Summer festivals across Scotland 2006

Throughout summer, festivals are underway across Scotland. As well as the massive international festivals held in Edinburgh, there are loads of community, music and arts festivals happening across the nation. See below for highlights this summer.   

Right throughout the year there have been many fantastic festivals including StAnza, Celtic Connections and the Bank of Scotland Children's festival to mention a few (read about the many festivals that have featured over the past year).   As festival fever builds throughout the summer it doesn't end there.  You can also look forward to many more across Scotland including Doric festival, Brechin Arts festival, the Scottish International Storytelling festival and Glasgay! (not to mention the Edinburgh Capital Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations at the end of 2006) Check out the festivals sneak peek below.

The Scottish Arts Council supports festivals because they bring high quality work to audiences across the country.   As well as encouraging excellence and innovation, festivals also importantly promote artists to local communities to foster tourism and boost local economies.

Check out the festivals diary page for details on festival dates and locations plus links to websites for more.

Highlights - summer festivals across Scotland
Future festivals 2006 - a sneak peek

Summer highlights across Scotland 2006

Aboyne and Deeside festival	It its 15th year this year, Aboyne plays host to an exciting festival of the arts, music and theatre with national, international and local performers.  Highlights include: Prunella Scales and Timothy West,come together to perform “The Battle of the Sexes”. “An audience with Adam Hart-Davis” - an opportunity to hear the television presenter who knows what the Romans, Tudors, Stuarts and Victorians did for us.  Saeed Jaffrey, that most versatile of actors, will give us glimpses into his long career. (Education: Violin workshop – 17 – 20 July; Flute workshop – 12 -14 July; Photo workshop – 4 & 5 July, Ceramics workshop – everyday Saturday of festival	1 - 31 July 2006
Dundee Guitar Festival	Scotland's premier guitar event with concerts, courses, guest artists and masterclasses Various venues in Dundee	1 - 31 July 2006
Harris Arts Festival	A festival attracting many musicians, singers, poets and others from all over the United Kingdom and at times from other countries. Although the main concentration has been on traditional and folk music, classical music has always been a major part of the Festivals.	3 July - 24 August 2006
Stonehaven Folk Festival	The line up includes performances from musicians from Scotland, the UK and internationally. The fringe events has music workshops, puppet making, a ceilidh, children's concert, and fun events and competitions including the World paper 'n' comb competition. (Education: Art and music workshops – 16 & 17 July) Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire	6 - 9 July 2006
Borders Urban Arts Festival	This fiirst ever urban festival will celebrate all things urban in a programme of events.There will be opportunities to try out Graffiti Art, DJ-ing, VJ-ing, Skateboarding, Hip Hop Dance, Street Poetry, Drama, Animation, Basketball and Trash music. You will even be able to design your own Urban Fashion at Heriot Watt University, Galashiels. (Education - workshops available to book) Across Borders For more info call 01750 724901	7 July - 3 August 2006
The Hairst	The Hairst - an annual celebration of Scottish traditional music, dance and theatre held in Angus. Angus	11 July - 27 August 2006
Hebridean Celtic Festival	A unique four-day musical celebration held in the stunning Hebrides of Scotland. Attracting over 17,000 visitors last year, performances for 2006 include: Hothouse flowers Afro Celt Sound System Levellers Blazin Fiddles Dochas Julie Fowlis Bodega (Education: Children’s art activities, Tunes and songs for sessions workshop – 12 -14 July) Read the feature on Hebridean Celtic Festival 2006 Various venues in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis	12 - 15 July 2006
Bute Live Music and Arts Festival	A festival with live performances of music and the arts.  Performances include: Mugenkyo drummers Drumatik An Audience with Johnny Beattie  Maureen Beattie John Murtagh Bute players comedy club (Education: Taiko drumming workshop – 8 July Isle of Bute	14 - 16 July 2006
Caledonian Ceilidh Trail	Celebration through music song and dance presented by a team of talented musicians	17 July - 11 August 2006
Crail Festival	The festival has a wide variety of events, from art shows to young local bands, from pottery workshops to classical recitals, from children's entertainment to craft fairs. (Education: Printmaking & pottery workshop – 20 July; Ceramics & drumming workshops – 21 July; Card & paper workshop – 24 July; puppet making – 26 & 27 July; Masking making – 28 July) Crail, East Neuk in Fife	19 - 29 July 2006
Wickerman Festival	Contemporary, cult and off-the-wall music festival. The festival features two main stages, a world music and funk tent, eden zone, a classic Jamaican reggae sound system, acoustic village, scooter tent, children’s area, workshops, beer tent, crafts, camping and, of course, not forgetting a 30 foot Wickerman that is sacrificed to the festival gods on the Saturday night. Dumfries and Galloway	21 - 22 July 2006
Feis an Eilein	A wonderful feast of over 70 music, song, dance, storytelling, theatre and film events from the best in Gaelic traditions and beyond.  Will also include dances, a book festival and walks and workshops during the day. All events are suitable for families. (Education: Various workshops in dance, music, art, writing and the Gaelic language everyday except Monday.) Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and other venues near Armadale, Isle of Skye.	25 July - 4 August 2006
North Atlantic Fiddle Convention	Combining an international conference with a festival, the convention will again be celebrating the excellence of traditional fiddlers, fiddle music and dance from countries around the North Atlantic. NAFCo 2006 boasts a world-class lineup including: Jerry Holland (Canada), Fromseier Rose (Denmark), Liz Doherty (Ireland), AnnbjØrg Lien (Norway), Alasdair Fraser (Scotland), Catriona Macdonald (Scotland), Göran Premberg (Sweden), and Alan Jabbour (USA).  With over 100 events, including workshops, sessions, concerts,	26 - 30 July 2006
Lomond Folk Festival	Featuring a host of community events and concerts.  A variety of traditional music performances, ceilidhs, street entertainers, competitions and workshops. (Education: Musical instruments workshop mandolin, whistle, bodhran, fiddle, guitar– 29 & 30 July; ) Balloch, Loch Lomond	28 - 30 July 2006
Aberdour Festival	An exciting programme of theatre, various musical events, a classical evening, various sports events, a parade with a Pipe band, fun run and Village market. Storytelling, arts exhibitions and an open gardens event make this one not to be mised.  (Education: children's workshops) Local venues, Aberdour	28 July - 6 August 2006
Ardfern and Craobh Arts Festival	Includes wonderful exhibitions, workshops, drama, music, poetry and great Sunday Markets.	29 July - 13 August 2006
Greater Easterhouse festival day	To fall in line with the opening of Platform - the brand new arts facility in Easterhouse - this years festival is EXPRESSion -  festival parade inspired by art across the continents, past, present and future Hundreds of adults and children from all over Greater Easterhouse will take part in the carnival parade which will leave this year from Platform.  Lots of the active community groups are also signed up to join in what is set to be a spectacular parade. Easterhouse, Glasgow	29 July 2006
Common Ground Festival weekend	The final event of the Common Ground Traditional Music and Arts Summer School.  The 2006 festival has a strong Scottish flavour but doesn't focus exclusively on Scottish Traditional Music. Auchincruive, near Ayr	30 July - 6 August 2006
Aberdeen International Youth Festival	The World Festival of Youth Arts - celebrating the best youth talent from all over the world. Kicks off with a colourful grand parade through the city centre and includes orchestral concerts to steel drums, song recitals and massed choirs to traditional music, ballet to African dance and drumming, as well as critically acclaimed opera productions and special events for children.	2 - 12 August 2006
Speyfest	An exciting mix of concerts, ceilidhs, late night stomps as well as the craft fair with a great line-up of some of the biggest names from the world of traditional and folk music.	3 - 6 August 2006
Auchtermuchty Festival	A traditional music weekend featuring ceilidhs, dances, open air music and pub gatherings.  there is a strong community involvement in the 10 day celebrations. This year's theme (2006) is Animal Kingdom Auchtermuchty in Fife	4 - 13 August 2006
Traquair Festival	Unique event for all the family with outdoor theatre spectacles, world and celtic music, dance, storytelling and a superb programme of childrens theatre, activities and workshops. This year promises to be more colourful than ever before when Traquair Fair goes African! Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire	5 - 6 August 2006
Pittenweem Arts Festival	Each year 80 or so exhibitions are housed in ingenious exhibition spaces created from artists studios, houses, garages, courtyards and gardens. This year's invited artist is Will McLean. Check out the feature on Pittenweem Arts Festival 2006	5 - 13 August 2006
Nairn International Jazz Festival	Featuring an outstanding line-up of some of the world's greatest names in jazz.  Performers include Curtis Stigers, Warren Vache, George Masso, Kenny Davern, Brian Kellock and many more… (Education: Jazz workshops – vocal and instrumental – 8, 12, 13 July). In and around Nairn, Highlands	6 - 13 August 2006
Glasgow International Piping Festival - Piping Live	Set to be even bigger and better Piping Live! 2006 will feature some of the biggest names in piping, as the best in Scottish and International piping talent arrives to perform in outdoor spaces and venues throughout Glasgow City Centre for this uniquely Scottish event. (Education: daily workshops Come and Try sessions) Glasgow	7 - 13 August 2006
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival	A mellow festival of rock, Celtic, country, blues and world music in the newly restored 19th-century Italian Gardens at Belladrum Estate. Two days, three stages and 45 acts feature in this spectacular Highland setting. With fringe attractions and kids' programme. Featuring top acts including Echo and the Bunnymen, Biffy Clyro, Embrace, Martha Wainwright, Arlo Guthrie.	11 - 12 August 2006
Gaelforce	Country, celtic, traditional and world music events. Book festivals, poetry and theatre performances, exhibitions and street processions. A multi-arts extravaganza offering something for everyone and extending throughout the autumn and across the southwest. Various venues Dumfries and Galloway	18 August - 29 October 2006
St Ninians festival	A week of events in celebration of Scotland’s first saint, with music, drama and visual arts - events for all ages.  Whithorn	22 - 28 August 2005

