, a past winner of the Netherlands Pipe Band Association.
Anna, who has also competed for The Dunvegan Medal at the Skye Gathering, will be joined by other passionate pipers including members of Oban High School’s pipe band, which performs overseas and nationally.
Up and coming pipers from Lockerbie, Catrine, Dollar, Kinross and Co Down will also be taking part.
Local teacher and performer Angus J MacColl, who comes from a long line of famous MacColl pipers, won Pipe Idol in 2013 and has played with Capercaillie, will be competing. Last year he won the festival's Dugald MacColl Memorial trophy.
Other competitors will be Jonathan Greenlees, originally from Ireland who was the overall winner at the Royal National Mòd in Oban in 2015, and Gordon Bruce who got a first class honours degree in Scottish music in 2007 and has won many competitions since, including at the Northern Meeting, the Argyllshire Gathering and the Highlands & Islands Music and Dance Festival.
Festival chairman Breege Smyth said: ‘Over the years, the economic impact has been acknowledged and the festival would not be possible without the support of many local volunteers and businesses.
‘This support over the years has enabled young people to compete to the highest level and then perhaps go on to make solid careers from their musical abilities and passion.
‘Come and enjoy some fantastic dancing and music and young talent around the town.’