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
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!
Make sure you book early for the 13th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival over 10th-12th July 2026.
Concerts and picking sessions throughout the weekend at SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival.
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
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
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
Southwest Scotland's biggest Highland dancing competition is held at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.
Highland Dancing Competition
Dancers celebrate their acheivements at the Highland Dancing Competition in 2018
47 young dancers competed in 2019 at one of the largest traditional Scottish dancing competitions in South West Scotland.
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.
Just a wee update to say that Aaron and I will not now be performing together tomorrow night but will, instead, be broadcasting to you separately from our own living rooms. As a result, we have rescheduled for an 8:30pm start once all the little ones are safely tucked up in bed! Don't miss it!
17 Mar 20Nathon Jones
It is with a heavy heart that, as a result of the current public health situation with Coronavirus, we are announcing the closure of The Vault Arts Centre from the 17th March - 30th April. Our plan is to re-open on 1st May 2020, subject to advice and guidance from the Scottish government.
Wherever you are, whatever your current situation/predicament, everyone involved at Trad Music Trust would like to wish you all the very best on this St. Patrick's Day. Our love and prayers go out to you all.
Due to ongoing uncertainties surrounding the Coronavirus and the responsibility we have to ensure the health and well being of our audiences, volunteers, staff and of course artists, it has been decided that this weekend's gig featuring North Atlas & The Fuzzkills will be postponed to a later date.
16 Mar 20Nathon Jones
Brilliant news! Continuing a long running tradition at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival, we are delighted to be welcoming BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2020, piper and whistle player Alexander Levack, who will perform at this year's event.
28 Feb 20Nathon Jones
We are delighted to have secured outstanding fiddle player and composer Gráinne Brady for this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival. Gráinne will perform on Saturday 11th July at the McMillan Hall along with Ulaid. It's going to be some night!
11 Feb 20Nathon Jones
We are thrilled to announce that the superb Ulaid will be performing at this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival at the McMillan Hall on Saturday 11th July 2020. Weekend passes are on sale now. Don't miss it!
18 Jan 20Nathon Jones
Chuffed to bits to have secured the fabulous talent that is flute player Sarah Markey for this July's 7th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival. Sarah will be performing with her band on opening night, Friday 10th July 2020, at the McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart.
13 Jan 20Nathon Jones
Asylum Link Merseyside and the family of Diane Todd are grateful and hugely appreciative of the 4 great folk from the Trad Music Trust who travelled south to Liverpool on Saturday 14th December to perform and provide a great PA sound for the tribute concert for Di in aid of Asylum Link in Liverpool.
17 Dec 19Billie Jones
We've certainly hit the ground running at The Vault Arts Centre. A huge thanks to Norman, Brian and Aaron from Breakdown who played a fantastic gig on Friday night, followed by the Dynamite Kings and Conjuring Fate on Saturday night and another brilliant rock night.
10 Dec 19Nathon Jones
The Winter Programme is hot off the press and we're off and running with lots of events over Christmas, New Year and into 2020 starting with the fabulous Breakdown this Friday 6th December, followed by Conjuring Fate, with support from The Dynamite Kings, on Saturday 7th December. Both from 7pm.
5 Dec 19Nathon Jones
The first gig since the official opening and a fantastic night with Dumfries singer/songwriter Kate Kyle supported by Newton Stewart's very own Hamish & Kirsty Sutherland. It was fantastic to see The Vault open and full with an expectant and, ultimately, very satisfied audience. Great night.
4 Dec 19Nathon 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!