Burns An' A' That Festival is a hit

May 29 2009 by Stuart Wilson

IT’S a big year for Burns enthusiasts with the Bard’s 250th birthday celebrations.

And this year’s Burns An’ A’ That Festival, held in his honour, was the most important to date.

A wide range of events marked the Homecoming edition of the popular week.

Everything from traditional poetry to stars of the X Factor were available for the large crowds flocking to Ayrshire.

As usual, the Festival Club in Ayr’s Wellington Square was the hub of the action, with performances by headline acts like Hue and Cry.

Ayrshire band The Long Way Home took the spoils in the hotly contested AYRPLAY Battle of the Bands.

The four-piece win a trip to London to record in the prestigious Music Bank studios and will also appear on stage at the O2 arena.

But there was plenty going on elsewhere, with the ever popular whisky tasting in Ayr Town Hall proving a real winner.

And buskers hit the street in the town centre to keep everyone entertained as the Bard’s spirit lived on.