Moniaive is a vibrant village in Glencairn Parish, Dumfries and Galloway which is home to a number of talented artists, musicians, writers, photographers and also has a great community spirit. Over the years Moniaive has hosted a diverse range of festivals and events… and so they have decided to band together to share amenities, talents and expertise  to produce a year long calendar of events and festivals to suit all ages and interests.

A key event is the Moniaive Folk Festival, which celebrates its 16^th year this year with another eclectic line up of weel kent faces and total newcomers. This kind of mix has proved a success with the loyal festival goer, discerning music afficienados and the merely curious who flock to this picturesque Dumfries and Galloway village in May each year.

The festival takes place from 4-7 May this year and will kick off early on Thursday with the young spell binding fiddler Ryan Young, ably accompanied by Galloway born Jenn Butterworth and a Friday night ceilidh with guest spots will welcome all to the dance.

A packed Saturday will see workshops from harmony singing to harping, Irish dancing to improvisation as well as piping competitions and music performances throughout the village.

Moniaive is always a family friendly event and this year they add to the usual rich programme of circus skills, upcycling craft workshop and puppet show with silly songs from not one but two of the best children`s entertainers in Scotland – Ewan McVicar and Artie Trezise. 

Come the evening, whilst the sessions in both the pubs are reaching fever pitch, the crowd at the main concert will be treated to top class song from Top Floor Taivers, out of this world mandolin (and almost every other instrument) playing from Radim Zenkl and sheer magical exhuberance from The Langan Band.  If there is still some energy to be had you can sit back and relax at the Festival Club Unplugged or have a bop at the Late Night Extra.

Sunday……..mellow workshops, singarounds, storytelling and more plus a Tea Dance with cake, ballroom instruction and on hand butler – what more could you want ? Well a survivors session into the wee small hours actually!

2017 is the showcase year for Moniaive with its Creative Place Award project so pick up a leaflet or check on www.moniaivefestivalvillage.org.uk for info on a year-long feast of music, literature and visual art – you’ll possibly never want to leave!