Festivals in Scotland - your opinions

Subject: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Jo-Jo
Date: 03 Jan 20 - 11:36 AM

I am just about to start my list of Festivals to attend this year, and want to include Scotland now that up live in North East.
I'm looking for preferably weekenders in the south of country as dont want to travel too far north.
Looking also for personal experiences rather than website info (although will check that out too). Like things they dont tell you - e.g. facilities on site, how far is festival from site, is site flat etc. Is there plenty going on in the town which is Free!! All info greatfully received, will check back in a few days as have no data left so have to go find wifi. Have heard that Kirriemooor is good - anyone been there??

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 03 Jan 20 - 01:59 PM

Kirriemuir [ sic ] in September used to be good. The last 3 times I went, it was crap, so I haven't been back. It all depends what you want from your Scottish Folk Festival.
If you're in the North-East and like unaccompanied singing, the Cullerlie weekend in memory of the late great Tam Reid is your best bet. 24/26 July.
Also in the North East - Stonehaven Folk Festival is one of the best in Scotland, [10/12 July ] and a "newcomer" at a mere 10 years old is the Portsoy "Haal" [ 5 /7 June ].
Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Jan 20 - 03:02 PM

Newcastleton used to be good and I believe it still is, though rather smaller.

The Fiddle Festival in Edinburgh in November is dependable though rather samey if you've been to it before.

Edinburgh links a bunch of otherwise uncoordinated events together for a month as "Tradfest". This works very well but it isn't really a festival.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 03 Jan 20 - 03:53 PM

ok, I know you're not after websites but in case anyone else lands here...
for the last few years this is about the best festival listing site I've found

http://ukfolkfestivals.co.uk/scotland.php

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Jan 20 - 07:43 PM

Jo-Jo: just checking.....the North-East of where? Scotland or England, as they both have "North-East" areas, and this might affect your choices. (Your second sentence has me wondering!)
Will send some more personal experiences once we know more precisely which area you are talking about.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 04 Jan 20 - 04:25 AM

Fife Traditional Singing Weekend is good if you are particularly interested in traditional song/singing! I think it is usually in May.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Jan 20 - 05:36 AM

I assume that by NE the OP means England, as they say they don't want to travel too far north. Cullerlie, Portsoy and Stonehaven all count as north, and are about the most northerly festivals on mainland Scotland.
I suggest you join the TMSA Facebook page, and ask around on there. They are in loco parentis as it were, re Scottish Folk Festivals. In fact joining the actual organisation would be a good move, not expensive, and you get newsletters and an annual booklet listing all festivals in Scotland.
https://www.facebook.com/TMSAScotland/

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,JHW but the robots have forgotten
Date: 04 Jan 20 - 06:13 AM

Girvan singarounds were the best I've ever been to - in the Southfield but no more. After it closed I gave Girvan a few years to settle down but went back last year and found surprisingly that such singers weren't there any more (or were keeping very well hidden).
Best thing I found was the Community Garden session, not a part of the festival.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Raggytash
Date: 04 Jan 20 - 06:20 AM

I went to Newcastleton a couple of times, great little festival but sadly the thing I remember most is the midges.

Take some repellent with you!!

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: leeneia
Date: 04 Jan 20 - 05:40 PM

Two or three years ago we attended the wooden boat festival in Portsoy. It was delightful.

We chose Portsoy because it was the only festival we could find which was scheduled on the Internet enough months ahead for my husband to do all the planning.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: peteglasgow
Date: 04 Jan 20 - 06:12 PM

celtic connections festival in glasgow for nearly 3 weeks in january is a great experience with hundreds of gigs throughout the city. loads of free gigs as well as the bigger name acts. no way anyone could manage more than about a week - just too tiring. we usually manage 4/5 days and a partick thistle game - this year it's a cup game (defeat) against celtic.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Jan 20 - 02:22 PM

Bloody expensive, both ticket wise, and accomodation wise. I also think IMHO, that it stretches the definition of "folk" too far.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 05 Jan 20 - 02:59 PM

Moniaive Folk Festival could be of interest too...

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Jan 20 - 03:00 PM

I think I've bought only one CC ticket since it started. Way too expensive for me.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 20 - 03:06 PM

CC has some concet-style folk content, but more Americana these days- not a criticism of the quality- you pays your money, and take lots if you go...

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 05:45 AM

To return to the original post, Kirriemuir is not far north, a few miles north of Dundee, and its festival in early September is the natural successor to the great TMSA festivals at Blairgowrie and Kinross.
It's an attractive small town, with a lively local music tradition, and this is its strength. There are no superstars, and it celebrates the Scottish East coast tradition rather than the wider folk scene.
You'll hear fine Scots singing & accordion & fiddle music at a few informal concerts, welcoming pub sessions, the classic all day session in George Rennie's bike shop & the Angus Strathspey & Reel Society at various points, including the Sunday morning service in the Kirk.
There are competitions if you like that sort of thing , and good pubs & cafes- I always enjoy the Currymuir takeaway!

