Easter Monday saw the end of the Easter holiday weekend but in Te Anau the holiday was ushered out with a skirl of the bagpipes in a magnificent performance from the band, Highland Storm.

A near capacity audience was treated to a highly polished concert, featuring some of the south’s best musicians, which was produced by the Tartan Festival committee in place of the usual full weekend’s activities.

This is to become a normal format with the full Easter Tartan Festival event now planned for every other year instead of every year as in the past.

Highland Storm lead vocalist Simon Green and Simon Thompson. Photo: ProFocus Photography

The scene was set when band members distributed ear plugs to the audience before proceedings got under way which let everyone know that this was going to be a loud and powerful performance and they didn’t disappoint.

The band lineup included three of the south’s well known bagpipers David Pickett, Greg Lindsay and John Teviotdale along with lead guitarist Simon (Tomo) Thompson of band Triple Shot fame, drummer Aaron Ives who has performed with bands such as Radiowave and Pappa Rocks, and vocalists Simon Green and Hollie Longman who also performs with Radiowave and Pappa Rocks. She also played keyboard.

Highland Storm's Hollie Longman. Photo: ProFocus Photography

Each band member was clearly a highly accomplished individual but together they reached new heights in their entertaining delivery of a generous set list of toe tapping favourite covers.

From the haunting opening with the Gael, theme from the Last of Mohicans to the last encore Don’t Stop Believing, the fast-paced entertainment was expertly guided by the capable and experienced frontman, Simon Green.

Each performer showcased their musicianship with solos from each of them and the audience was treated to an array of superb mastery of each of their instruments.

The whole performance was further enhanced with professional sound and lighting provided by sound man Tom (Papa T) (Bluff), with gear from Massav Productions and lighting tech Errol Heads (Dunedin), owner/senior tech of Ahead Solutions.

Particular crowd favourites were renditions of Copperhead Road, Sweet Child of Mine, Whiskey in the Jar and a very popular arrangement of Loch Lomond.

A group of young Highland dancers added to the entertainment with a couple of well presented and coordinated dance pieces to the rock music taking place on the stage.

The concert was performed in three parts with a 10-minute break between each set and the audience, whose ages ranged from primary school age to 80-year-olds, got well into the mood with many taking to the floor to dance the night away.

Even the bagpipers were able to inject some extra entertainment with an unexpected descent to the the auditorium during one of their performances.

Everyone left at the end of the evening well satisfied from their night out, which most agreed was world class.