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.
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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.
Last Sunday's table top sale at the McMillan Hall, whilst it wasn't particularly busy, raised £145.91 for The Vault Arts Centre fundraising campaign taking the overall total to £1,705.20. Huge thanks to everyone who took a table and to everyone who came along to support the event.
9 Apr 19Nathon Jones
Just over a month to go until Festival Director Nathon Jones taks tae the hills on Sunday 12th May 2019 for the Galloway Hillbillies Kirroughtree Hillbilly Duathlon to raise funds for The Vault Arts Centre but he still needs your help to reach his fundraising target of £500.00.
5 Apr 19Billie Jones
Thanks to the wonderful generosity and support shown by local businesses and the local community, we are very pleased to announce that we have just reached 10% of our fundraising target for the proposed new arts centre in Newton Stewart with the total now standing at £1,509.29.
5 Apr 19Nathon Jones
We are delighted to be welcoming local singer Rose Byers to the festival this year. Rose will be opening the Saturday night concert at the McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart, on 13th July 2019 which also features Duncan Chisholm and Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy.
2 Apr 19Nathon Jones
Join our Festival Director and his twin brother Aaron Jones at Broughton House and Garden, Kirkcudbright, this Saturday 30th March from 7:30pm for a live concert featuring a selection of tunes and songs from the brother's forthcoming debut album.
26 Mar 19Billie Jones
Trad Music Trust will host a Table Top Sale at the McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart, on Sunday 7th April 2019 from 12noon-3:00pm to help raise funds for The Vault Arts Centre. Tables are still available at £10.00 per table. Early booking advised.
23 Mar 19Nathon Jones
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership this year with the wonderful Five Kingdoms Brewery, a microbrewery located in the beautiful Isle of Whithorn, who produce a range of distinctly individual beers using whole hops, quality malts and fresh local water.
15 Mar 19Billie Jones
We were absolutely bowled over this week to receive not one but three musical instrument donations to support the fundraising campaign for The Vault Arts Centre from the outstanding luthier David Mann at Hexham Violins; the star being this beautiful Hohner Pokerwork Two Row D/G Melodeon.
13 Mar 19Nathon Jones
We are absolutely thrilled to announce the headline act for the Saturday night concert at this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival; one of Scotland’s most recognised and accomplished fiddle players and composers, the fabulous Duncan Chisholm.
1 Mar 19Nathon Jones
Project Co-ordinator and Festival Director Nathon Jones will be taking to the Galloway Forest Park this coming May to run/cycle in the Galloway Hillbillies Kirroughtree Hillbilly Duathlon, a 10km run and 18km mountain bike, to raise funds for The Vault Arts Centre and annual music & dance festival.
26 Feb 19Billie Jones
A fantastic turnout at the Belted Galloway on 23rd February saw a total of £367.67 raised for the proposed new arts centre in Newton Stewart. Huge thanks to The Dynamite Kings and Bad Reputation for the superb live music and to Darren, Calum and The Belted Galloway for making it all happen.
25 Feb 19Nathon Jones
We are delighted to announce a brand new partnership between Trad Music Trust and the wonderful Baillie Gifford who have come on board as official sponsors in 2019, supporting Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival and the work of Trad Music Trust.
22 Feb 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!