47 young dancers competed in 2019 at one of the largest traditional Scottish dancing competitions in South West Scotland.
Dancers celebrate their acheivements at the Highland Dancing Competition in 2018
Southwest Scotland's biggest Highland dancing competition is held at Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.
Highland Dancing Competition
Concerts and picking sessions throughout the weekend at SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival.
Make sure you book early for the 13th annual Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival over 10th-12th July 2026.
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
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
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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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
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!
11 Oct 18by Nathon Jones
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
2018 was the 5th year of the festival and, with the introduction of the Scottish Highland dancing competitions as well as the usual outstanding talent peforming and teaching at the event, it proved to be our most successful yet with nothing but positive feedback flooding in via the feedback sheets and from everyone who stopped to speak to us over the weekend.
It has been years of hard work to get the festival to the stage it's at just now and it has been a real community effort supported by the fabulous Board of Trustees so it's really nice to receive acknowledgment from our visitors and from the hugely respected and popular D&G Life Magazine.
We're very excited about the awards night, which takes places on Friday 9th November at Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries, and we'll have everything crossed that we can finally scoop an award for the organisation.
No matter what happens, we're thrilled to have made the finals. Thanks again to everyone who voted; audiences are what make an event special and we're blown away by your support and encouragement.
Dumfries & Galloway Life
Multi award winning Scottish folk band RURA and new kids on the block KICK have just been confirmed as performing at this year's Summer Trad Festival over the 10th-12th July 2026. WOW! There's still time to save BIG with a Weekend Pass, but you'll have hurry as that offer expires at 6pm!
10 Jun 26Nathon Jones
Over 10-12th July 2026, the very best in traditional music returns to Newton Stewart for the 13th annual Summer Trad Festival at The Vault Arts Centre, one of the regions best grassroots music venues. You can save BIG with a Weekend Pass but you'll have to hurry as this offer expires on 10th June!
9 Jun 26Nathon Jones
SpringGrass Bluegrass Festival celebrates is 5th year in 2026, bringing the very best in UK and International bluegrass/Americana/old-time music to you with concerts, workshops, open mic and pickin' sessions all weekend, LIVE in the Festival Marquee and The Vault Arts Centre in beautiful Galloway.
7 May 26Nathon 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!