KIRRIEMUIR WAS on sound form at the weekend as it hosted its 24th festival of music and song.

A large influx of visiting performers and spectators joined locals who have supported efforts in the Wee Red Town to preserve musical traditions.

Judges of Saturday’s competitions, spread between the Old Parish Church and church hall, were particularly impressed with the interest shown.

Kirriemuir singer Joe Aitken was charged with selecting winners in the men’s singing and bothy ballad competitions.

“The standards have been very high and because of this judging seems to get harder each year,” he said.

“I have been particularly pleased to see a few youngsters taking part, from the age of seven up to the early teens and above.

“They are the future and I wish them well.”

Organisers said this year’s festival recorded an increase in the number of competitors and public interest in contests.

Formal competition went on as informal music get-togethers were held across the town centre.

Scott Gardiner and Jim Taylor had the task of judging the sessions, concentrated at the Airlie Arms Hotel, Thrums Hotel, Three Bellies Brae and George Rennie’s shop.

Scott said, “The venues have been really busy and there seems to be a real buzz about the town as people have been encouraged to come out thanks to the good weather.”

The festival welcomed Carl McDougall, writer and presenter of a BBC Scotland series on the history of Scottish literature, and a film crew who caught the competitions on camera as part of a project on the Scots language.

Festivities started with a ceilidh on Friday and Saturday’s events were capped with another, held alongside a singaround at the Masonic Hall, which attracted a record 20 entries for the chorus cup.

Another ceilidh brought the weekend to a close last night, after a service at the Old Parish Church.

Results:

Singing, men—B. Gray (Peterhead), women—K. Taylor (Garlogie), girls—E. Malcolm (Perth), bothy ballad—B. Gray, local—P. Newman (Cortachy).

Fiddle, open—K. Fraser (Australia), junior—A. Nicol (Insch), local—M. Ryan (Brechin), J. F. Dickie Cup—N. Auchnie (Turriff).

Instrumental pairs—N. Auchnie/A. Nicol, ceilidh band—The Ryan Family (Brechin), mouth organ—B. Burnett (Aberdeen), tin whistle—J. Mitchell (Birmingham).

Diddling—E. Garrow (Arbroath), oral whistling—P. Newman.

Story telling: senior—P. Newman, junior—N. Chalmers (Fraserburgh); Doric verse, 12-16—N. Chalmers, senior—S. Donaldson (Huntly), overall (Royal Bank Cup)—N. Chalmers. Mary McManus Memorial Trophy—The Ryan Family.

Chorus singing (Kirriemuir Saltire Society Cup)—G. Stewart (Huntly); pub session—The Airlie Arms Hotel; non-pub session—George Rennie’s Shop.