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TradFestival aiming high this year!


14 Oct 20
by Billie Jones

MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2020

Nominations are now open for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2020, the highly regarded annual awards which give recognition to excellence within Scotland’s thriving traditional musical culture. We need YOUR support for a nomination for Event or Community Project of the Year. Please vote x

We may not have been able to bring you this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival in person, although we are very proud of the musicians and dancers who helped produce the online version of this year's festival which you can view here, but we continue to try our best, every year, to receive acknowledgement from MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards for the 6 years Trad Music Trust have already delivered the annual festival and the charity's continued committment to developing a year-round programme of traditional music & dance in Dumfries & Galloway through the annual festival and the new Vault Arts Centre.

Tweaked for 2020 to reflect the pivot the entire industry has made due to Covid-19, this year’s twelve awards are as follows and we have highlighted in bold the categories in which you may want to support us:

1. Music Tutor of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland
2. Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by The Highland Society of London
3. 
Album of The Year, sponsored by Birnam CD
4. 
Up & Coming artist of the Year, sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
5. 
Event of the Year
6. 
Community Music Project of the Year, sponsored by Greentrax Recordings
7. 
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA)
8. 
Trad Video of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound
9. 
Online Performance of 2020, sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust
10. 
Services to Gaelic Award, sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig
11. 
Original Work of the Year, sponsored by PRS for Music
12. 
Trad Music in the Media, sponsored by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
13. 
Musician of the Year, sponsored by the University of the Highlands and Islands

The nomination and voting processes are in two stages. This nomination stage will close on Sunday 18th October with the voting period opening online on Monday 2nd November until Sunday 15th November.

To vote simply click the button below and complete the short survey.  You do not need to complete every section, only the sections in which you'd like to cast a vote, but there are some fantastic acts, projects and events throughout Scotland so please complete as much as you can and let's help make this a terrific year for traditional music in Scotland, despite everything!

Maybe this will finally be Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival's year?  That's down to you.

Vote Now

In Other News


MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024 - Vote Now!

This year, 10 years since the very first Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival, we need your support more than ever. Despite continued funding cuts the event was still glorious, and the music absolutely mighty. Vote now to help save this vital traditional music festival!  

1 Oct 24
Nathon Jones

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

Trad Music Trust

Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary over 11th-13th July 2025. 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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Commercial Sponsors:
  • Five Kingdoms Brewery Logo
  • Crafty Distillery Logo
  • WEST Brewery Logo
Funded by:
  • Dumfries & Galloway Council Logo
  • The Holywood Trust Logo