Around 200 fans enjoy music fest

Organisers have hailed the 2023 March Into Pitlochry music festival as a major success.

Now the event venue is set to build on the momentum with another event for the town this winter.

Around 200 fans attended the two-day show – dubbed ‘the biggest little festival in Scotland’ – last weekend.

It represented another big commercial draw for Pitlochry, just days after thousands of cyclists had descended on the Highland Perthshire town for Etape Caledonia.

Artists like former Apollo 440 frontman Ewan Macfarlane, The Broken Creels and the everpopular The Tumbling Souls from Isle of Lewis wowed the crowds at Mckays’ new function suite on Friday and Saturday.

Local organisers are now assessing funding for 2024 in the hope that the festival, first staged in 2016, can return again next year.

Venue Mckays Hotel Restaurant and Bar supported the feast of music for a fifth year in a row and have disclosed that they also plan to bring a brand new event to Pitlochry this winter.

Initial bands have been confirmed for a Scottish music festival in November, inaugurated and hosted by Mckays, who have invested significant sums to make their function suite a hub for entertainment.

“The 2023 March Into Pitlochry has been excellent. It was really busy all weekend and it has become a real, unique focus for the town,” said Mckays general manager, Alec Summers.

“We were delighted to support it and hope we will be doing so again next year.

“We are also working away on our Mckays November festival which will hopefully build on the growing reputation of Pitlochry in terms of live music and cement our own entertainment offering as a venue.”

In total, 12 acts – all from Scotland – played the March Into Pitlochry festival, with Perthshire Sound and Light providing the visual and audio expertise.

Organiser Marion Mcdonald said: “This year we had 12 acts showcasing their own music – and of all different genres and styles.

“Once again, people came to enjoy themselves and they certainly did. It would be difficult to pick favourites over the weekend, they were all outstanding.”

Visitors travelled from the Central Belt, the Highlands and Dundee to attend the festival, as well as local music lovers.

On the bill Ewan Macfarlane played a Friday acoustic set before rocking it out with his band on the Saturday evening

On stage Tumbling Souls from Isle of Lewis returned to March Into Pitlochry and gained even more fans with their country sound

Performers Glasgow’s The Strange Blue Dreams played songs from their album, Simple Machine