"Bringing the best to the Melfort area"
"Bringing the best to the Melfort area"
Presents
2026
Melfort Music Weekend 2026
We are delighted to announce the Line up for this years Melfort Music Festival which will take place on
11, 12 and 13 September
Friday
Charlie Mckerron and Friends
Charlie Mckerron, Capercaille and Session A9, returns to Melfort and this time he brings Marc Clement, Ross Ainslie and his son Cailean McKerron, with him.
Good Guy Hank
From the harmonious Heartlands of Scotland and the musical metropolis of Melbourne, Australia, Good Guy Hank bring heartbreak, joy and everything in-between with soulful songs, blistering musicianship and three part harmonies galore!
Saturday
Astro Bloc
ASTRO BLOC is a bold and dynamic new folk band that blends deep-rooted tradition with boundary-pushing creativity, producing a thrilling sound that redefines the genre. Featuring BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year Eryn Rae, internationally renowned percussionist Paul Jennings, multi-award-winning instrumentalist Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, and the innovative, genre-spanning talent of Gillie O’Flaherty, Astro Bloc is breathing fresh life into the folk scene. With influences from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond, their music offers an exhilarating mix of heritage and innovation.
Oban High School Traditional Music Band
In advance of their appearance at the National MOD the OHS band come to Melfort under the leadership of Sileas Sinclair and Lorne MacDougall.
Sunday
Kris Drever
Kris Drever is a Glasgow based, Orkney born musician. He has won multiple awards including an incredible 7 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards; two shortlist nominations for Scottish Album of The Year (with his trio Lau) and much acclaim for his solo recordings and concerts including winning Best Album of The Year (MG Alba Trad Awards) 2021 for “Where The World Is Thin”.
A phenomenal and prolific artist.
Adam Brown and Dave Foley
Adam and Dave make up half of the dynamic Glasgow band Rura with Adam on guitar and Dave on Bodhran and flute. Adam also is the bodhran player for Imar in fact both have been world champion Bodhran players at one point. We came upon Adam and Dave as a duo at Ceol Cholasa 2024 where Rura were booked to headline. Due to an unfortunate traffic accident they were the only two to make it to the island. Safe to say their impromptu set knocked it out of the park.
Melfort Music Weekend 26 Friday
11 September 2026
The opening night of MM26.
We are very excited to welcome back Charlie McKerron of Capercaille and Session A9 . This time he brings with him the hugely talented Marc Clement (founding member of Blazing Fiddles and Session A9 member since 2007), Ross Ainslie (this ubiquitous multi instrumentalist is formally of the Treacherous Orchestra and Salsa Celtica) and Cailean McKerron ( emerging highland based multi instamentalist in great demand and son of Charlie)
Sharing the stage tonight is Good Guy Hank. This Dunkeld based band ,drawn together by their love of Hank Williams, bring all the heartbreak, joy and everything in between with blistering blue grass country guitar, lightning mandolin, virtuoso fiddle and driving bass
Melfort Music Weekend 26 Saturday
12 September 2026
Astro Bloc is a dynamic new force in contemporary folk music that blends deep-rooted tradition with boundary-pushing creativity, producing a thrilling sound that redefines the genre. Astro Bloc are breathing fresh life into the folk scene and with influences from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond, their music offers an exhilarating mix of heritage and innovation.
Each member brings a distinctive background and unique talents - BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022 Eryn Rae hails from the Scottish Borders, and is one of Scotland’s top fiddlers who absolutely blew away Shetland audiences back in 2023. Multi-award-winning instrumentalist Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín (fiddle) from County Mayo, Ireland, has toured the world with her band LÉDA and international dance shows like Lord of the Dance. Internationally acclaimed percussionist Paul Jennings grew up in Shetland and brings decades of experience performing with bands like Croft No 5 and Treacherous Orchestra, and he performed at Melfort just last year with the Lauren Collier Band. Genre-spanning musician Gillie Ó Flaherty (guitar, synth, bass) draws from his rich Scottish, Irish, Pakistani and New Zealand heritage, adding diverse sonic textures.
The Oban High School Traditional music Band draws on the wealth of talent available at the school and is mentored and lead by Silias Sinclair,Lorne McDougall and our own Finlay Wells. The band prepares for the national mod and many of its members can be seen in sessions around the oban area
Melfort Music Weekend 26 Sunday
13 September 2026
Kris Drever is a Glasgow based, Orkney born musician. He has won multiple awards including an incredible 7 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards; two shortlist nominations for Scottish Album of The Year (with his trio Lau) and much acclaim for his solo recordings and concerts including winning Best Album of The Year (MG Alba Trad Awards) 2021 for “Where The World Is Thin”.
