World-class bluegrass festival returns to Newton Stewart over 15-17 May 2026!
7 May 26
by Nathon Jones
Damn Tall Buildings perform on Saturday 16th May!
SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival celebrates is 5th year in 2026, bringing the very best in UK and International bluegrass/Americana/old-time music to you with concerts, workshops, open mic and pickin' sessions all weekend, LIVE in the Festival Marquee and The Vault Arts Centre in beautiful Galloway.
Back for its 5th year, SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival celebrates and showcases bluegrass, Americana and old-time music with concerts, workshops, bluegrass open mic, pickin' and jam sessions all weekend featuring outstanding acts from all over the world including Sarah Jane Scouten & Robbie Caswell-Jones (Canada/Scotland & Wales), Jacob Joliff with Rain of Animals (USA, Australia & Scotland), Damn Tall Buildings (USA), Taff Rapids (Cymru), GallowGrass (Scotland) and Goldrush (Scotland).
Taking place at The Vault Arts Centre in Newton Stewart, one of the regions best grassroots live music venues, the event draws in musicians and music lovers from all over the world for a weekend of authentic bluegrass, Americana and old-time music LIVE in the stunning festival marquee in one of the most beautiful parts of rural Southwest Scotland.
The exciting festival programme runs as follows:
FRIDAY 15th MAY 2026
CONCERT
Jacob Joliff with Rain of Animals + Sarah Jane Scouten & Robbie Caswell-Jones
Doors 7pm / Festival Marquee @ The Vault Arts Centre / £18 or £13.50 (12-25s)
The euphonious collaboration between mandolinists Jacob Jolliff and Rain Of Animals (Pepita Emmerichs - fiddle, mandolin & Theodore Barnard - guitar) brings together an explosive mix of their shared musical loves including bluegrass and irish/scottish traditions through the lense of an improvised spirit. After a spontaneous week of jamming around Glasgow and at Shetland Folk Festival in early 25’, the trio were inspired to continue their travels and music making with a combination of their own original material and traditional songs and tunes.
Sarah Jane Scouten has been nominated for 4 Canadian Folk Music Awards, a Western Canadian Music Award and an International Folk Music Award. She has performed at Vancouver Folk Music Festival, MerleFest, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues, Dranouter Festival, Maverick Americana Music Festival and more. She has opened for Corb Lund, William Prince, Ron Sexsmith, The Sadies and shared the stage with Martha Wainwright, The Strumbellas, Allison Russell, Martin Carthy, Mandolin Orange (Watchhouse) and more. According to CBC q’s Tom Power, "Stan Rogers was able to do it, Ron Hynes was able to do it, Kate McGarrigle was able to do it – and Sarah Jane Scouten is able to do it."
Accompanying Sarah Jane is Robbie Caswell-Jones, a Welsh guitarist specialising in bluegrass flat-picking. He is a staple at bluegrass festivals throughout the UK and Europe including Herbe Bleue, La Roche Bluegrass, Gainsborough Festival and Didmarton Festival. He played on Sarah Jane Scouten's 2025 EP Transmutations.
PICKING/SONG SESSION
From 10pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £FREE
Bring your instruments and voices and join local and visiting musicians for a night of collective appreciation of bluegrass, Americana and old-time music and songs.
SATURDAY 16th MAY 2026
BLUEGRASS OPEN MIC
1pm-3pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £FREE
If you you play an instrument, sing solo or perform as a band then how about taking to the stage in the festival marquee? A lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon, and the perfect warm up to the days events.
CONCERT
Stacey Joy
Doors 4pm / Festival Marquee @ The Vault Arts Centre / £7.50 or £5.00 (12-25s)
Stacey Joy is an award-winning independent songwriter and performer from the foothills of Northern California. Described by NPR as “a much-needed breath of fresh air”, her musical style a sultry mix of blues, jazz, country, folk and Americana. A multi-instrumentalist and multilinguist, she has toured extensively throughout North, Central and South America, sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Rising Appalachia, Mary Youngblood and Buena Vista Social Club.
WORKSHOP
Sarah Jane Scouten - Bluegrass Harmony Singing Workshop
4pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £5 or £FREE (12-25s)
Learn to sing harmony by ear. Sarah Jane Scouten started singing around the kitchen table with her family, in bluegrass, folk and country music traditions. Singing harmony is a skill, but it starts with a feeling. Learn new songs and harmony parts. No prior knowledge of music or ability required.
