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.
It has been a fantastic month for press coverage so we were delighted to spot that we'd also featured on the terrific Hands Up For Trad website in a brilliant article detailing the significant economic impact of Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.
22 Jan 19Billie Jones
Girvan’s guest list for 2019 is very typical of ‘Girvan’ and promises lots of great musical experiences from people firmly rooted in the tradition. It's a terrific festival, now into it's 44th year which is an outstanding achievement, and a line-up this year that has something for everyone.
18 Jan 19Nathon Jones
Delighted to discover that the wonderful Galloway News article this week about the festival's continued economic benefit in the region was featured on the Daily Record website. The festival had an economic impact of £130,320 in 2018 and is gearing up for it's 6th annual event this coming July.
18 Jan 19Billie Jones
We've extended the deadline for the Newton Stewart Arts Centre Community Survey to 31st January 2019 giving you more time to have your say on the delivery of new music tuition, arts and cultural events/activities and the development of a new arts centre in Newton Stewart.
15 Jan 19Billie Jones
Really nice article posted on the terrific Dumfries & Galloway What's Going On (DGWGO.com) website this weekend detailing the cultural and economic impact the festival is having not just in Wigtownshire but throughout Dumfries & Galloway.
14 Jan 19Nathon Jones
Chuffed to bits to announce Irish American multi-instrumentalist and singer, Steph Geremia and her band, as headliners for the opening night concert at this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival in the Festival Marquee, Creebridge House Hotel on Friday 12th July.
10 Jan 19Billie Jones
A very nice write up featured on Scottish Festivals PR, on Facebook today, detailing the outstanding efforts of Trad Music Trust in delivery of the festival and the significant economic impact the event is having despite being an almost entirely voluntary run event.
We are thrilled to announce that Bristol-based songwriter and accomplished guitar player Kitty Macfarlane will be performing at the opening night concert at this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival on Friday 12th July in the Festival Marquee, Creebridge House Hotel.
9 Jan 19Nathon Jones
Due to the unprecedented demand we've had for Dougie MacLean tickets, the closing concert at this year's festival on Sunday 14th July 2019, we've introduced new Weekend Pass ticket options as it's clear that Dougie's concert will sell out well in advance. Tickets are still available though.
6 Jan 19Nathon Jones
We'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone who visits the website, the wonderful audiences at the events we host and the sponsors and funders who so generously support what we do, a fantastic and happy new year.
5 Jan 19Nathon Jones
It's the Christmas night out tonight, Fri 21st Dec, and we're all looking forward to a meal at the Blackhorse Hotel, Newton Stewart, and to celebrating a fantastic year for the organisation and the festival. Please bring your instruments and voices and join us for live music from 9:30pm!
21 Dec 18Nathon Jones
Join Trad Music Trust for an evening of tunes and songs at the Bruce Hotel this evening, Saturday 15th December, from 8:30pm. Bring your instruments and voices too, as ever!
15 Dec 18Nathon 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!