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.
Learn the basics of Scottish Highland dancing with local dance group and dance instructor Paula Herries School of Highland Dancing. Open to all ages and experience, it's free to attend and we hope, with your new moves, you'll take to the floor at one of the events and impress us all!
2 Jun 17Nathon Jones
Learn harp with Scottish Royal Conservatoire student, multi-instrumentalist and composer Becky Hill on Saturday 8th July at Newton Stewart Centre. Workshops are free for under 25's or just £10.00 if you're over 25.
19 May 17Nathon Jones
From Limerick, Ireland, ATLAS - Cillian Doheny (Guitars) & Cillian King (concertina) - perform on Friday 7th July 2017 at Creebridge House Hotel as part of the lineup for the fantastic opening night concert which also features Emily Smith, Jamie McClennan plus the Festival Association house band.
12 May 17Nathon Jones
Live music at the Bruce Hotel, Newton Stewart, this Saturday 13th May from 7:00pm as part of the Play for the Festival Tour 2017. Join Newton Stewart Traditional Music Festival Association and friends for an evening of tunes and songs raising money for this years festival.
10 May 17Nathon Jones
6 week photography course with professional photographer David Moses begins at 6pm-8pm on Thursday 18th May at Newton Stewart Centre. Costs are £60 per person or, if you're under 25, it's absolutely free!
8 May 17Nathon Jones
As well as performing at Moniaive Folk Festival last weekend I also (somehow!) found time to enjoy a day with the terrific people at Newton Stewart Walking Festival to take on the "WalkFest Challenge: Mullwharcher" route, described by the festival as "Very Strenuous"...and indeed it was!
The sun is shining, festival season is well under way and it's the 16th Moniaive Folk Festival this weekend (4th - 7th May) featuring some of the best in traditional music including our very own Aaron & Nathon Jones (shameless plug there!).
4 May 17Billie Jones
We are thrilled to be welcoming Tim Edey to this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music Festival not only performing at the Saturday night finale concert but also facilitating a guitar workshop.
2 May 17Billie Jones
We've been working very hard on our new website, with the help of Nathon Jones Website Design, and we are delighted to re-launch today. Welcome to Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music Festival 2017!
1 May 17Nathon 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!