SpeyFest 2026: Festival Preview

Stuart Anderton

3 months ago

For three decades SpeyFest has brought the best of traditional music to the north of Scotland, and this year has a particularly impressive line up.

Saturday headliner Natalie MacMaster
Pic: Quaperlake Photo

HUB OF SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC

For three days every summer the village of Focabers, an hour or so east of Inverness in Moray, is transformed into the hub of Scottish traditional music for SpeyFest. This year it is running from Friday July 24th to Sunday 26th, and the line up is especially impressive.

With two tented stages in the centre of the village, it’s a small festival which punches well above its weight in the acts it attracts.

RAPTOUROUS RESPONSE

Headlining this year are Scottish festival folk-pop stalwarts Tide Lines who are celebrating 10 years together as a band. They are joined by the high energy Canadian fiddler couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, who have been regular visitors to Scotand in the last couple of years to a raptourous response.

From Ireland, The Tumbling Paddies bring their chart-topping take on traditional music to the late night stomp on Friday, while the next evening the indefatigable Elephant Sessions are joined by Scotland/Isle of Man band Mec Lir for what promises to be an exhausting night.

finest contemporary voices

Gaelic singing is represented by two of the finest contemporary voices in Karen Matheson and Kim Carnie, both playing solo material with their own bands.

The supporting cast would be headlining many a festival with Dallahan, Astro Bloc and Tim Edey playing on the second stage, along with up and coming US fiddlers Scottish Fish.

Beyond the music, as you’d expect there are workshops, children’s activities, a fun run, crafts and celebrations of Scottish food.

Tickets are still available for £150 for a full weekend of music in the north of these islands.