Scottish traditional music, singing in the street and the curious art of “diddling” were all heard in Angus over the last two days during the 32nd annual Kirriemuir Festival.
Organised by the Angus branch of the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, the festival heard some of the best traditional music and songs echoing around the town.
Although the festival has seen many changes since it started in 1982, it is still one of the foremost events of this nature and practises and preserves the best of Scotland’s musical heritage.
As such, hundreds of people attended from all corners of Scotland. Iona Fyfe from Huntly was judged as the best overall performer at a prizegiving on Saturday night, with Patrick Newman of Cortachy as runner-up.
Singers also participated in the Chorus Cup late on Saturday evening in a sing-around where the person judged to have the song with best chorus gets the cup.
One of the other light-hearted competitions is diddling, which organisers described as “singing for people who can’t remember the words which was won by Aberdonian Pauline Cordiner.
A spokesman said: “We’re lucky to have such a talented line-up of performers on our own doorstep, and our guests were made very welcome.
“The Kyle Innes Trio from the Howe of Fife really went down well, as did festival regular Sarah Walker and one of Scotland’s best known folk singers, Sheena Wellington from Dundee.
“The youngsters of Skirdechal opened the TradAngus Session in Three Bellies and have a CD out called Folk on the Water,” he said.
Locals featured heavily along with performers from further afield, such as accordionist Ian Cruickshanks, singing group Angus Folk and Joe Aitken.
The festival began with the opening concert on Friday night and continued with a competitive yet friendly day of competition on Saturday, which in turn gave way to an evening of concerts and ceilidhs.
A church service began Sunday’s events, with hymns sung to old Scottish melodies played by the Angus Strathspey and Reel Society.
The Thistle Club hosted the weekend’s largest crowd in the afternoon and a survivors’ ceilidh kept up the tune for any tired legs still able to dance.