47 young dancers competed in 2019 at one of the largest traditional Scottish dancing competitions in South West Scotland.
Dancers celebrate their acheivements at the Highland Dancing Competition in 2018
Southwest Scotland's biggest Highland dancing competition is held at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.
Highland Dancing Competition
Concerts and picking sessions throughout the weekend at SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival.
Make sure you book early for the 13th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival over 10th-12th July 2026.
Join local and visiting musicians for a night of traditional Scottish and Irish tunes and songs. Musician's very welcome and/or just come along and enjoy the music, atmosphere and the craic'.
Friday 21st August 2026
Performing at SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival 2024, Sarah Jane Scouten has been nominated for 4 Canadian Folk Music Awards, a Western Canadian Music Award and an International Folk Music Award.
Australian fiddle player and tune writer Jeri Foreman delivers a fiddle workshops at SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival in 2023.
SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival
A former bank, the Trust re-developed the unoccupied premises into what is now acknowledged as being one of the best live music/performing arts venues in Scotland. A social enterprise project, the venue provides vital income and office space.
Find Out More
Outstanding sponsorship support from the team at Five Kingdoms Brewery for this year's festival, and outstanding beers on draught all weekend!
Five Kingdoms Brewery
Save BIG with a Weekend Pass for the 13th annual Summer Trad Festival, running from 10th-12th July 2026 at The Vault Arts Centre and Festival Marquee in Newton Stewart! Offer expires 5pm on 10th June 2026!
Buy Weekend Passes!
20 Oct 18by Nathon Jones
This weekend members of the Board of Trustees and Festival Director Nathon Jones head to Limavady in Northern Ireland to perform live and fly the flag for Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival with kind invitation from our good friends from the band Fáilte.
We'll be performing at Harkin's Irish Bar, Limavady, on Sunday 21st October from 6:30pm plus we'll be joining in sessions and all the usual craic tonight once we're off the boat.
Members of the band Fáilte have regularly featured at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival since 2015, performing at various venues during the festival weekend, and they have always invited us over for a return leg which, unfortunately, we've never been able to make.
However, the stars have aligned and the Jones boys are all free so off we head to enjoy some of Northern Ireland's fine hospitality and a couple of days of tunes and songs. Bliss!
We'll be letting everyone know about the festival of course and we hope that regular visits like this will raise the festival profile and encourage even more visitors over from Ireland to enjoy the festival weekend in July.
Harkin's Irish Bar
Multi award winning Scottish folk band RURA and new kids on the block KICK have just been confirmed as performing at this year's Summer Trad Festival over the 10th-12th July 2026. WOW! There's still time to save BIG with a Weekend Pass, but you'll have hurry as that offer expires at 6pm!
10 Jun 26Nathon Jones
Over 10-12th July 2026, the very best in traditional music returns to Newton Stewart for the 13th annual Summer Trad Festival at The Vault Arts Centre, one of the regions best grassroots music venues. You can save BIG with a Weekend Pass but you'll have to hurry as this offer expires on 10th June!
9 Jun 26Nathon Jones
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.
7 May 26Nathon Jones
Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival will celebrate its 13th year over 10th-12th July 2026. 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!