A much-loved Angus festival venue has called time after more than three decades on the traditional music trail.
Scottish music and singing in the street made their home in the county during the 34th annual Kirriemuir Festival at the weekend.
And for 32 straight years, George “Geordie” Rennie’s appliance repair shop has Hoovered up the festival’s “best non-pub venue” award.
Mr Rennie has decided to close the shop, where hundreds of acts have competed for space among racks of vacuum bags and washing machine spares, when he retires next month.
The 64-year-old and his wife Mary have made “a lot of friends” over the years and the couple hope to enjoy music hosted by other venues at future festivals.
They decided to “start a party in the shop” after their accordion-playing son took part in the first festivals.
“I won the best non-pub session again yesterday so that’s 32 years,” Mr Rennie said.
“The festival’s been on the go 34 years and my son played the accordion at the first couple.
“The wife asked me what to do after that, and we thought we’d start a party in the shop.
“We make some food and we give folk a few drinks and everyone’s happy.”
Organised by the Angus branch of the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, the event attracts hundreds of people from all over Scotland for the music and hospitality, which Mr Rennie said Kirriemuir “is still well known for”.
A festival 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.”
Local talents such as Ian Kinnear, Jim Taylor and Skirdechal featured heavily along with performers from further afield, such as The Peatbog Faeries.
The festival began with a concert ceilidh at the Airlie Arms on Friday night and continued with a friendly day of contests on Saturday.
Forfar Instrumental Band turned out in the square ahead of the prizewinners’ concert in the Kirk Hall.
A service began Sunday’s events at the Old Parish Kirk, the Thistle Social Club hosted the concert ceilidh in the afternoon, and a survivors’ ceilidh kept up the tune for any tired legs still able to dance at the Airlie.
See Tuesday’s Courier for competition winners.