Record entries for Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society virtual festival

ELGIN'S annual celebration of Scots fiddle music has attracted a record number of entries for its virtual festival this year.

The popular Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society Annual Festival was forced off the calendar last year by the pandemic.

For its 49th festival this year, competitors were asked to submit a video recording for adjudication, attracting 94 entries.

All performances will be available on the Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society website for four weeks, starting on Saturday, May 1.

Joint festival secretary Louise McLean was delighted with the response to the first virtual festival, which normally sees quite a buzz as fiddlers gather at Elgin's Williamson Hall for a day.

Louise said: "We have had this high level of entries in the past, but not for a few years.

"We've seen entries come in from further afield for the virtual festival – even from Shetland.

"We're always very well supported locally, and that has again been the case this year."

To view performances visit https://www.elginstrathspeyandreel.com/annual-festival.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.