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Latest Festival News


All the latest festival news as well as news and updates from the traditional music scene in Dumfries & Galloway including concerts, workshops, artist updates, new music releases, music reviews and more. We'll also be featuring news and views from some of our favourite traditional music artists and traditional music news from around the world.

Merrick Real Estate supporting July festival

Sponsorship is a fantastic way to demonstrate your support for the vital arts, culture and traditions of Scotland and can really help promote your business. We're delighted to be welcoming back our good friends from Merrick Real Estate who are generously supporting this year's event.  

28 Mar 23
Nathon Jones

Win a place at The National Piping Centre's Autumn Junior Gathering Weekend

The winner of this year's 14 & Under 4-Parted March / 2 x 2-Parted March category at the solo piping competition will win, courtesy of the National Piping Centre, a free place at one of the Autumn Junior Gathering Weekends held at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow.  

16 Mar 23
Nathon Jones

Penninghame Estate supporting this year's piping competition

The very good people at Penninghame Estate have kindly offered to support the solo piping competition through a new sponsorship agreement for this year's festival. This is fantastic news for the event and we are delighted to have Penninghame Estate's support for this vital cultural tradition.  

15 Mar 23
Nathon Jones

D&G Council cuts festival funding by 42%

Despite a national award nomination - Event of the Year finalists at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2022 - and being Contribution to Tourism award finalists at this year's Awarding Wigtownshire, D&G Council's Major Events Strategic Fund has slashed this year's festival funding by 42%.  

21 Feb 23
Billie Jones

Seachdain na Gàidhlig - World Gaelic Week - 20th-26th February 2023

The first official nationwide language and culture week aims to raise the profile of Gaelic through community initiatives, projects and events. To celebrate, we'll be hosting a Gaelic singing workshop and concert featuring Rachel Walker & Aaron Jones at The Vault Arts Centre on Friday 24th February.  

20 Feb 23
Nathon Jones

Contribution to Tourism 2023 Finalists

After an incredible festival in 2022 - Event of the Year finalists at the national MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards - Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival has only gone and done it again, finalists in the Contribution to Tourism category at this year's Awarding Wigtownshire!  

20 Feb 23
Nathon Jones

Here's tae oor National poet

Born on this day in 1759 in Alloway, in Ayrshire, and laid to rest in Dumfries where he died on 21st July 1796, we hope you'll settle down with haggis, neeps and tatties for tea and raise a dram, and hopefully a song and/or poem or two along the way, to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns.  

25 Jan 23
Nathon Jones

Extra days added for Early Bird discount on Weekend Passes

Due to the many requests we've had about the Early Bird discount for Weekend Passes for this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival, we have decided to extend the discount period to the end of January 2023. Simply enter "CREEHERON" at checkout and save 10%!  

18 Jan 23
Nathon Jones

AGM of Trad Music Trust

Scottish charity Trad Music Trust (SC048610) invites its members and the public to its annual general meeting on Tuesday 14th February 2023 at 6pm at The Vault Arts Centre, Newton Stewart.  

10 Jan 23
Nathon Jones

Last minute Christmas Gift - Music Concert Tickets

Still looking for the perfect gift for your loved one this Christmas? Give the gift of music with concert tickets and a choice of two fabulous festivals in Newton Stewart next year - May's SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival and July's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.  

22 Dec 22
Nathon Jones

It wasn't to be...this time!

What a fantastic evening at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Sunday night at the Caird Hall in Dundee, and though the festival didn't come away with first prize, it was an absolute honour to be nominated alongside such incredible national events. Huge congratulations to winners HebCelt!  

7 Dec 22
Nathon Jones

Flook confirmed for @TradFestival 2023

We are absolutely thrilled to confirm Flook for next year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival - 7th-9th July 2023. Brian Finnegan, Sarah Allen, Ed Boyd and John Joe Kelly will perform on the Saturday of the festival in the Festival Marquee. Weekend passes on sale now!  

30 Nov 22
Nathon Jones

Trad Music Trust

The 9th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival takes place over the 7th-9th July 2023 and, after an incredible year in 2022, will continue the festival's tradition of bringing the absolute best in traditional Scottish, Irish and World music and dance to perform in Galloway. Stay tuned throughout the year for programme announcements, or grab an Early Bird Weekend Pass - on sale now - and secure your seats now for 2023!

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