Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 1 > Folk Festivals
Folk Music Festivals in 2003
By Simon Thoumire of Footstompin' Celtic Music
Anyone looking for a fun weekend with a liberal helping of real Scottish culture could do worse than visit one of the many traditional music festivals taking place in various parts of the country during the summer.
The Scottish Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA) host a great annual Festival in the little town of Keith that lies on the A96 between Aberdeen and Elgin. This year's event takes place over the weekend of 13th - 15th June and starts off with two Friday night ceilidhs at the Plough Inn and the Royal Hotel respectively. As well as lots of ceilidhs there are also competitions, concerts, open-air events, a special Sunday church service featuring the folk festival guests and more. Information about tickets etc can be found at the festival website.
As an alternative; why not head for the ferry at Ardrossan and sail over to the Arran Folk Festival in Brodick (5th - 8th June) run by Iain and Maggie Frame. This popular and lively festival has some great concerts, top-class guests, and workshops, piping competitions, ceilidhs and a brilliant festival club.
If your on holiday in July the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway on the Island of Lewis is well worth a visit (16th - 19th July): so is Feis an Eilein (Skye festival) (8th - 18th), an 11 day feast of Gaelic music, song, dance, storytelling, theatre and film in a spectacular location overlooking the Sound of Sleat in the Isle of Skye.
Throughout August and September , excellent traditional music festivals can be found in Ayrshire, Fife, The Borders, South Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway, not forgetting a very special one in Paul McCartney's favourite spot, the Mull of Kintyre (21st - 24th August http://www.mokmf.com ).
With the approach of Autumn there is nowhere more beautiful to spend a weekend than Perthshire and visitors to the Heart of Scotland Festival in Aberfeldy 10th - 14th September can expect to enjoy the delightful setting as much as the wonderful music.
Simon Thoumire
Footstompin' Celtic Music
This article was originally "printed" in the May 2003 issue of Uniquely Unspoilt, a free monthly e-magazine for those with an interest in rural Scotland.
Cottages relevant to this article
The following holiday cottages are within easy reach of one or more of the above festivals:
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