35th Music and Dance Festival is busiest yet
Thousands enjoyed Oban’s 35th Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The turnout thrilled organisers, and festival chairman Breege Smyth said it was their busiest event on record.
‘This year was without a doubt our busiest and most engaging year. We felt everyone got involved, from pubs, clubs and hotels to all the competition venues. There there was a whole town buzz. We’ve had superb comments and our reputation for friendly, humane competitions continues.’
Supported by EventScotland – Scotland the Perfect Stage, Oban welcomed more than 1,100 pipers, fiddlers, pianists, accordion and clarsach players, as well as Highland dancers to the town, to take part in 125 competitions.
On Thursday, pupils from 16 primary and nursery schools in fancy dress took to the Corran Halls stage on Schools Day to sing songs with actions, getting the festival off to a bright start – unlike the weather.
Retired teacher Martin Wilson, who presented youngsters with certificates, said: ‘Well done for bringing lots of colour and sunshine into the Corran Halls on such a dreich Oban morning.’
On Friday, clouds still loomed as festival fever was building up. Anticipation was growing for musicians competing in the accordion and fiddle masters at St John’s Cathedral, sponsored by PF Charitable
Trust.
Fiddle player George Davidson, 21, from Tarves, was hoping it would be third year lucky for him. ‘I’ve won this the past two years so it’ll be good to win a third time,’ he said.
Later that night, pubs were busy around the town and ceilidh band Dunmor had everyone up on their feet dancing at Markie Dans into the late hours.
Saturday saw an early start, with piping competitions at the new Oban High School. Oban town ambassador Kay McDonsaid: ald ‘It’s fantastic to see
all these talented young people so enthusiastic about traditional music being here in Oban – the town is buzzing.’
Performers travelled from far and wide to take part in the festival, including a piper from Germany. Grannie Joy Neely spent 12 hours on a journey from Bready in Northern Ireland to watch her granddaughter’s troupe Sollus Highland Dancers.
‘I’ve been coming to this festival for years. It’s well worth the journey. I wouldn’t miss it,’ she said.
Anna TaitWestwell,
16, from Oban, and Archie Sloan, 14, from Perth, were just two of the competitors hoping for trophies in the clarsach and piano categories at St John’s Cathedral, while over at the Congregational Church Hall, young musicians from Taynuilt Primary School were among those hoping to impress judges of the woodwind and brass section.
Station Square hosted an outdoor open mic with Oban FM and brought out the sun as well as a crowd listening to offerings from bands in- cluding Ceildih Trail, Turas and Oban Live finalist Neon Sheba.
There are plans for a bigger open mic next year, said Ms Smyth. ‘It was brilliant with Oban FM broadcasting all afternoon to people all over the world. We’re hoping to put a stage up next year.’
The Saturday sun was still shining in the late afternoon for the parade of pipes and drums by Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun Pipe Band.
The show continued into the night with live music at packed pubs, bars and restaurants in the town.
On the festival’s final day, Atlantis Leisure Centre hosted the Highland dancing premier competitions. Andrew Gregg from Motherwell was performing the Scottish measure dance before judges for the first time. The nine-year-old has been dancing since he was six. ‘I didn’t have many friends before I started dancing but I’ve got lots now. I’m dancing at George Square in Glasgow next weekend,’ he said.