Performers jazz up the Trossachs

A crowd gathers in Callander town square for the festival

Thousands of blues and jazz fans are gathering in the Trossachs for one of the country's largest rural music events.

Organisers of this year's Callander Jazz and Blues Festival said more than 50 acts would be performing in 24 different venues across the area.

Performers will include Jess Abrams, George Penman and Brass Impact.

The event, which began in 2003, runs from Friday to Sunday. It recently secured funding from EventScotland.

'Taken off'

Inspired by the African American musicians of the southern states, the festival will also feature a jazz parade through Callander town centre with participants carrying decorated umbrellas.

The festival was started by jazz drummer Graham Oliphant, 65, who said it was the ideal antidote to dwindling visitor numbers after the summer season.

He said: "The live music business had died and all people could get here was karaoke or a guitarist with a backing track, which I always thought was cheating.

"Now the whole place is buzzing. We have a lot of performers coming from places like Germany, Holland and North America as well as those who live locally.

"The whole thing seems to have just taken off."

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