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Johnny J
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 06:37 AM

Depending on transport, you can travel to some even more northerly parts of Scotland in just a few hours.
OK, some of the islands and outlying rural areas are less accessible but it can be sometimes as long to travel to some of the smaller towns further South.

Anyway, here are some of my favourites.

Niel Gow Fiddle Festival at Dunkeld 20-22nd March

The Edinburgh Harp Festival 3-8th April.   Actually, there's a lot more than harp(Fine an instrument as that is) with lineups featuring other instruments and song. Also late night sessions where a variety of music, song etc is welcome

Glenfarg Folk Feast 3-5th Sadly clashes with Harp Fest again... :-(

Girvan festival 3-5th May
Moniaive Festival 10-12th May
Keith Festival      12-14th June
Newcastleton       Usally first weekend in July. TBC

AS Kenny says, the very wonderful STonehaven Festival 10-12th July.

There's also a new one at Newton Stewart in July. Very good, apparently but it clashes with Stonehaven.

A new kid on the block is The Ardersier Folk Festival 21-23rd August.

As Jack says, the fiddle festival is good and not that "samey" if you are a fiddler.

There's also a Guitar and mandolin fest in Edinburgh this year at Merchiston the week before the Harp Fest.

If you wish to visit Edinburgh during The Fringes, there's lots going on although the folky acts are generally nothing too exciting and often feature certain musicians who probably wouldn't secure a decent booking at any other time. :-))

There's many more, of course. Linlithgow is nice and friendly in September and Dunbar is fine if you like things really "low key". :-)

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 06:44 AM

The TMSA Calendar does show SOME, but not ALL Scottish festival: since they started charging for entries in it a few years back, quite a few festivals stopped sending their details for publication.
April: Glenfarg Folk Feast, now based in Kinross, is a great weekend.
Girvan has been mentioned: S Ayrshire, always on the May Bank Holiday weekend. There have been good singing sessions in the Westcliffe Hotel or Catholic Hall, usually after the evening concerts are over.
Moniave, also in SW Scotland is usually the weekend after.
Meanwhile in Edinburgh, there is Tradfest, which runs for about 10 days in early May.
The Fifesing is still going, but has had to move around: last year it was in both Freuchie and Falkland, but a bus was laid on to get people between venues.
To be continued!

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Johnny J
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 08:38 AM

I should add that most of the events mentioned here are smaller compared to some of the large English festivals and usually have quite a lot of informal activity going on too aside fron the official concerts.

Most of the concerts are held in local venues, e.g. function suites, village halls, clubs etc as opposed to large tented venues although there are one or two exceptions. However, it's not a case of buying a ticket and being "enclosed".
Some do have small camp sites or parking for motor homes. Again, this is usually fairly informal.

There are also larger festivals in Scotland, e.g. Heb Celt, Belladrum, Speyfest, and so on which are different in nature. They are good in their own right, of course, but maybe not so many of the regulars here attend these.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 10:06 AM

What I meant by the Fiddle Festival being "samey", put less politely: it's as racist as the voter registration rules in some American Deep South state. Whatever the musical rationale offered, the fact that only white Anglophone or Scandinavian performers from Christian cultures get invited is preposterous. In 20 years they have never managed to invite anyone from the French, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Indian or South American traditions. It's not like these people are necessarily even as expensive as the ones they do get - they could probably have got five Abdo Daghers for the price of one Bruce Molsky or Alasdair Fraser (but not any more since they've left it too late). And it's not like tango violin is any more remote from Scottish experience than Swedish fiddle from the boonies of Dalarna.

There is absolutely NO need or excuse for that.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Johnny J
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 10:32 AM

There have been quite a few Eastern European musicians featured over the years. Also, some French players too.

I'm quite sure that the organisers aren't consciously racist, white supremists, or fundamental Christians as regards their booking policy.

They don't book much in the way of jazz fiddle either. Nor bluegrass or country music (Bruce Molsky is more of an old time fiddler).

Many of the artists are invited back because they are popular and audiences wish to see them and young Scottish musicians should be given opportunity too. It's The Scots Fiddle festival, after all.

Oh, it's not just a case of "inviting" people. They have to be available to play and, preferably, on tour. Otherwise, the organisers have to spend a great deal of money on transport and accommodation. So, not all artists are cheap. The actual concert fee is only part of the consideration.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Jo-Jo
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 11:36 AM

First, many thanks to everyone who has contributed. I live in North East England, nr Durham, and want to go to the southern-ish region of Scotland, i.e. not the Orkneys/Lewis etc.
I am not on Face-ache and never will be but thanks for that. I have made a list of all festivals mentioned (wow, did not think there were so many!), and will do a thorough search on all of them.
J Campin's post was the most informative, as good to know layout and stuff going on in pubs etc, I hardly ever pay for concerts, mainly looking for freebies - park up, have a wander etc.

