UK Folk Festivals - Scotland

Massive event in Glasgow, spanning 18 days. If it has a Celtic connection, it's probably on show here. Multiple venues. There's not enough space to describe everything, just settle for knowing there's around 300 events on - yes, you read that right!

This is HUGE.

The Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival (or IVFDF) is the country's longest continually running folk festival, aimed at students and anyone who feels they can keep up.
An exciting and eclectic mix of concert and ceilidh, traditional and modern. Something for every breed of folkie out there

Over 96 events at over 40 venues in this month long festival in Edinburgh!

Yes, it's BIG.

Traditional arts, music, song, dance, in Scotland's capital. As well as interactive workshops and the odd exhibition

Annual Scottish fiddle festival.

A fun-filled weekend of fiddle music and good craic, this very informal festival kicks off on the Friday night, and celebrates the life of Perthshire's fiddle legend.

Hawick steps back in time to the 16th century and through drama, song, poetry and re-enactments invites visitors and towns-people alike to experience life in this turbulent, often violent, but very colourful period in our history.

A full programme of activities is planned many of which are free and include demonstrations of falconry, archery and horsemanship, a look at craftsmen of the times and dramatic re-enactments. There are also concerts, guided walks, historical lectures and many other activities.

Aims to give young, up and coming traditional Musicians and Dancers the chance to perform in a non-competitive environment.

The Festival lasts for five days and nights, consisting of Gigs, Concerts, Sessions, Ceildhs, Workshops and much, much more.

(Listed here as well as Scotland, as it has a Celtic music bias.)

Scottish (of course), Irish and contemporary music, children's entertainment and the World Puff-A-Box Championship (at which my brother has very consistently failed to win or even get placed.) A warm welcome is ensured.

All the sessions are free and everyone is welcome: Musicians, Singers, Poets, Storytellers, or maybe just to listen

Web site has very little info just now.

Started in 1984, to encourage young talent to participate in and develop the traditional arts of music and dance of the highlands and islands of Scotland.

It includes new special events and competitions, and now offers over 1100 participants 125 competition classes in twelve disciplines including piping, accordion, fiddle, clarsach, piano, recorder, woodwind & brass, singing, Scottish country dancing, highland dancing and choreography.

The 32nd Event.
The UK's most northerly folk festival. The Festival prides itself in reaching out to even the most far flung areas of Shetland. Concerts are organised throughout the isles, consisting of some of the best International, British and Shetland music that the world has to offer. In fact, visiting artistes are regularly dumbfounded by the quantity and quality of local musicians that our remote isles have to offer.
Nine locations on the island are holding events

Music, verse and story telling
Concerts - Sessions - Open Stage - Competitions - Workshops - Children's Events- Secure Campsite.

Popular Scottish event, promises to be even bigger than last year.

Traditional singing showcased.
CDs of previous events available too.

The 'star of the show' is the village of Moniaive.
Moniaive probably has more musical events and festivals (per head of population) than anywhere else in the country. And with a sizeable group of traditional musicians living in the village and surrounding countryside our pub sessions are amongst the finest.

One of the finest places to
appreciate our rich tradition of music, song, verse, drama and story, and, at the same time, enjoy listening to, or using, the broad 'Doric' language which is still very much alive here in the North East, and enjoy a friendly family atmosphere where contestants have come from a' the airt's and pairt's o' Scotland and sometimes beyond.

A bit like the Irish festivals that are competitions.

Scottish music on the Isle of Skye, accordions and fiddles galore!

Site not fully updated, when we last visited. Tends to leave updates until closer to the date.

Re-birth of a festival.
With an emphasis on folk.

Bringing first class World Music Acts to a beautiful and undiscovered upland corner of Scotland, seemed an excellent and relevant way to further this aim. Bringing first class World Music Acts to a beautiful and undiscovered upland corner of Scotland, seemed an excellent and relevant way to further this aim.

Site is powered by Flash, unfortunately.

30 years young, and going strong!
Concerts, ceilidhs, dances, clubs and sessions.

The Orkney Folk Festival is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and special throughout Scotland, the UK and further afield.

