Scotland music festivals provide us with a cultural treat, from traditional Celtic music to classical and pop music, in widespread venues the length and breadth of the country.
SCOTLAND MUSIC FESTIVALS 2020…
This year’s calendar is as diverse and exciting as always, and all the old favourites are there, including some good folk and jazz festivals. If you appreciate good music, you’re guaranteed to find something to your liking here, whatever your taste in music may be.
JANUARY 2020
Celtic Connections
16th Jan – 2nd February, 2020
Celtic music, Glasgow.
FEBRUARY 2020
Celtic Connections
16th Jan – 2nd February, 2020
Celtic music, Glasgow.
Inverness Music Festival
27th February – 4th March 2020
Festival in instrumental, speech and vocal in Gaelic disciplines, Inverness.
MARCH 2020
Inverness Music Festival
27th February – 4th March 2020
Festival in instrumental, speech and vocal in Gaelic disciplines, Inverness.
Inverness Fiddlers Rally
7th March, 2020
Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.
March Into Pitlochry Festival
TBC
Charity event over two days, with twenty bands and a mixture of genres of music.
APRIL 2020
Glenfarg Folk Feast
3rd – 5th April, 2020
Traditional Folk music, Kinross.
Neil Gow Festival
20th – 22nd April, 2020
Fiddle festival, Dunkeld & Birnam, Perthshire.
Mull Music Festival
23rd – 26th April, 2020
Folk-rock bands, fiddle, accordion, dance and ceilidh bands, Isle of Mull.
Shetland Folk Festival
30th April – 3rd May, 2020
Traditional Folk music, Shetland.
MAY 2020
Shetland Folk Festival
30th April – 3rd May, 2020
Traditional Folk music, Shetland.
Girvan Traditional Folk festival
1st – 3rd May, 2020
Traditional Folk music, Girvan.
Bonfest
1st – 3rd May, 2020
International Bon Scott Rock Festival, Kirriemuir, Angus.
Orkney Folk Festival
21st – 24th May, 2020
Traditional Folk music, Orkney and Caithness.
Strathyre Music Festival
TBC (CANCELLED IN 2019)
Family friendly atmosphere in a beautiful setting.
Islay Festival of Music and Malt
22nd – 30th May 2020, Islay
Traditional music, ceilidhs, Gaelic lessons, golf, bowling and whisky tasting.
Glasgow Riverside Festival
TBC, Glasgow
Bank holiday weekender, Glasgow.
JUNE 2020
Arisaig Americana Festival
5th – 7th June, 2020
All kinds of music, Arisaig, West Highlands.
Dundee Westfest
7th June 2020, Dundee
Live bands, attractions, Dj’s, food stalls, carnival rides, Kids attractions, art & crafts.
Oban Live Festival
TBC
Biggest live music festival in the Argyll & Bute region.
Arran Folk Festival
TBC
On the beautiful Isle of Arran.
Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival
TBC
Kircudbright, Dumfries & Galloway.
Let’s Rock Scotland
13th June, 2020
Retro Festival, Dalkeith Country Park.
Glasgow International Jazz Festival
TBC
Venues around the city, Glasgow.
JULY 2020
Fèis an Eilein Skye Festival
TBC Isle of Skye
Scottish traditional music spiced up with Jazz, Theatre & more.
SCOTFEST
TBC
Family friendly music festival makes its debut at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.
Cantilena Music Festival
5th – 10th July, 2020
A week of chamber music on the island of Islay.
Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional & Acoustic Music Festival
10th -12th July, 2020
3 days of music and dance, Newton Stewart.
Stonehaven Folk Festival
10th – 12th July, 2020
Traditional Scottish folk music festival, Stonehaven.
TRNSMT Festival
10th – 12th July, 2020
From the T in the Park organisers, Glasgow Green.
Tiree Music Festival
10th – 12th July, 2020
Isle of Tiree.
Hebridean Celtic Festival
15th – 18th July, 2020
Traditional Folk & Celtic music, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Rewind Festival: Scotland
17th – 19th July, 2020
Expect iconic performances from musical legends, Scone Palace, Perth.
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
17th – 26th July. 2020
Edinburgh.
Speyfest
TBC, Fochabers, Moray
Celtic rock and ceilidhs with musicians from all over the world.
Midstock Music Festival
24th – 25th July, 2020
Local music, food and fun, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith (near Edinburgh).
ButeFest
24th – 26th July, 2020
3 days of live music on the Isle of Bute.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
30th July – 1st August, 2020
Rock & Pop, Belladrum Estate, Beauly, Inverness-shire.
AUGUST 2020
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
30th July – 1st August, 2020
Rock & Pop, Belladrum Estate, Beauly, Inverness-shire.
Fèis an Eilein Skye Festival
TBC, Isle of Skye
Scottish traditional music spiced up with Jazz, Theatre & more.
Party At The Palace
TBC
Rock & pop, Linlithgow.
Piping Live
8th – 16th August 2020, Glasgow
International Piping Festival, Glasgow.
Summer Sessions
TBC
The Cure, plus more bands to be announced.
Innerleithen Music Festival
TBC, 2019
Music for everyone, Innerleithen.
Dunoon Jazz Festival
TBC
Vibrant programme of exciting acts from across the jazz spectrum.
SEPTEMBER 2020
Mendelssohn on Mull
6th 12th September 2020
Classical & Opera festival, Isle of Mull.
Skye Live Festival
TBC
2 days of live music (small campsite), Portree, Isle of Skye.
Live at Troon
11th – 12th September, 2020
3 days of live music, Troon, Ayrshire.
BOWfest
TBC(CANCELLED IN 2019)
3 days of live music, Inveraray Castle Argyll.
Loopallu
TBC, Ullapool
Head north of Inverness for another year of fun regardless of what the weather is like.
Queensferry Folk Festival
TBC, The Priory Church
Annual Folk Festival with a hugh variety of acts.
OCTOBER 2020
Callander Jazz & Blues Festival
2nd – 4th October 2020, Callander
Live jazz, blues, soul and boogie. From solo artists to big bands, over 200 musicians ensure a long weekend of great music in the autumn splendour of the Trossachs.
PLEASE NOTE: Many of the festivals take place on our Islands, so if travelling from the mainland and you need some help on how to get to any of these locations, check out the Travelling in Scotland page where you’ll find links to ferry services in Scotland.
MORE EVENT LISTINGS…
If you know of any ANNUAL music events (with a website) that you believe are worth listing here, please feel free to contact me and I will be only too happy to add them.