CONCERT
Taff Rapids + Damn Tall Buildings
Doors 7pm / Festival Marquee @ The Vault Arts Centre / £20 or £15 (12-25s)
Taff Rapids (Wales/Cymru), Cardiff’s bluegrass sensation, is taking the international stage by storm with a unique blend of original bluegrass compositions and their own take on traditional American and Welsh tunes. Comprised of seasoned musicians Darren Eedens, Sion Russell Jones, David Grubb, and Clem Saynor, the band infuses their music with Welsh-language elements, bringing a fresh perspective to the bluegrass genre that resonates worldwide.
Damn Tall Buildings (Brooklyn, NYC) are a folk-bluegrass band celebrated for their soulful melodies and intricate instrumentals. Fueled by the musical prowess of Max Capistran, Sasha Dubyk, and Avery Ballotta, this seasoned Brooklyn-based trio, with 11 years of dedicated touring and recording experience, weaves heartfelt lyrics into a tapestry of masterful fiddle, guitar, banjo, and bass playing.
Embodying a blend of Americana roots and contemporary finesse, Damn Tall Buildings' musical journey transcends borders.
PICKING/SONG SESSION
From 10pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £FREE
Bring your instruments and voices and join local and visiting musicians for a night of collective appreciation of bluegrass, Americana and old-time music and songs.
SUNDAY 16th MAY 2026
BLUEGRASS OPEN MIC
1pm-3pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £FREE
If you you play an instrument, sing or perform as a band then how about taking to the stage in the festival marquee? A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and the perfect warm up to the days events.
WORKSHOP
Goldrush - Bluegrass Band Workshop
4pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £FREE
Facilitated by top bluegrass band Goldrush, the bluegrass band workshop is a hands-on experience designed for beginner to intermediate musicians. You will be developing ensemble performance at your level in the traditional bluegrass style. Bring your instruments and voices! Free to attend.
CONCERT
Goldrush + GallowGrass
Doors 7pm / Festival Marquee @ The Vault Arts Centre / £18 or £13.50 (12-25s)
GOLDRUSH features Barry Noakes on fiddle, lead and tenor vocals; Giuseppe Corcella on guitar and bass vocals; John Sheldon on banjo, lead and baritone vocals; Michael Pisanek on bass and tenor vocals; Tom Cooper on mandolin, lead and tenor vocals ; Garry Davidson on guitar, lead, baritone and tenor vocals.
GallowGrass perform a mix of Americana/bluegrass/folk influenced tunes and songs, along with their own arrangements of tunes and songs from the bluegrass/folk traditions. Led by dobro, banjo and guitar player, and vocalist, Nathon Jones, GallowGrass also features Rhona Jones (vocals), Roger Whitham (upright bass & vocals), Graham Rodger (guitar & vocals), Billy Jones (mandola & vocals) and Jack Trainer (bodhran).
PICKING/SONG SESSION
From 10pm / The Vault Arts Centre / £FREE
Bring your instruments and voices and join local and visiting musicians for a night of collective appreciation of bluegrass, Americana and old-time music and songs.
Project Co-ordinator & Festival Director Nathon Jones said "SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival celebrates its 5th year this year. It's a wonderful wee festival that's doing everything it can to support the fantastic bluegrass scene in Scotland and the UK."
"There are musicians from Brooklyn, New York, Australia, Canada, Cymru, central Scotland and Galloway performing and teaching in the gorgeous festival marquee and The Vault Arts Centre venues all weekend; it's a unique cultural treat, right here in the heart of Galloway."
"The festival relies on ticket and bar sales, sponsorship and in-kind donations in order to run, so there's a real community-led feel to the event. With performing artists, musicians and visitors attending from all over the world, it's also a real boost to the local economy."
The festival is supported by the British Bluegrass Music Association, Galloway Distillery, Ninefold Distillery, Five Kingdoms Brewery and Stables Guest House.
Tickets are available online at www.ticketsource.com/the-vault and you can save BIG with a Weekend Pass ticket which gives you access to all three concerts and workshops.
BOOK ONLINE FOR SPRINGGRASS 2026!