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 2023…
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 2023
Celtic Connections
19th January – 5th February 2023
Celtic music, Glasgow.
FEBRUARY 2023
Celtic Connections
19th January – 5th February 2023
Celtic music, Glasgow.
Inverness Fiddlers Rally
25th February 2023
Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.
MARCH 2023
Country to Country – Weekend
10th – 12th March 2023
OVO Hydro, Glasgow.
KT Tunstall
15th March 2023
Usher Hall, Edinburgh.
Dumfries Jazz Festival
TBC, Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
Includes dinner and entertainment each night.
APRIL 2023
Mull Music Festival
20th – 23rd April 2023
A weekend of Scottish music featuring mainly folk-rock groups, Scottish dance bands, traditional musicians and singers, Isle of Mull.
Olly Murs
21st April 2023
OVO Hydro, Glasgow.
Glenfarg Folk Club
22nd April 2023
Memorial Hall Gateside, Perthshire.
Shetland Folk Festival
27th – 30th April 2023
Traditional Folk music, Shetland.
Billy Ocean
28th April 2023
SEC Armadillo, Glasgow.
Girvan Traditional Folk festival
TBC
Traditional Folk music Family Festival, Girvan.
Bonfest
28th – 30th April 2023
International Bon Scott Rock Festival, Kirriemuir, Angus.
Tradfest
28th April – 8th May 2023, Edinburgh
Various venues across the city.
MAY 2023
Tradfest
28th April – 8th May 2023, Edinburgh
Various venues across the city.
Fèis an Eilein Skye Festival
12th – 13th May 2023, Isle of Skye
Scottish traditional music spiced up with Jazz, Theatre & more.
Skye Live Festival
13th – 14th May 2023
2 days of live music (small campsite), Portree, Isle of Skye.
March Into Pitlochry Festival
TBC
Charity event over two days, with twenty bands and a mixture of genres of music.
Orkney Folk Festival
25th – 28th May 2023
Traditional Folk music, Orkney and Caithness.
Harry Styles: Love On Tour 2023
26th May 2023
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.
Midstock Music Festival
26th – 27th May 2023
Local music, food and fun, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith (near Edinburgh).
Islay Festival
26th May – 4th June 2023
Diverse programme featuring traditional music, ceilidhs, Gaelic lessons, golf, bowling and whisky tasting.
JUNE 2023
Islay Festival
26th May – 4th June 2023
Diverse programme featuring traditional music, ceilidhs, Gaelic lessons, golf, bowling and whisky tasting.
Glasgow Riverside Festival
3rd – 4th June 2023
Celebrating 10 years, Glasgow.
Oban Live Festival
TBC
Biggest live music festival in the Argyll & Bute region.
Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival
TBC
Kircudbright, Dumfries & Galloway.
Elton John
15th June 2023
P&J Live, Aberdeen.
Elton John
17th June 2023
OVO Hydro, Glasgow.
Arran Folk Festival
TBC
On the beautiful Isle of Arran.
Let’s Rock Scotland
24th June 2023
Retro Festival, Dalkeith Country Park.
Arctic Monkeys
25th June 2023
Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.
JULY 2023
Mötley Crüe & Def Leppard: the World Tour
6th July 2023
Hampden Park National Stadium, Glasgow.
TRNSMT
7th – 9th July 2023
Glasgow Green Park.
Stonehaven Folk Festival
7th – 9th July 2023
Traditional Scottish folk music festival, Stonehaven.
Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional & Acoustic Music Festival
7th – 9th July 2023
3 days of music and dance, Newton Stewart.
Tiree Music Festival
7th – 9th July 2023
Isle of Tiree.
Cantilena Music Festival
9th – 14th July 2023
A week of chamber music on the island of Islay.
Hebridean Celtic Festival
12th – 15th July 2023
Traditional Folk & Celtic music, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
14th – 23rd July 2023
Edinburgh.
Speyfest
21st – 23rd July 2023, Fochabers, Moray
Celtic rock and ceilidhs with musicians from all over the world.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
27th July, 2023
Rock & Pop, Belladrum Estate, Beauly, Inverness-shire.
ButeFest
28th – 30th July 2023
3 days of live music on the Isle of Bute.
AUGUST 2023
Mugstock Music Festival
4th – 7th August 2023
Music and merriment across 4 days, Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie.
Party At The Palace
12th – 13th August 2023
Rock & pop, Linlithgow.
Piping Live
12th – 20th August 2023
International Piping Festival, Glasgow.
Connect 2023
25th – 27th August 2023
Rock & pop, The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Dunoon Jazz & Blues Festival
TBC
Vibrant programme of exciting acts from across the jazz spectrum.
Mendelssohn on Mull
TBC
Classical & Opera festival, Isle of Mull.
Callander Jazz & Blues Festival
29th September – 3rd October, 2023
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.
OCTOBER 2023
Callander Jazz & Blues Festival
29th September – 3rd October, 2023
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.
Bute Manouche Jazz Festival
27th – 29th October 2023, Isle of Bute
Bute Jazz presents Bute Manouche, Scotland’s Gypsy Jazz Festival.
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.
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