Killin Music Festival


Killin Music Festival is a Scottish music festival held annually in Killin, Perthshire.

Killin Music Festival

The festival was launched in late 2015 by a local voluntary team who started planning for their first event in the summer of 2016.
In June 2016, the weekend festival was attended by nearly 1,000 people and hosted over 100 artists across Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2016. The festival incorporates one main stage in the McLaren Hall, Killin, along with workshops, sessions and fringe activities throughout the area.
In November 2016 the festival was nominated as the Best New Festival at the UK Festival Awards 2016.
In June 2017, the festival expanded to include a session tent marquee.
In November 2017, the festival was nominated for Event of the Year in the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2017, one of five finalists.
In February 2018, the festival was nominated for an Epic Award from Voluntary Arts, one of ten Scottish finalists.
In June 2018, the festival session tent marquee evolved into a second stage.
In July 2019, the organising group became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
In March 2020, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 the fifth festival, which was scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 June 2020, was postponed and rescheduled to take place from 18 to 20 June 2021.

2016

The first Killin Music Festival was held from 17 to 19 June 2016.

Artists

Friday 17 June 2016Saturday 18 June 2016Sunday 19 June 2016
SkipinnishScott Wood BandThe Deadly Winters
Whisky KissHave Mercy Las VegasCallum, Connor & Fergus
Rachel SermanniTrail WestJock the Box & Duncan MacKinnon
Jack McRobbieJenn Butterworth & LB SalterTommy Weir
Box o' BananasDonald Black BandFergus & Lewis Walker
Friel SistersComrie Pipe Band
Mischa MacPherson Trio
Sarah Hayes

-----
;Notes:

2017

The second Killin Music Festival was held from 16 to 19 June 2017 in Killin, Perthshire.

Artists

2018

The third Killin Music Festival was held from 15 to 17 June 2018 in Killin, Perthshire. Early bird tickets went on sale on Monday 19 June 2017 and sold out within 90 minutes.

Artists

2019

The fourth Killin Music Festival was held from 14 to 16 June 2019 in Killin, Perthshire.

Artists

2020

The fifth Killin Music Festival was scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 June 2020 in Killin, Perthshire. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 the event was postponed and rescheduled to take place from 18 to 20 June 2021.

2021

The fifth Killin Music Festival is scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 June 2021 in Killin, Perthshire.

Open Stage Competition

The festival runs an open stage competition during the weekend where five artists or groups are selected from applicants, with one winner being judged by an industry expert. The winner is presented with an Open Stage Winner trophy and is invited to play on the main stage at the following years festival.
YearWinnerVenue
2016The Deadly Winters, and Calum, Connor & Fergus McLaren Hall, Killin
2017Calum MacKenzie JonesKillin Hotel, Killin
2018Abi & KatiePortnellan Tent, Killin
2019Man of the MinchPortnellan Tent, Killin
2020

Col Charles Stewart Quaich

In 2020 the festival introduced a competition to award the new Col Charles Stewart Quaich. The competition accepts any performance of music, poetry or stories, which celebrate the local area of Killin and Perthshire, and is inspired by Killin’s heritage in traditional Scottish music, in particular, Stewart’s ‘The Killin Collection’.
Col Charles Stewart was a prominent figure in Killin and Perthshire, and helped to preserve and promote local history, folklore and music. Among his many achievements Stewart was Chief of the Perth Gaelic Society, Director of the Killin Railway, head of Killin Gaelic Choir and was a respected historian and translator of old manuscripts. Born in Glen Lyon, Stewart spent the greater part of his life in Killin at Tigh’n Duin. His legacy ‘The Killin Collection’ comprises songs and tunes of the local area from the 18th century.

History

Killin Traditional Music and Dance Festival 1995 – 2003

The Killin Traditional Music and Dance Festival, also known as Killin Folk Festival, ran for nine festivals from 1995 until 2003. Danny Kyle served as festival director for the first three festivals, from 1995 through 1998, until his passing on 7 July 1998.