Braemar Folk Festival 2023

Get ready for an intimate weekend of music in the heart of the Cairngorms this autumn.

Braemar Folk Festival returns with packed mainstage concerts in the atmospheric surrounds of St Margaret’s, while cosy venues throughout this quintessential highland village come alive with foot-stomping jam sessions, bespoke workshops and informal acoustic sets.

Nestled in the upper reaches of the Dee valley, among the mountains and Caledonian pine forests, there is plenty of opportunity to roam in the hills, swim in the rivers and lochs and enjoy the stunning nature and landscapes that this special part of Scotland has to offer.

Braemar Folk Festival is now an established and growing focal point in Scotland’s cultural calendar and was a finalist for ‘Event of the Year’ at the 2022 BBC Trad Music Awards. This October’s event is set to be the biggest yet.

Arrive in Braemar on the Friday afternoon and get into the festival vibe, with a welcome session led by some of Scotland’s top young trad talent in the local pub. We’re spoiled for great talent with an all-star, all-female line-up for our opening night concert, featuring Scots Singer of the Year Beth Malcolm and the powerhouse string group Kinnaris Quintet, with the tunes going on afterwards right into the wee small hours.

Saturday’s packed programme features workshops for beginners and improvers, a guided walk to reach a truly unique fireside concert in a mountain bothy*, plenty of opportunities for informal jamming throughout the day before you dance the night away to the sounds of the Low Light Listening Lounge and high-octane Elephant Sessions.

On Sunday, we’ll take things at an easier pace — with more workshops and a farewell session before you wind your way home.

While we want you to come to Braemar, stay the whole weekend and really soak up the festival atmosphere we know that accommodation options in the village are limited. That’s why this year we’ve put on a Festival Bus, to take you to and from our Friday and Saturday night concerts, and opening up more accommodation options throughout Deeside.