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Newcastleton Festival Weekend :)


27 Jun 18
by Nathon Jones

Luke Daniels

The 49th Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival takes place this weekend over the 29th, 30th June and 1st July and it's a packed programme of dancing, workshops, competitions, tune and song sessions all weekend in the beautiful Scottish Borders. Don't miss it!

Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival was first held in 1970, growing out of the local Accordion and Fiddle Club that met in the Commercial Hotel (now the Liddesdale Hotel). From that initial one day event it has grown to become the most welcoming and family friendly traditional music festival in Scotland.

Over the years there have been a range of competitions, but always based around accordion, fiddle and traditional singing. As fashions change, so has the popularity of various classes, but the core competitions are still going strong, and a fantastic love for the interest shown in the children’s classes.

Concerts, ceilidhs, sessions, singarounds, and workshops add to the competitions to offer the festival goer plenty of choice, and of course the wonderful Copshaw Common Riding runs parallel to the festival as well – a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed!

Have a browse through the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival website by clicking the button below to see what is on offer, but the best way to really learn what Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival is all about is to come along!

Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival Website

In Other News


Outstanding sponsorship support from Five Kingdoms Brewery

Serving local produce ensures that the project supports local businesses and the local community. A huge favourite are the beers from Five Kingdoms Brewery which are brewed in Isle of Whithorn. We are hugely grateful to Alastair and his team for their very generous support for this year's festival.  

12 Jul 24
Nathon Jones

Workshops at this year's festival

With so many outstanding musicians in Newton Stewart this weekend it would be foolish not to take full advantage, and we've done just that with a superb programme of traditional music workshops which are included as part of the Weekend Pass ticket, £10 per adult or £Free for under 25s.  

11 Jul 24
Nathon Jones

Highland dancing competition unable to go ahead this year

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of this year's Highland dancing competition at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival. Continued funding cuts have meant some very difficult decisions have had to be made, however we do hope to bring this back in 2025.  

26 Jun 24
Nathon Jones

Trad Music Trust

The 10th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival takes place over the 12th-14th July 2024. It's an incredible achievement. The charity has created a viable, sustainable, event that continues to grow and develop, proudly celebrating the very best in traditional Scottish, Irish and World music. Make sure you book early for what is shaping up to be the biggest event yet!

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