Dunbar Traditional Music Festival

We are the Dunbar Traditional Music Festival and have been established since 1988. The festival takes place on the last full weekend in September and has to date been very successful. Our Motto is 'Keeping Music Live'.

Many acts have cut their teeth here in Dunbar and we are proud of our contribution toward the traditional and Celtic music scene. We are funded by sponsorship - Belhaven Brewery being our main sponsor - donations and fundraising. The festival is unique in the fact that all the venues are free, we are the only festival in the country that does this.

Our genres are very broad, providing various sounds from all musical disciplines such as jazz, dixie, blues, bluegrass, country, Appalachian, folk, Celtic and of course Scottish and Irish traditional ceilidh and dance. There is also a children’s workshop, and afternoon entertainment.

The Friday kicks off with piper playing at the railway station indicating the start of a very full weekend. All pubs, clubs and hotels have some form of entertainment on and because the festival is free you can move from place to place without being charged at the door. The only event that takes money is the Fish Supper Ceilidh which requires payment for the fish supper of course; this is run in conjunction with the food festival, and since conception has been a huge success. Early booking is recommended. All this makes for a great weekend.

Text supplied by third party.