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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.

Happy St Andrew's Day

Trad Music Trust, The Vault Arts Centre and Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival would like to wish you all very blessed, peaceful and amazing day, this St. Andrew's day. We are very proud to be from Scotland, live in Scotland and have children and family in Scotland.  

30 Nov 23
Nathon Jones

Vote for Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival

Nominations are now open for the 21st MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards so if you enjoyed this year's festival, we'd really appreciate a vote for Event of the Year, Community Project of the Year or Venue of the Year. Finalists in 2022 for Event of the Year...can we go one better this year?  

10 Oct 23
Nathon Jones

White Katz ODonnell Are Performing Tonight!

Dont miss the incredible White-Katz-ODonnell tonight at 7PM. Long-time members of Scotlands seminal Battlefield Band, Mike Katz, Alasdair White, and Sean ODonnell have played together for nearly two decades. Only £7.00 Entry, Family friendly and a Fully stocked bar with all your local favourites!  

6 Oct 23
Charlie McAdam

South of Scotland Thistle Awards 2023

Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival heads to the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries this evening for this year's South of Scotland Thistle Awards. The festival is a finalist in the 'Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival' category; another fantastic achievement for the event.  

5 Oct 23
Nathon Jones

D&G Life Awards Open for Entries!

The Dumfries & Galloway Life Awards 2023 are now open for entries.  

28 Jul 23
Nathon Jones

Folk Night Session Tonight

Our monthly folk night continues with players from all across Wigtownshire coming in for drink and a tune!  

21 Jul 23
Charlie McAdam

Don't miss Fresh Ayr Folk Fest this August!

Fresh Ayr is Scotland's newest festival, taking place at Ayr's Rozelle Park between 11th-13th August 2023, with an amazing lineup of incredible live entertainment, family-friendly activities, fantastic food and drinks and top-of-the-range camping facilities.  

21 Jul 23
Nathon Jones

TradFestival Programme 2023

After months of planning, preparation and incredible work from the volunteer Board of Trustees of Trad Music Trust, the staff and team at The Vault Arts Centre and our wonderful local volunteers, this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival gets underway this weekend!  

7 Jul 23
Nathon Jones

Crafty Distillery supporting this years Traditional Music & Dance Festival

The Trad Music Trust team and everyone involved with this years festival are hugely grateful to Crafty Distillery for their support. Founded in 2017 by Graham Taylor, Crafty Distillery has earned a reputation for delivering big on quality & taste.  

5 Jul 23
Charlie McAdam

Stables Guest House supporting this years Newton Stewart & Minnigaff TradFestival

Trad Music Trust and everyone involved with this years Newton Stewart & Minnigaff TradFestival are incredibly thankful to Dane and Fay Carty of Stables Guest House for their support. Stables Guest House is set in its own grounds and is an excellent place to base your stay in South West Scotland.  

5 Jul 23
Charlie McAdam

HEISK performing at this year's TradFestival!

We are delighted to welcome HEISK to this year's Traditional Music & Dance Festival! HEISK are a powerful force on the folk scene. Their relentlessly energetic music stems from their roots in Scottish traditional music and combines it with punchy riffs and grooves.  

4 Jul 23
Charlie McAdam

Flook performing at this year's TradFestival!

We are excited to welcome Flook to this year's Traditional Music & Dance festival! They offer precise acoustic grooves with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination.  

30 Jun 23
Charlie McAdam

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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