The three venues that are used the most are the Stromness Town Hall, the Stromness Academy Lecture Theatre and the Stromness Hotel’s function room. Other events take place in local community centres/village halls.

Continuing to build on its reputation for providing exceptional traditional music workshops, concerts and sessions.

The major showcase for Borders music and for the immense musical and creative talent which resides here in the Borders.

Celebrtating its 12th birthday. Just south of Edinburgh
A small festival, spread over several local venues.
Craft fair, workshops, sessions, open mike event.
Plus a song writing competition

There are concerts, a dance, competitions, informal sessions and various other events during the weekend. This page will provide more details as events are finalised.
(Site incomplete just now.)

Street entertainment, parades, Sessions, concerts.

It's May and still nothing but a single page, not prices either!

!4th year of folk festivals on Scotland's lovely little island.

The festival will feature a weekend of open sessions, concerts and Ceilidhs.

Site not updated fully for 2012.

A family friendly weekend of entertainment from a small Ayrshire village with historic attractions. Sessions, competitions and open stage.

Long established blues event in Scotland, and it's free. (Who says we Scots aren't a generous lot, eh?)

Web site currently sparsely populated.
The Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival is probably the longest continuously running music festival in Scotland.
The festival revolves around a series of competitions (mainly on Saturday), loosely linked by dances, organised ceilidhs and singarounds.

Stonehaven comes alive with a Weekend of Music with Concerts in the Town Hall plus workshops, Ceilidh, sessions, Blues Night, free afternoon concerts, Family show, Aqua ceilidh, World paper and Comb Championships, Tradition Bearers Concert, Acoustic Youth Stage and more all around the Town.

This is not a single venue event so you cannot buy one ticket that covers all events. Please choose carefully to make sure you make the most of your festival experience.
Features Hebridean music galore.

Yn Chruinnaght (meaning 'The Gathering') is a celebration of Manx culture and the relationship between the Isle of Man and the five other Celtic countries. The festival features music, dance, language, art, and much more.

As the Isle of Man isn't in Scotland, England or Ireland,I've listed it twice, once as in Ireland and the other as in Scotland, due to its Celtic theme.

Featuring top bands from the USA, Europe & Scotland.

The festival is famed for its informal, friendly and exciting atmosphere. It incorporates great music, both in concerts and in informal sessions; good ale and great food at the Anglers Inn & Restaurant with its great Scottish hospitality, and the wonderful location in the Scottish heartland.

Scotland's biggest eco-festival - back after a rest period last year. Set against the backdrop of the East Lomond Hill and next to the House of Falkland, the Big Tent offers what has been called 'one of the most stunning festival locations in the UK'.

The Big Tent serves up great music and great food in a thoughtful and family-friendly atmosphere.

For the third time...
The Rolling Hills Folk Club brings you a weekend of folk song, music and dance, topped off with a beer festival and a craft fair. Various venues are being used in Melrose.

An American roots event in Scotland. Many styles of music including blues, country, Cajun, gospel, swing and soul.

for those who like a bit of variety.

Now in it's 17th year.
Six days of Concerts, Ceilidhs and Stomps. Free to enter Craft Fair and Festival Clubs. Some of the biggest names from the world of traditional and contemporary Celtic music. And all in the beautiful village of Fochabers on the banks of the River Spey.

For the 13th time. Bills itself as Scotland's friendliest family festival. Certainly one of the more popular ones.

The festival site is situated at Moss O' Balloch Park in the centre of Balloch. Balloch is 20 miles north of Glasgow, on the southern shore of Loch Lomond.

Site just being renovated on our last visit.

The annual Auchtermuchty Festival Traditional Music Weekend. Workshops, competitions, sessions, concerts, open-air dancing, ceilidhs... for all ages! With more than 20 programme event listings.

This year’s theme is “Animal Magic” (don't ask us what that means!) ;)

Describes itself as quirky. Has quite a variety of styles of music, some of which may appeal to you. Large number of acts.

A very focused festival, on piping.

Lots of individual events spread over 7 days and 14 venues.

