Traditional music festival draws to a successful conclusion

Blazin Fiddles perform at the Royal Hotel
Blazin Fiddles perform at the Royal Hotel

AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS has been declared over the 40th Keith Traditional Music and Song Association Festival which officially ended on Sunday.

Over three days the Moray town rang to the sounds of fiddles, ceilidh’s, open-air concerts and competitions – with the weather for the most part behaving itself impeccably.

The sold-out signs went up at many of the events at a festival that saw the mercurial Blazin’ Fiddles perform at the Royal Hotel, while the annual competitions saw 18-year-old George Davidson from Tarves emerge victorious in the adult fiddle.

Tarves 12-year-old Rhiann Matthew, meanwhile, took the honours for the 12-years and under fiddle class.

Judging was Paul Anderson from Tarland, who said: “It was a really good weekend – I have judged quite a few times over the years having been involved in the festival from around 1983.

“I think this year was the biggest entry for the classes that I have ever seen. Everything has gone tremendously well without any glitches – the atmosphere has been great and it has had a real family vibe to it.”

The festival’s final day saw a ‘Bairn’s Ceilidh’ at the local bowling club as well as the open air concert in the square. Festival events came to a conclusion last night when the Farewell Concert was held in the Royal Hotel.