Any further insights re these or other festivals much appreciated. Again many thanks, one and all.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Jo-Jo
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 11:47 AM

Sorry, I meant Jim Bainbridges post re Kirriemuir, which has a good description of town and where to find songarounds like the bike shed etc. Thanks Jim

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 02:31 PM

My last post was sent having not refreshed the thread,so others had already given some of the info I gave in my last thread.
As a past festival organiser, of course we want people to patronise the concerts, but recognise that there are also plenty of folk who come just for the sessions and not for the concerts, and pretty well most of these festivals named have a strong session element. They still bring money into the town and local businesses, if not to the festival itself. (Don't mention "economic impact assessments"!)
At the festival I used to help organise, we were able to get a local Council licence for can collections for donations from those attending "free" events, which all helps to keep the festival going.
"No such thing as a free lunch"!

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 05:58 PM

Small is beautiful and I can recommend the little festival on Colonsay and the onè on Gigha. Both are Islands on the west coast. Another easier to get to is at Glenfarg not far from Perth which itself has a wealth of music available all year whatever your taste. Seek out The Twa Tams or Greyfriars.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Russ Leech in Canada
Date: 06 Jan 20 - 06:59 PM

The songfest in Ullapool was one I quite liked but it was, I think discontinued. Does anyone know if there is a festive event in Ullapool this year?

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 08 Jan 20 - 07:08 AM

Well there is a surprise - a Mudcat thread started by someone who wants to do it for nowt - but at least they are belatedly honest about it.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Johnny J
Date: 08 Jan 20 - 07:19 AM

Well, there's lots of them about.

Informal singarounds and sessions are fine but I always try to support the official side of festivals as well. After all, the "fringes" probably wouldn't exist without it. At least not to the same extent or indefinitely.

Visitors and festival goers should also try to support the local community too... e.g. patronise local bars, restaurants, shops and so as opposed to stocking up with food and booze from their home supermarkets. Some of them never leave the camp site and/or camper vans over the whole weekend.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,crumbly
Date: 08 Jan 20 - 08:04 AM

Malcolm,
         Folk concerts normally cost money, some quite a lot of money. Sessions and other informal events are normally free.
So if you prefer the latter and want to go to gatherings of like minded people, the answer is obvious, and I think there are an increasing number of people who think like that- you are obliged to accept the weekend charges at showbiz efforts like Cambridge & Glastonbury, but why go to paying concerts when you prefer informality & can actually be part of the occasion?   
Ireland & Scotland are much better at the latter type & anyway a lot of people are on a tight budget these days.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jan 20 - 09:59 AM

I'm an OAP on a state pension, so my choices are limited. I am on a tight budget every day ;) I don't buy a season ticket for Whitby, but I do attend the odd event, and pay as I go. and always chuck a few bob in the bucket when it comes round. There aren't enough events at most festivals that I want to see, which would make it a saving for me to buy a full ticket.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 20 - 08:33 AM

Girvan is well established now- relies more on older guests- Newton Stewart seems to go for the younger ones- a generalisation of course & something to be said for both.
Girvan a bit sad as a town, but lovely position & beach. Newton Stewart an attractive market town on the lovely River Cree- Moniaive is a very small but active village in lovely hill country....

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 09 Jan 20 - 09:17 AM

Cambridge, Glastonbury and Celtic Connections have never had any interest for me - but we were supposedly discussing Scottish FOLK Festivals.
We are regulars at Cullerlie which ticks all of the boxes apart from the freebie bit.
We found Girvan interesting and enjoyed the area but had problems with the natives.
Most of the other festivals mentioned have their fans and you pays your money and takes your choice - or not.
We had become regulars at the Fife Sing at Falkland and enjoyed it as well as making local friendships. Unfortunately the change of venue in 2019 meant that we had a bad experience in 2019 and left at teatime on the Saturday. Not the organisers' fault by the way. Hopefully they can do something to address the problems we had.
I/we have visited Scotland many times over the years and invariably found something to enjoy.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 09 Jan 20 - 11:10 AM

Kelso is just four miles across the Border and we had our third festival at the beginning of Sept and are hoping to have our fourth this September again - though it is mostly paying events. There are main concerts on the Friday and Saturday nights both with two good acts which cost £15 each night. There is a Saturday afternoon paying concert which generally is £10 - and there is a closing concert on the Sunday which is generally only £5 and there is a free session after that. On the Saturday I put on a free concert from 12 noon to 2pm which is a line up of local musicians. After that there are also sessions in various pubs which again are free. Normally a couple of sing-arounds and also a trad tunes session. Last year the weekend pass was £35 which gained entry to the 4 paying concerts seeing 7 acts in total. Last year that included Old Blind Dogs, Hannah Rarity Trio, Fara and also Seamie O'Dowd.

