The region’s top class Trad music and dance festival is back! After being cancelled in recent years due to Covid the Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance festival takes place between Friday 8th and Sunday 10th July.
Featuring top class musicians, including 14 time Grammy winner Ron Block, the festival, which is supported by the Dumfries & Galloway Council Major Events Strategic Fund and sponsored by Whithorn’s Five Kingdoms Brewery, will provide a weekend of top class entertainment.
Free tune and song sessions will be taking place at local hostelries throughout the weekend while on Saturday 9 th July a huge Highland Dancing competition in Minnigaff is a great day out. The weekend will also see Under 25s given free admission to a wide range of music workshops led by outstanding musicians at the festival.
The big gigs kick off in the Festival Marquee behind the thriving Vault Arts Centre on the main street in Newton Stewart with some fast fingered fuel for the fleet-footed in the shape of double-banjo players Damien O’Kane and Ron Block. O’Kane – who is married to folk legend Kate Rusby – describes Block as a ‘Banjo rock-God’. That is hardly surprising given Block’s 14 Grammys – most of which have been won as a member of Alison Krauss’ band Union Station.
Saturday 9 th July brings an evening of piping led by John McSherry and Francis McIIduff on a bill that includes Malin Makes Music and Megan Nic Fhionnghaile while on Sunday, along with Gaelic singer Mairi McGillivray and newcomer Heather Cartwright, the ever popular Blue Rose Code will be performing as a trio with an eagerly awaited trad set.
Tickets for gigs are £17 and £15 concessions but for a bargain weekend pass at £45 (£35 concessions) you can see everything – and there is lots and lots to see and enjoy. Book your place or find out more on tradmusic.com or phone 01671 404 924 / 07762 064 298.
