‘Biggest little festival in Scotland’ reveal line up
Double showing for former Apollo 440 frontman
Headline acts for the growing March Into Pitlochry festival have been announced – with the Perthshire town’s reputation as a burgeoning music hub set to get a further boost.
Dubbed ‘the biggest little festival in Scotland’, the popular weekend boutique festival returns in May, with a double showing from former Apollo 440 frontman Ewan Macfarlane topping the bill.
Described as the best voice in rock this side of the Atlantic by the Sunday Times, Macfarlane will play a Friday acoustic set, promoting new album ‘Dove’ before returning with his band on Saturday evening.
Glasgow rootsy rockers The Strange Blue Dreams, Edinburgh’s Dropkick and Hebridean outfit The Tumbling Souls will all grace the function suite at Mckays Hotel Bar and Restaurant for the festival on May 19 and 20.
March Into Pitlochry has ignited from its conception in 2016 but moved online in 2021 due to lockdown before returning ‘live’ to aplomb and hundreds of visitors from across Scotland last May.
It is understood this year’s venue, Mckays, is also keen to cement growing interest in Pitlochry’s live music scene by introducing a brand new Celtic festival on St Andrew’s weekend in November.
Mckays, which has recently invested in a new function suite, already hosts live music every Friday and Saturday and have Abba and Freddie Mercury tribute acts lined up for June and September this year.
Mckays owner Richard Drummond said: “We are delighted to continue our support for March Into Pitlochry, which has become an integral part of the scene now in Highland Perthshire.
“People come from all over Scotland to see bands they like and different styles of music. Along with the local organisers, we want to see the event continue to grow and be successful. This is our fifth year of involvement.
“We have refurbished our function suite recently and it gives us a great space to host music and be a venue for other entertainment acts and events. We plan to continue to do more.”
Luring Ewan Macfarlane to the bill after securing ex-love and Money songsmith James Grant and The Silencers last year is another coup for the organisers.
Macfarlane played alongside acts such as The Prodigy and Chemical Brothers with Apollo 440 and toured alongside Elvis Costello and Simple Minds with first band The Grim Northern Social.
Retro five-piece The Strange Blue Dreams have played Glastonbury and Edinburgh festivals and their 2022 album, Simple Machine, is a regular BBC radio feature.
“The reason March Into Pitlochry brings a real buzz to the town is that people are seeing real quality acts that would not normally play in Pitlochry. That is why we get people coming from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness,” said organiser Marion Mcdonald.
“There is something for everyone. We have electric and acoustic acts and we even have local Pitlochry musician Charlie Dingwall playing this year, alongside Perthshire acts The Sibellas and The Rhythm Service, who are making their festival debut.”
Other acts confirmed are singer/songwriter Wully Smith, who went down a storm with the 2022 crowd, and bluesy songsmith Tom Mason.
For full details, go to: https:// www.marchintopitlochry.co.uk/