Re the question over paying or non paying events??? We have sessions every Thursday and Friday just about every week of the year. What we don't have is a lot of visiting acts. So by putting this on we are bringing music to the town for folks here to enjoy - and it seems to also be attracting folks from elsewhere too. Plus we are giving at least a wee bit work to gigging musicians. We used to regularly have a guest act every three months or so on our normal club night - however a section of the members really objected to this which they saw as an infringement on their potential playing time. They objected whether there was a charge for entry to see the guest or not. So this was a compromise which still brought acts to the town except it is on bulk and doesn't interfere with club nights. It is just so hard to try and please everyone.....

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Jo-Jo
Date: 17 Jan 20 - 12:27 PM

John MacKenzie's comments are exactly my stance on going to festivals. NOT everyone has loadsadosh to buy tickets, and then the acts are not what you would like to see. I am a pensioner, I do go to some concerts, if they are who I would enjoy hearing, but cant do it on a regular basis.

A festival which costs around £30/£35 would be feasible, much more and it becomes expensive after petrol, food and "putting in the collectors cans".

Kelso sounds a good bet, so may try that one.
Mor info on whether its a "pubs for free" or on a designated music arena site would be interesting. Please keep your thoughts coming, especially from locals who know whats on where. Thanks muchly. Jo

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Johnny J
Date: 17 Jan 20 - 12:54 PM

"putting in the collectors cans"

Yes, this is a recent thing.
If I've already bought tickets for concerts, workshops etc, I usually decline to do this out of principle. I don't mind buying the occasional raffle tickets, however.

However, the organisers are probably quite right to try and gather some money from those who only visit the pub sessions.

Of course, musicians and singers who attend sessions are contributing as well and there is an argument for supporting them too. The odd free beer or two is always welcome.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 06:04 AM

'There's also a new one at Newton Stewart in July' - Done that too. Very freindly local people in the little town though music various, not all folk. Moniave a freindly little do too. At these do's I've gone to the little concerts but I prefer diy sessions, not because they are cheap but that is where I'd rather be.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 06:11 AM

Thought this might be useful. Festivals
I saw Gigha above, lovely little island I visited at Rhododendron time. When's the festival please?

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 08:30 AM

Think I said all that on 9 Jan, JHW

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 09:03 AM

Sounds like you are only looking at festivals to provide a concentrated cluster of free sessions, in which case you are of no benefit to the health of the festival at all.

Living as you do in the North-East of England I can see no shortage of club nights and sessions in Northumbria or in the Scottish Borders very close to where you live.

West Woodburn (The Bay Horse)
Bellingham*
Newcastleton*
Kelso*
Bonchester Bridge
Denholm**
Selkirk*
Hawick
Melrose (Darnick)
Gordon Arms (Yarrow Valley)
Innerleithen*

Look hard enough and there is almost something happening every night of the week.


All Above marked * run festivals

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 03:30 AM

Just found out that the Gigha Festival is not on this year....Boo Hoo. Still lots of others to go to .

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 06:56 AM

'Sounds like you are only looking at festivals to provide a concentrated cluster of free sessions, in which case you are of no benefit to the health of the festival at all.'
Right and wrong.

'Think I said all that on 9 Jan, JHW'
Sorry if I've repeated. I avoid long threads, too much to read, I'll have to avoid more. Over and out.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Rob 'Mad Jock' Wright
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 12:24 PM

Festivals may require the good will of local hostelries and some provide performance space for intimate concerts. The landlords particularly nowadays need the revenue for sales to help them survive in the current economic climate and the Free session which develop during a Festival help foster their good will.
So free sessions DO have their place in a Festival program.

They are also a good place to spot up and coming stars.

Just been to Celtic Connection s in Glasgow spent about ,25pounds to see Dervish . Joined a very late FREE session in a bar at midnight to find the entire band playing.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 12:29 PM

Keith and Loanhead are on the same weekend, middle of June. If Loanhead goes ahead (the community parade on the same day has been cancelled). It had a serious problem for outsiders, they had events during the day, a concert in the evening and nothing in between - just what are you supposed to do in Loanhead for three hours in late afternoon?

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Jim Martin
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 12:36 PM

I know it's a long way north but Orkney was always a great long weekend fest although I understand it's becoming increasingly difficult to book tickets due to its popularity. Orcadians very welcoming.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Johnny J
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 01:10 PM

I thought The Loanhead Festival was no more, Jack? Last one was in 2016, apparently.

Subject: RE: Festivals in Scotland - your opinions
From: Jack Campin
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 03:34 PM

You may be right. I haven't been for a long time.