Future festival sneak peek 2006

Edinburgh Mela	Edinburgh Mela is Scotland’s biggest intercultural festival and was founded in 1995 by members of Edinburgh's communities from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It features musicians, dancers, crafts, fashion, food, and children’s activities. The Mela is a great family event. Edinburgh	2 - 3 September 2006
Brechin Arts Festival	This year's Arts Festival theme is 'New Horizons'. An exciting variety of art exhibitions,classical music, folk and jazz, poetry readings, demonstrations and craft displays in Brechin. Angus	16 September - 18 1 October 2006
Doric Festival	Celebrating the language, music and traditions across the North-east - a great opportunity for all, especially our youngsters, to witness the vibrancy of the tongue, music and stories of this North and for performers to participate in the preservation of this heritage. Tel/Fax 01771 653320	29 September - 15 October 2006
Scottish International Storytelling festival	Our brand new ‘house of stories’ on the Royal Mile will be the focus of this year’s Festival, becoming a lively hub and a first-port-of-call for events taking place with partner organisations all over Edinburgh. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2006 is for children, adults, listeners, tellers, artists, amateurs and professionals – for those who’ve experienced storytelling and especially for everyone who hasn’t.	25 October - 5 November 2006
Glasgay!	Glasgay is the largest multi-artform festival of its kind in the UK.  Glasgay is not just for gay people, it’s for everyone. The programme features international, national and local work.	16 October - 12 November 2006