PRIMAVERA last weekend, Glastonbury next weekend – a case of understandable FOMO is due right about now. But summer has just begun and there are so many Trad music festivals happening all over Scotland.
Home to some of the best views in the world, we have the perfect place on our doorsteps to enjoy some award-winning Trad. There is still plenty of time to book a few tickets, grab some wellies and enjoy a few days of tapping and dancing to tunes.
Here are seven music festivals coming up this summer in Scotland, and how to get there.
Cantilena Music Festival
July 3 to July 8, 2022
WITH many of the concerts being held in the famous Islay Malt Whisky distilleries, this should not be missed!
Every July the beautiful Hebridean island of Islay is home to Cantilena's professional musicians, who desire to share ideas, passion and love of music-making with the emerging generation. Students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland bring their unique sound of chamber music to residents and visitors, from the dazzling virtuosity of Vivaldi & Bach, through the romantic sophistication of Beethoven & Schubert, right up to the challenges of modern composers.
There are regular flights from Glasgow to Islay serviced by Flybe which take approximately 45 minutes. It is also possible to fly from Oban with Hebridean Air Service. There are regular ferry services from Kennacraig that sail to Port Ellen and Port Askaig.
Bikes are available to rent on the island as well as a bus service between all main villages.
Stonehaven Folk Festival
July 8 to July 10, 2022
WHERE else can you do ceilidh dancing in your swimming costume?!
In 2019, the festival had more than 50 events from main stage concerts in the Town Hall to informal sessions and singarounds in the pubs and around the Harbour.
Concerts, ceilidh, sessions, singarounds, workshops, the famous Aqua Ceilidh and the World Paper ‘n’ Comb Championships – there really is something for everyone.
Stonehaven is well served by train and bus. A bus service runs almost every hour to and from Aberdeen, though less frequent on a Sunday and many train services from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow stop at Stonehaven.
Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional & Acoustic Music Festival
July 8 to July 10
The festival opens with Coleraine's very own Damien O'Kane and 14-time Grammy Award winner Ron Block for an outstanding night of banjo, and the following days are filled with choices.
These include: an intermediate workshop covering all things tenor banjo, from traditional repertoire to technique and chords; a taster session in Irish flute/whistle; a feast of piping with three of Scotland and Ireland's finest pipers; and a finale concert with the songwriting of Blue Rose Code, Gaelic singing from Mairi McGillivray and guitar mastery from Heather Cartwright.
And you can save up to £6 per person and access all three concerts with a weekend pass.
Newton Stewart and Minnigaff are well connected on bus/coach routes with regular services from Stranraer, to the west, and Dumfries, to the east. There are also services from Girvan, to the North. There is a regular train service from Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Girvan and Barrhill to Stranraer which is just 25 miles from Newton Stewart and well connected with bus travel from there.
Tiree Music Festival
July 8 to 10, 2022
THINK picture-perfect white sands. World-famous surf. Deserted roads lined with lush greenery and wildflowers. The "Hawaii of the North".
This is the unique location of the Tiree Music Festival, or TMF as it is known by many who have been part of the incredible journey of this small event.
Tiree local and musician with the band Skerryvore Daniel Gillespie found himself performing at festivals around the world thinking how great it would be to have a similar event back home. Skerryvore will be playing, alongside Newton Faulkner, Skippinish, Jill Jackson, Callum Beattie, Elephant Sessions and loads more.
Loganair operates flights to Tiree direct from Glasgow but the majority of visitors to the festival travel to Tiree by CalMac ferry from Oban. There are daily train and bus services to Oban from Glasgow.
On the island, there will be shuttle buses running to and from the ferry terminal to the festival site.
Hebridean Celtic Festival
July 13 to July 16, 2022
THE multi-award-winning Hebridean Celtic Festival (HebCelt) has been a key feature in the cultural landscape of the Outer Hebrides since 1996 – making this year its 25th anniversary after the pandemic halted the festival in 2021!
Ho-Ro, Tidelines, Balach, Julie Fowlis, Siobhan Miller, Connor Fyfe, Rura, Texas and so much more – FOMO will be well and truly cured with this lineup.
CalMac runs a direct car and passenger ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway, a car/passenger ferry to/from Skye to Harris and also to Lochmaddy in North Uist. The main coach operator from Central Scotland is Scottish Citylink Coaches to Ullapool. You can also get as far as Inverness by train, and then go by bus to Ullapool or can travel as far as Oban, Mallaig and Kyle by train, and then travel onwards by bus to the ferry from Skye to Harris.
Loganair operates regular daily services to the islands from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Manchester.
There is a well-integrated local bus service on the island.
Speyfest
July 22 to July 24, 2022
ALSO to celebrate a belated 25th anniversary, Speyfest showcases traditional music, dance and crafts. Having played with the Fochabers Fiddlers and a number of Scottish Trad bands, James Alexander realised what a spectacular setting Fochabers would be for a summer event.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Duncan Chisholm, Tir-Mor and Claire Hastings Band are a few who will take to the “Bothy” and “Whisky” stages. Also on the picturesque banks of the River Spey: evening concerts, late-night "stomps", family-friendly day-time fun, Young Entertainer of the Year competition, traditional music workshops, non-denominational Celtic Kirk Service, bustling craft fair and vibrant food and drink fair including gin tastings.
The recent passing of the beloved founder, James, will make this year’s event all the more poignant and they plan to put on a fitting tribute at the festival.
Fochabers is an 80-minute drive from Inverness or Aberdeen. Buses run from Elgin, Aberdeen and Inverness also.
ButeFest
July 29 to July 31, 2022
LAST but definitely not least, ButeFest is one of the most easily accessible Island Festivals around! It is held on the stunning Isle of Bute, the jewel in the Firth of Clyde if you will, and is within easy reach from Glasgow.
Manran, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Elephant Session and Scouting for Girls are headlining the event, with many more to see and enjoy.
Activities are on across the island for everyone and, coming from the island myself, there is a great turnout from locals keen to chat and share our beautiful island. Ettrick Bay is where the site will be, and you should not miss trying the delicious milkshakes, lunches and cakes on offer!
It couldn’t be much more straightforward to get here. Simply head to Wemyss Bay by car or train, just over 30 miles from Glasgow, and then jump aboard for a 35-minute ferry crossing to Rothesay. The site is 15 minutes from the terminal or a limited shuttle bus service from the ferry terminal to the ButeFest site will be on.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here