From a village hall to an international festival - Rothbury event celebrates traditional music without borders

Today, the Rothbury Traditional Music Festival is one of Northumberland's most enduring cultural events.

Running from 10–12 July, it combines world-class performances, competitions, workshops, ceilidhs and informal music sessions, while remaining firmly rooted in the community that helped create it.

For Alistair Anderson, however, the festival has always been about more than simply presenting concerts.

"Traditional music only survives if people participate in it," he says. "The idea was never to create something people simply watched. It was about bringing musicians together, sharing tunes, encouraging young people and creating opportunities for everyone to get involved."

Widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in Northumbrian traditional music, Alistair has spent decades championing the region's unique musical heritage. Through his work as a performer, composer, educator and broadcaster, he has helped introduce generations of people to the sounds of the Northumbrian pipes, traditional song and folk music.

The festival reflects that same philosophy.

Alongside headline performances from internationally respected artists, visitors will find children's competitions, piping contests, singing competitions, workshops for beginners and opportunities to learn directly from some of the finest traditional musicians working today.

This year's line-up includes acclaimed performers from across the UK, Ireland, Belgium and Norway, demonstrating how Rothbury has evolved from a local gathering into a festival with an international reputation.

Yet despite attracting visitors from far beyond Northumberland, organisers remain committed to preserving the character that has made the festival special for generations.

Unlike many large commercial festivals, Rothbury continues to rely heavily on volunteers, local support and a shared passion for traditional music. Informal sessions spill out into village pubs, musicians gather spontaneously throughout the weekend and audiences often find themselves performing alongside professionals.

This year's festival continues that proud tradition, welcoming performers from across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

Visitors will hear the music of Northumberland alongside Irish traditional music, Scottish influences, Norwegian tunes and international folk traditions, demonstrating how traditional music connects communities across borders and generations.

Among the international guests are Irish duo Mícheál & MacDara Ó Raghallaigh, Belgian accordionist Elke de Meester and Norwegian musician Sigrid Ruyter Smolan, who will also lead a workshop exploring Norwegian traditional tunes.

Festival Director Ian Stephenson believes this sense of participation remains the event's greatest strength.

"There is something incredibly special about seeing world-class musicians performing alongside local players, young people trying an instrument for the first time and families experiencing traditional music together. That's what makes Rothbury unique."

As the festival prepares to welcome another generation of performers and visitors, Alistair Anderson's original vision remains remarkably unchanged: celebrating traditional music, encouraging participation and ensuring that Northumberland's rich cultural heritage continues to thrive.

More than fifty years on, that vision is still bringing people together in Rothbury.

The event has helped establish Rothbury as an important destination on the traditional music calendar, attracting visitors, performers and cultural tourists to Coquetdale every year.

Alongside concerts and workshops, the festival preserves local traditions through competitions for Northumbrian piping, singing, composition and dialect poetry, ensuring local culture remains central to the weekend.

For programme details and tickets visit www.rothburymusicfestival.co.uk