The Perth Accordion & Fiddle Festival is an institution which has run every year since 1950. The festival was first created to encourage players to strive for their own goals and thereby raising overall standards, which remains the core principle of the festival today.

It is primarily based around a range of solo and ensemble competitions for all age groups. The festival weekend is also firmly renowned as an annual highlight of the calendar where friends & fellow enthusiasts come together to play, listen and enjoy the competitions, concerts and ceilidhs.

The very first festival in 1950 was run in association with the NAO (National Accordion Organisation) and consisted almost entirely of classical accordion sections. There was only 1 traditional Scottish accordion section which was open to all ages, continental, chromatic or piano accordions where competitors were to play a March, Strathspey & Reel. This solitary Scottish class had been suggested by Jimmy Shand MBE, who donated the much-coveted shield which bears his name. The Jimmy Shand Shield has become the ultimate goal for traditional accordion players. The ‘All-Scotland Championship’ or alternatively known as the ‘Perth Senior Scottish’ is to our music what the St Andrews Open is to golf.

The festival has developed over the years with new competitions and features. It is now very much an Accordion & Fiddle festival and includes a range of solo and group competitions to test a variety of skills and styles of each performer. This provides a great spectacle for the audience which is often made up of fellow musicians and keen enthusiasts therefore despite there only being a few official adjudicators nominated to judge each class, there is often a full hall of unofficial adjudicators which all adds an extra test to the nerves of each competitor.

Ultimately it is all fun and the festival provides great enjoyment celebrated by the fact that festival goers return annually and the last weekend in October is firmly booked out in their calendar every year!