Moray SNP News

PARLIAMENT TO RECOGNISE 'ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPEYFEST'

Moray MSP, Richard Lochhead, has lodged a motion to the Scottish Parliament congratulating Speyfest on ‘another successful festival’.

High profile acts such as Barbara Dickson, RURA, Hunter and the Bear, Skerryvore and Peatbog Fairies took to the stages of  the tented village in Fochabers to entertain audiences over the weekend of 29th to 31st July.

The 21st Speyfest saw 13 year old harpist Hannah Alexander from Milnes High School clinch the 2016 Speyfest Young Entertainer of the Year competition.  This is the second year of the competition which encourages young people to take to the stage and perform.

Commenting, Richard Lochhead MSP, said:

“I know that for many folk in Moray, and further afield, Speyfest is a highlight of their music festival diaries.

“The quality of artists that Speyfest manages to attract is always of a hugely high standard and this year was no exception with packed audiences seeing some of the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

“The introduction of the Young Entertainer of the Year competition is a wonderful way in which to encourage young people to perform and for them to get experience of performing in front of an audience.  Well done to Hannah Alexander for winning the competition and I hope it is something that Speyfest will continue to run.

“Huge thanks must go to all involved with Speyfest for running such a great event in the area and it’s only right that in its 21st year Speyfest is recognised in Scotland’s national Parliament for its huge contribution to music, arts and culture.”

Motion Number: S5M-00920
Lodged By: Richard Lochhead
Date Lodged: 02/08/2016

Title: Another Successful Speyfest

Motion Text:

That the Parliament congratulates Speyfest on another successful festival, which was held in Fochabers in Moray during the weekend of 29 to 31 July 2016; recognises that this was the 21st year that Speyfest has taken place in the Moray village; commends the members of the Speyfest committee for their hard work and organisation in bringing so many high quality acts to perform at the festival; welcomes the recent introduction of the Young Entertainer of the Year competition, which encourages young, local talent to take to the stage and perform; congratulates Hannah Alexander a 13-year-old harpist from Miles High School, who won the 2016 competition, and wishes Speyfest well for future festivals.