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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.

MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards

Hands Up for Trad have opened nominations for this year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and we need your support to help make it a truly unforgettable year for Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival. Closing date is Sunday 14th October!  

11 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

DG Life Awards Finalists!

Last week we received the very exciting news that Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival had been shortlisted as a finalist in the Tourism Champion category for this year's DG Life Awards! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us. x  

11 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

Dougie MacLean @TradFestival 2019

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the one and only Dougie MacLean will be performing live in concert at Newton Stewart Cinema on Sunday 14th July 2019, part of the 6th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival. Please book early to avoid disappointment!  

10 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

Festival goes to Parliament

We were thrilled to be invited to Holyrood for a Parliamentary Reception to celebrate the Culture & Business Fund and the fantastic sponsorship the festival received from Creebridge House Hotel which, combined with the Scottish government backed fund, has helped the festival develop and grow.  

4 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

Festival organisation now a charity

On the 8th August 2018 we were delighted to receive news from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) that our application for Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) status had been approved under the new name of the Trad Music Trust SC048610.  

14 Sep 18
Nathon Jones

Dumfries & Galloway Life Awards

With the closing date for nominations fast approaching on Monday, September 3, 2018 we hope you'll spare a couple of minutes of your time to nominate Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival for a Dumfries & Galloway Life Award this year.  

28 Aug 18
Nathon Jones

What's on at the park in 2019?

Delighted to confirm that Little Penguin Paints will be joining us at Minnigaff Playing Fields next year for the second Scottish Highland Dancing competition event on Saturday 13th July 2019 from 10am.  

12 Aug 18
Nathon Jones

Festival Gallery 2018 on Facebook

We've just uploaded some of the best pictures from this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival to the official festival Facebook page. Huge thanks to everyone who came and to David Moses Photographer for such outstanding photographs throughout the weekend.  

26 Jul 18
Nathon Jones

Weekend Passes 2019 - On Sale Now!

Weekend passes for the 6th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival are on sale NOW and if you enter discount code SUPEREARLYBIRD19 at checkout you'll save 20% on the standard weekend pass price until January 2019!  

24 Jul 18
Nathon Jones

Rhona & Nathon Jones @ Waterfront

Just a wee note to say that our Festival Director Nathon Jones will be performing with the fabulous Rhona Jones this weekend at the Waterfront Hotel & Bistro, Portpatrick, between 6:30pm-8:30pm on Saturday 28th July.  

28 Jun 18
Billie Jones

Newcastleton Festival Weekend :)

The 49th Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival takes place this weekend over the 29th, 30th June and 1st July and it's a packed programme of dancing, workshops, competitions, tune and song sessions all weekend in the beautiful Scottish Borders. Don't miss it!  

27 Jun 18
Nathon Jones

Photography Course with David Moses

Learn to use your camera properly with expert tuition and advice from professional photographer David Moses. Thursday evenings from 28th June 2018, 6pm-8pm, in Newton Stewart. Free for under 25's, or £40.00 for over 25's.  

26 Jun 18
Nathon Jones

Trad Music Trust

Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary over 11th-13th July 2025. 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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