Those who were packed into the Gaiety Theatre to watch the second Manannan’s Winterfest were treated to more than two and a half hours of evocative, atmospheric festive music and entertainment.

The gala variety concerts, based around a mix of Manx folk, dance and brass band music, along with plenty of comic moments and sketches, was led by two young and up-and-coming local singers, Alexandra Slater and Mae Challis, who took their turns leading the line-up.

Mae gave a wonderfully-varied performance, starting with a classy, note-perfect version of ’White Christmas’, backed by the Manx Concert Brass band, and later sang a slow blues version of ’What Are You Doing on New Year’s Eve’ with house guitarist Malcolm Stitt.

Alexandra made her customary entrance, stunning all in an expansive ball gown and glittering head to foot. She sang ’Oikyn Anys Bethlehem’, followed by a towering version of ’O Holy Night’.

Both singers were joined on the bill by the Ballacottier School choir, who sang a range of beautiful songs, such as ’Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ and ’Candlelight Carol’, which they sung illuminated with just candle light.

The concert was arranged by David Kilgallon, who also performed in the house band, along with harpist Rachel Hair, cellist Kirsty Lawrence and violinist Katie Lawrence.

David sang his own solo number, a re-working of ’While Shepherds Watched’ and also performed several folk tunes.

The Michael Players performed their Manx dialect play, ’In the Doctor’s Waiting Room’, and compere for the night was Dot Tilbury, who came up with her own song about the on-going promenade road works, and she had the crowd singing along with her pleas to have the prom finished.

Following a set from the Trinity Irish dancers, the night was brought to a close with a mass sing-a-long of ’All I Want for Christmas Is You’, led by the entire cast, on board a huge Santa’s sleigh.