Acclaimed Traditional and Americana Artists Set to Ignite Kilmelford from September 11–13, 2026
KILMELFORD, SCOTLAND – July 1, 2026 – Following last year’s resounding success, the highly anticipated Melfort Music weekend is back, delivering a bigger and better lineup of exceptional musical talent. Running from Friday 11th September through Sunday 13th September 2026, the three-day festival will transform Kilmelford into a vibrant hub of live performance, community celebration, and spontaneous session circles.
The festival’s primary concert venue will be the Kilmelford Village Hall, showcasing an elite selection of local legends, contemporary folk pioneers, and internationally acclaimed award-winners. Beyond the formal stage, the spirit of traditional folk will take over the local area with lively open acoustic sessions hosted in the Gunpowder Room and the Cuilfail Hotel. Organizers encourage musicians of all skill levels to bring along their instruments and join the community jam sessions throughout the weekend.
Stellar Weekend Lineup Announced
Friday, 11th September: The festival opens on Friday evening with Good Guy Hank, a cross-continental trio featuring Theo Barnard (Wire & Wool), Pepita Emmerichs (Oh Pep!), and Donny McElligott (The New Madrids) delivering raw Americana storytelling and vibrant three-part harmonies. Headlining the opening night is Charlie McKerron and Friends. Led by Capercaillie and Session A9’s award-winning fiddle virtuoso Charlie McKerron, this incredible ensemble features long-time collaborator Marc Clement, brilliant multi-instrumentalist Ross Ainslie, and McKerron’s son Cailean (Skipinnish), promising an electric fusion of traditional Scottish compositions and world music elements.
Saturday, 12th September: Saturday celebrates local mastery and boundary-pushing contemporary folk. Homegrown veterans The Chancers (Matthew Anderson and Kenny Forsyth) bring thirty years of piping, whistling, and comedic banter to the stage, followed by a proud display of heritage from the talented young players of the Oban High School Traditional Music Group, mentored by Sileas Sinclair and Lorne MacDougall. Closing Saturday night is contemporary folk supergroup Astro Bloc, an exhilarating project featuring BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022 Eryn Rae, Irish instrumental virtuoso Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, acclaimed percussionist Paul Jennings, and multi-heritage guitarist Gillie Ó Flaherty.
Sunday, 13th September: The festival concludes with dynamic folk royalty. Dave Foley and Adam Brown, celebrated as core members of the multi-award-winning band RURA, bring their highly energetic flute, guitar, and world-champion Bodhrán arrangements to Kilmelford following a legendary, accidental debut as a duo at Ceòl Cholasa. Delivering the grand finale is Kris Drever, one of Scotland’s most decorated contemporary songwriters, acclaimed solo artist, and front-man of the legendary trio Lau.
Event Overview & Ticketing Details
| Date | Location | Featured Artists / Performance Schedule |
| Friday 11 Sept | Kilmelford Village Hall | Good Guy Hank Charlie McKerron and Friends |
| Saturday 12 Sept | Kilmelford Village Hall | The Chancers Oban High School Traditional Band Astro Bloc |
| Sunday 13 Sept | Kilmelford Village Hall | Dave Foley and Adam Brown Kris Drever |
*Note: Open participation sessions run concurrently all weekend at the Gunpowder Room and the Cuilfail Hotel.
Tickets & Passes:
Both individual day tickets and full-access Weekend Passes are available for purchase directly through the official website at www.melfortmusic.org