A phenomenal and prolific artist.
Adam Brown and Dave Foley
Adam and Dave make up half of the dynamic Glasgow band Rura with Adam on guitar and Dave on Bodhran and flute. Adam also is the bodhran player for Imar in fact both have been world champion Bodhran players at one point. We came upon Adam and Dave as a duo at Ceol Cholasa 2024 where Rura were booked to headline. Due to an unfortunate traffic accident they were the only two to make it to the island. Safe to say their impromptu set knocked it out of the park.
Melfort Music Weekend 2025 in a nutshell
The first Melfort Music Weekend featuring John McCusker, Malin Lewis, The Coaltown Daisies, Sam Kelly, Toby Shear, Jenn Butterworth, Sally Simpson, Kenny Forsyth and Matthew Anderson.
The Ainsley Hamill Trio
24 October 2026
Mix Heather Small & Julie Fowlis and you’ve got singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill. Ainsley is one of the UK’s most distinctive and versatile singers, known for her remarkable voice, storytelling,
and emotive style. Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, Ainsley has built a career celebrated for its authenticity, merging traditional Scottish folk with a modern touch. In early 2025, Ainsley released her much-anticipated third studio album, FABLE, produced by Sam Kelly. Drawing inspiration from Scottish folklore and myth, Fable combines Gaelic, Scots, and original compositions with a rich tapestry of sounds from musicians Alistair Iain Paterson, Toby Shaer, Signy Jakobsdottir and Euan Burton. Recorded in Glasgow, the album delves into the legends and landscapes of Scotland, with each track weaving a narrative that resonates with ancient stories and contemporary relevance.
Her previous album, Not Just Ship Land (2021), named The Guardian’s Album of the Month, showcased her “voice thick with velvet and mirk,” likened to the warmth of The Breath and the forlorn depth of early Adele. Produced by Malcolm Lindsay, the album celebrates the unsung heroes of Govan and Glasgow,
capturing Ainsley’s move into a more introspective and thematic songwriting style, with a focus on feminism and equality
Ainsley’s accolades include being a BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist, a Gaelic Singer of the Year nominee at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, and representing Scotland on major international stages including World Expo Dubai, World Expo Osaka, and Eurovision in Gothenburg. Her album Fable was nominated for Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards and has continued to attract national praise and exceptional audience response. She has appeared at some of the most respected festivals in the world,
with highlights including a decade of performances at Celtic Connections, as well as Glastonbury, Tønder Festival, and The Festival Interceltique de Lorient. With roots shaped at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ainsley carries a profound connection to Gaelic song and Scottish storytelling. She first came to
prominence with the folk band Barluath, contributing original songwriting to their albums Source and At Dawn of Day. Alongside her acclaimed solo career which remains her main artistic focus she also performs with Fourth Moon, bringing a vibrant blend of Gaelic and English song together with her signature step dancing
HEIDI TALBOT & BOO HEWERDINE
For over 30 years Ivor Novello award winning Boo Hewerdine has been considered one of the UK’s finest singer-songwriters. As lead singer of seminal band, The Bible through to his subsequent solo work and long-time collaboration with the incredible Eddi Reader he has become something of a national treasure. He is in demand as a writer, producer and performer. Over a hundred of his songs have been covered by the likes of KD Lang, Kris Drever, Chris Difford, Duke Special and Hannah Rarity.
Heidi has shared the stage and recorded with Mark Knopfler, Graham Coxon (Blur), Eddi Reader, Idlewild, Matt Rollings, King Creosote, Kris Drever, Tim O'Brien and Jerry Douglas. She is equally at home in front of a Symphony Orchestra, performing widely at Arts Centres, Festivals and even at the White House.
Nominated for Folk singer of the year and Best Traditional Song by BBC Radio 2, Best Live Act by the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and Best Female Vocalist at The Irish Music Awards. 2023 saw Heidi win Composer of The Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards and in October 2025, Heidi releases her 9th studio album, Grace Untold.
On this tour Boo and Heidi will be singing songs new and old with a dash of humour and a good measure of storytelling. Their gigs are always a total joy.