A mixture of events, includes a fair bit of acoustic music and ceilidhs.

Bringing the stars of Celtic Music to the Scottish Borders

Website still had a bit of work required on our last visit.

Celebrating the Highlands, Gaelic-based music and culture. Creating the opportunities for young musicians to play and learn with leading artists in traditional music and Gaelic

A small but perfectly formed festival from Scotland. Very affordable, especially given the number of acts involved.

Join Blazin’ Fiddles and friends for a musical extravaganza in a week of classes, sessions, concerts and craic in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Guest fiddle tutors Adman Sutherland of Session A9 and Gillian Frame, formally with Back of the Moon and currently tours with Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers.

Fab for fiddle fans.

Dougie MacLean has developed a unique festival. Described as "a jewel of a festival where contemporary song meets folk, roots and tradition" (Courier and Advertiser) it began as a weekend of music and has grown to become a successful 10-day event that is an important part of Scotland's musical calendar.

Covers the two weekends from 15th to 25th November.

Website was under construction on our last visit, so full details were not available
A festival promoting live music of all styles and genres and at all levels!
Various genres of music (Folk, Jazz, Classical, Rock/Pop), Musical workshops, Dance workshops for school children, RSPBA-DPA Branch Solo Piping & Drumming Competition, The Big Dance
Disco for kids. Family Ceilidh

The Scots Fiddle Festival, sustaining and promoting traditional fiddle music.

Celebrating the excellence of traditional fiddlers, fiddle music and dance from countries around the North Atlantic in partnership with the Scottish Culture and Traditions (SC&T), the Aberdeen based community education proje

We don't pay big name artistes to play in the concerts {although if any of you are browsing this page,
you're welcome to join in with the rest of us.} All the entertainment is provided by whoever wants to
play, sing, tell stories, recite poetry and keep the tradition of music, song and story alive.

Variety of music styles

Web site was not complete when we last visited it.

Web site incomplete when we last visited.

Site very incomplete when visited at the end of February. Parts refer to this year, other parts to last year. It isn't actually clear if it is running, although the dates suggest it is a22 day festival

Looking forward to Grantown's tenth Strathspey in May, which year on year takes more of the form of a community festival; celebrating the life and the passions, talents and energies of people from Grantown.

Many days, many events

Village festival with traditional music festival. We will have some of Scotland’s best and well known acts here to perform, also some of Scotland’s best up and coming traditional musicians.

Small festival on a community owed Hebridean island. Currently no separate web site, part of the island site.

Family members of mine say it is a good event.

Dunedin Dancers will be holding their 21st International Folk Dance Festival in and around Edinburgh from 24th -30th July 2011. See dancers and musicians from Scotland, Sweden, Austria and Spain perform throughout the week. More details of venues and times can be found on our website:

A weekend of superb traditional music; concerts, lessons/ workshops and informal sessions, suitable for all ages, and led by the internationally acclaimed Scottish group Battlefield Band, who will be joined by some of their musical friends.

Concerts, Sessions, Whammy-Diddling, Chuckie-Chucking, Community Events, Great Craic !

Web site under construction at last visit.

Ceilidhs, Concerts, Competitions,
Singarounds, Street Entertainment, Sessions

A small festival, with some main events and several pub sessions.

Our aim was to get children involved in music, to show them it can be fun and very rewarding. It is also to enable musicians of all standards to come along and join in.

All types of music and musicians welcome.

Come and enjoy a weekend of Scottish Borders hospitality.

With approximately 10 major concerts over four days; three slightly organised sessions in the hotel and innumerable disorganised sessions wherever you look, there is music and a warm welcome for everyone.

Another fine Scottish festival

Web site under construction at last visit

2011 is the sixth year of the Selkirk Sessions Traditional Music Festival and flows on from the two previous Both Sides of the Tweed Festivals which ceased in 2005.
A traditional music festival in an historic market town. Please note that there is NO Saturday evening Concert this year.
Sessions galore in pubs and bars
Saturday Workshops & Competitions
Sunday Winners + Open Mic Concert
followed by Still Standing sessions in the pubs