A record number of bands will be involved in the 2016 Piping at Forres extravaganza.
This year’s total of 127 competitors has comfortably exceeded the 2015 figure of 105, and the far-travelled participants will be aiming for piping hot displays at the European Championships.
Forres and District Pipe band are among the myriad groups performing at Grant Park after they missed out on the event last year.
The ensemble had to watch from the sidelines last summer, due to a lack of members, but a recruitment drive has seen the band’s age group range from 11 to 72 years old.
Chairman John Channon is excited the local heroes will be able to perform in front of their home crowd again.
He said: “We were really disappointed that we couldn’t play in our home town. Forres loves its band, but we were caught between a rock and a hard place.
“Instead of sitting about, we got some of the youngsters involved. We got about 10 or 12, but they were not ready to compete last year.
“However, we knew we would be in much better shape this time round. We’ve now got 14 pipers, whereas previously we only had eight.”
The Forres Pipe Band and other Moray entrants, including Elgin and District and RAF Lossiemouth, will lock horns with rivals from around the world, in front of a big audience and former Runrig singer, Donnie Munro, who is the chieftain of this year’s proceedings.
Organisers have received entries from Denmark, the Netherlands and Ireland, as well as five school bands from Australia.
Alan James, the chairman of organisers Forres Events, said: “We are delighted to see so many bands signed up for Piping at Forres and each can be assured of a warm welcome.
“This is a magnificent day out and the sight and sounds of all these bands – including some of the best in the world – is not to be missed.”
Ian Embelton, Chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association said: “With so many bands signed up, the Europeans look set to be a great competition.”
Piping at Forres takes place on Saturday, June 25. Advance tickets are now on sale at a discounted rate at www.pipingatforres.com.