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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.

Mànran Live at Stranraer

Don't miss the fabulous Gary Innes, Ewen Henderson, Ross Saunders, Ryan Murphy, Mark Scobbie and Craig Irving, otherwise known as Scottish supergroup Mànran, live at The Fitba Bar, Stranraer, this coming Friday 7th December from 7:30pm.  

29 Nov 18
Nathon Jones

New arts delivery in Newton Stewart

Please spare a minute to complete the 9 question Newton Stewart Arts Centre Community Survey. Your responses will help shape the delivery of new music tuition, arts and cultural events/activities and the development of a new arts centre in Newton Stewart.  

21 Nov 18
Nathon Jones

Emily Smith's Songs for Christmas

It has been a fantastic year for the Trad Music Trust and Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival so, to celebrate, we've reduced the price for the forthcoming Emily Smith Song's For Christmas show to £10 (Over 25's) and £8 (Over 65's / Under 25's). Merry Christmas!  

19 Nov 18
Nathon Jones

£130,320 economic impact in 2018

With support from Dumfries & Galloway Council's Major Events Strategic Fund it has been estimated that Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival had a total economic impact of £130,320 in 2018; a fantastic achievement for the event and a huge boost to the region's economy.  

18 Nov 18
Billie Jones

Wish us luck at the D&G Life Awards

Chairperson Billy and Festival Director Nathon are off to the D&G Life Awards this evening (9th Nov) to represent Trad Music Trust and the Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival which has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Tourism Champion category.  

9 Nov 18
Billie Jones

Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy in 2019

Delighted to announce that we'll have outstanding Scottish harpist, composer and tutor Rachel Hair and guitarist / multi-instrumentalist Ron Jappy teaching and performing on Saturday 13th July 2019 at the 6th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival!  

27 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

A concert for Cameron

We are delighted to be supporting the concert for Cameron at the Waverley Hall, Creetown, this evening (27th Oct) from 7:30pm with live music from members of our Board of Trustees, family and friends of Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.  

27 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

TradFestival Live @ Limavady

This weekend members of the Board of Trustees and Festival Director Nathon Jones head to Limavady in Northern Ireland to perform live and fly the flag for Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival with kind invitation from our good friends from the band Fáilte.  

20 Oct 18
Nathon Jones

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

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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