PITCH perfect performers from Whinhill and All Saints primary schools helped launch this year’s Inverclyde Music Festival — but it was Craigmarloch School pupils who stole the show on the first day.

The talented youngsters got the action up and running as they participated in the non-competitive showcase class.

George Walker, head teacher at the school, says the festival is the ideal opportunity for the children to display their skills.

He said: “The children couldn’t wait to perform at the festival.

“They have been so excited.

“It’s an excellent platform for them.”

The pupils, with support from their music teaching staff Jill Henderson and Mark Browne, were a huge hit with the audience.

First to take to the stage were children from the school’s ‘Soundstart’ group - an instrumental project funded by the council which is run by brass instructors Andrew Digger and David Hutchison.

Using trumpets, baritones, euphonium, trombones, glockenspiels and drums, the pupils gave exceptional performances of ‘Half the price’, ‘Hot Cross Buns’ and ‘We will rock you’.

Next up to perform were Craigmarloch’s ‘Spongebob Rockers’, who raised the roof with their version of the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ theme using Latin percussion instruments, keyboards, bass guitar and ukuleles.

Sweet singers from the school’s P5-P7 choir, the ‘Red Hot Rock Stars’, left most of the audience with tears in their eyes when they performed the songs ‘One in a million’ and ‘I can make a difference’.

Festival president Isabel Lind said it was a fitting way to open the event.

She said: “It was a wonderful start to the festival and great to see a good number of parents in the crowd too.”

The festival runs until February 3, when there will be a grand concert.