The countdown is on for the 35th anniversary of the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival taking place in Oban.
The event was officially launched with performances from pipers and Highland dancers at the Perle Hotel in the town as tickets went on sale yesterday.
A record number of entries has been received for the festival, which takes place over the bank holiday weekend from May 4-6.
Organisers are celebrating after learning that they will beat the recent performer numbers of 1,100 entries across the 125 competitions.
Breege Smyth, festival chairwoman, said: “Come and join us celebrate the talent of our budding Highland dancers, fiddlers, pipers, pianists, accordion and clarsach players and not forgetting those proficient in woodwind and brass at venues throughout Oban.
“Each year we have performers from all over Scotland, from neighbouring towns like Campbeltown to as far afield as Edinburgh, Dingwall and Skye, and this year we have our first entry from Germany.”
The festival will bring many venues alive with live music, musical minstrels, and under the banner of “Outdoor Showcase”, outdoor performers in the town centre from 11am on the Saturday.
A long tradition in music and dance is promoted by the event, but it also introduces innovation through the group dancing competitions and novelty individual competitions.
Argyll is rich in musical and dance heritage and the festival provides a great outlet for this. Organised by volunteers, the committee is proud to attract more than 3,000 visitors to the town which is a welcome boost to the local economy through hotels, restaurants and travel.
This year’s event is also supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Event Directorate.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival, through our National Events Programme. Scotland is the perfect stage for cultural events, and the festival is a great showcase of the country’s traditional talent.
“In 2018 we are celebrating the Year of Young People, and it is great to see the festival giving audiences the chance to see some of Scotland’s best young musicians and dancer perform.”
