High Numbers Means New Competitions will feature for the first time at the 41st Keith Festival.

Two new competitions will feature for the first time at the 41st Keith Festival in just a few weeks’ time.

Due to high numbers of entries in previous years the festival committee has decided to introduce two new competitions. An additional Piano section for those aged 13 and over has been added in addition to the current 12 and under section while a new Freestyle Instrumentalist section has been introduced.

Competitions from previous years, which are due to continue, include sections for Fiddle, Accordion, Poetry, Children, Men and Women Singing and Bothy Ballad. The winner of the Bothy Ballad competition is invited to compete at the Bothy Ballad Champion of Champions in Elgin in February.

The winners from the competitions, which are held throughout the morning and afternoon of Saturday 11th June in various venues in the town, perform at the Prize Winners Concert in St Thomas’ Hall beginning at 6.30pm. The competitions and the concert are sponsored by Alex Grant & Co.

Commenting on the competitions Keith Festival Chairman, Kathleen Anderson, said:

“It’s wonderful that we have been getting such a great number of entries over the past few years that we can introduce extra competitions. This shows how healthy traditional music is in the North East of Scotland.

“We are very lucky to have such a great amount of entries from young people from Keith and the surrounding areas. The Festival gives a great platform for these young people to perform and we have seen many come through the Festival ranks to become wonderful musicians and singers. Indeed some of those who have been competitors in the past are guests at this year’s Festival.

“The competitions are free to enter and it’s free to come and watch them too so hopefully we will get a good number of entries again, as well as spectators.”

The 41st Keith TMSA Festival runs from Friday 10th June to Sunday 12th June in various venues throughout the town.

Tickets are available from Mither Tongue, Mid Street, Keith; Sandy McCombie on (01542) 882638 or by e-mailing keithfestival@gmail.com. For more information

You can log on to the Keith Festival website at www.keithfestival.co.uk or join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/keithfestival

Entries for the competitions are taken on Saturday 11th June with entry forms being available from the Festival Office (located within the Pop Up Shop, Mid Street, Keith) from 9.15am on the day.