Best small music festival

Published on Tuesday 22 July 2008 20:14

1 PERTHSHIRE AMBER – THE DOUGIE MACLEAN FESTIVAL 2008

24 October-2 November

Internationally renowned songwriter and composer Dougie MacLean has developed a unique festival which shares his inspiring music, celebrates the history and culture of Perthshire and showcases beautiful scenery. The concerts are staged in a variety of wonderful venues: from theatres and castles to an Iron Age crannog on Loch Tay and the atmospheric Dunkeld Cathedral.

2 MONIAIVE GUITAR FESTIVAL

22-24 August

The village of Moniaive in Dumfriesshire is hosting its second festival of 2008. Following the success of the annual folk festival, the village has organised a guitar festival for August. Guests booked include Preston Reed, the duo Wing and a Prayer and The Paul McKenna Band. There will be concerts on all three nights, workshops in classic, Celtic and jazz guitar, open mic concerts, pub sessions and free camping.

3 BRASS IN THE PARK FESTIVAL

29-31 August

Celebrate the culture and traditions of Midlothian at Scotland’s largest annual outdoor brass band festival. Brass in the Park 2008 opens with a gala concert in Newtongrange public park on the evening of 29 August, featuring Newtongrange Band, guest soloist Russell Gray, plus the Midlothian Schools’ Big Band. The final day of the event will see several pipe bands, a ceilidh band, a swing band and others join forces with brass bands to provide a wide variety of entertainment.

4 MULL OF KINTYRE MUSIC FESTIVAL

21-24 August

The Mull of Kintyre has held this annual music festival since 1993. Set in the community of Campbeltown, it has become the region’s top cultural event and showcases the best in traditional and contemporary music worldwide, while displaying the region’s cultural individuality through the talents of local musicians of all ages. Whether you are looking for a fun weekend away, a workshop to improve your musical talent, to find out more about your heritage, or just an entertaining night out, you will find it here.

5 SHETLAND FIDDLE FRENZY

4-10 August

Celebration of the music and musicians that have made Shetland one of the world’s most highly acclaimed fiddle-playing regions. Moving into its fifth year, this marathon seven-day-and-night event offers students the opportunity not only to learn, but to immerse themselves in fiddle music, Shetland-style. People come here from all over the world.

&#149 For more on all five: www.visitscotland.com/liveit