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'Party animals' flock to Belladrum for festival's final day

Steven McKenzieHighlands and Islands reporter
News imageBBC The families are dressed in blow-up animal costumes and polka dot dresses and animal print onsies. BBC
The Morton and Maciver families from Inverness embraced Belladrum's party animals theme

Music fans arrived for the final day of Belladrum, dressed to the Highland festival's theme for this year - party animals.

More than 20,000 people attended the event, near Beauly, between Thursday and Saturday.

James had been scheduled to close the main stage, but had to pull out after frontman Tim Booth lost his voice. Razorlight stepped in to fill the headline slot.

Other main stage acts on Saturday included Torridon, Skerryvore and Cammy Barnes.

Callum Beattie, Mika, The Human League, Rizzle Kicks, Scouting for Girls, Lottery Winners and Brooke Combe also performed over the weekend.

News imageThe families from Dores are dressed as different animals, including a badger, zebra, lion, hippo, goat and penguin
A group of friends from Dores turned up as a menagerie of animals, including a badger, penguin and zebra
News imageLooking at the Calian the Caterpillar "cake" in the Garden Stage arena.
A group of friends and family from Aberdeen entered the fancy dress contest as a caterpillar "cake"

Bella's line-up of Scottish acts included electronic-trad band Valtos.

The Skye act, comprising musicians Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald, provided the soundtrack for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games' ceremonial Parade of Nations during the event's opening ceremony.

News imageValtos' Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald standing in front of a yellow Belladrum banner in the press area at Belladrum.
Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald of Valtos were part of Bella's strong line-up of Scottish acts

MacDonald said: "We got to play millions of people around the world. It was one of the most bizarre but coolest things we've ever done.

"It was a unique experience and was it was amazing to be part of the games."

Docherty said Valtos followed in "the shadows of incredible Skye talent" such as Runrig, Niteworks and Peatbog Faeries whenever they played at Belladrum.

There is coverage of Belladrum on BBC Alba and iPlayer.