FRIDAY 19 JUNE | SATURDAY 20 JUNE | SUNDAY 21 JUNE
Biggar Django Festival – Where Musicians and Community Meet
Biggar Django Festival is a weekend for musicians, music-lovers, and friends of the Django tradition to come together. Three days of live sets, workshops, film, dance, and jam sessions – all in the spirit of sharing, learning, and celebrating Django Reinhardt and gypsy jazz. Whether you play, dance, or simply listen, this is a festival built by and for the community.
A day ticket gives access to all the events/workshops/concerts on that day.
Some events have limited numbers, when purchasing a day ticket, under the heading Additional Add Ons, please select the events and number of tickets required. This option appears after you select save to cart.
FRIDAY 19th June 26 all below events @ Arcadia Music Cafe. THE GATHERING 12 – 3 pm EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Evening Concert ticket holders. ...and when the bands hang up their strings, stick around to JAM or mingle – anything could happen! Then head to the pub to catch the fitba! Venue: Arcadia Music Cafe, 1 Howieson Square (off High St) Biggar, ML12 6DPGypsy Jazz or Trad, sign up here for the opportunity to perform with the house band Moonshine Whisky Trio. Stick around to JAM or mingle – anything could happen! Then head to the pub to catch the fitba. |
SATURDAY 20th JUNE 26
12 – 1 pm FREE FILM Django Legacy*
Directed and produced by John Jeremy for Jazzology Productions, this 1991 UK documentary (52 mins) offers a vivid portrait of Django Reinhardt’s lasting influence. Filmed across France, Holland and the UK, it brings together leading musicians, rare archival footage and narration by Sacha Distel to create a compelling tribute to Django’s life and music. This special festival screening is taken from John’s own high‑quality archival master, digitised in 2021 from the National Film and Television Archive – a significant step up from the VHS‑sourced versions found online. Presented with the director’s arrangement, a portion of the licence fee supports the charity Family Friends Travellers.
2 – 4 pm FREE WORKSHOP DANCE Swing & Lindy Hop*
Join Cathy Harrison & Michael Joyce from Vintage Tap & Swing to learn some fun Lindy Hop moves and classic Swing Era styles. No experience? No problem – we’ll get you started and ready to take to the floor at Sunday’s live band social dance. Wear comfortable clothing, smooth soled shoes and bring water. No need to come with a partner. Prepare to laugh and let your feet be happy! Open to the public.
2 – 5 pm DJANGO JAM SESSION
Everyone’s welcome at The Crown for an easy-going Django‑inspired jam. Bring your instrument or just come along to enjoy the music, the company, and some fine whisky as players gather for a relaxed afternoon celebrating Django’s legacy.
2:30 – 3.30 pm FREE WORKSHOP GUITAR Le Pompe in Traditional Music*
With Jim MacKay (Celtic Django Project) on guitar and Martin Macleod on fiddle
Bring your guitar and explore accompaniment in this practical workshop on “La Pompe,” the distinctive Gypsy Jazz rhythm style. Learn how its driving strum and percussive feel can be adapted to traditional Scottish and Irish music. The session covers essential strumming techniques, rhythmic feel, and chord shapes, with style variations. Participants will apply these skills to Marches, Strathspeys, and Reels, and learn to adapt accompaniment in group or session setting.
HEADLINE ACT ROBIN NOLAN TRIO
7:30 pm LOCAL ARTISTS
8:30 pm ROBIN NOLAN TRIO play For the Love of George
We’re thrilled to welcome Robin Nolan, one of the world’s leading gypsy jazz guitarists, to the very first Biggar Django Festival. Known for his effortless swing, distinctive tone, and deep connection to Django Reinhardt’s legacy, Robin brings a rare blend of tradition and individuality to the stage. Joining him are two outstanding musicians in their own right: Chris Quinn, whose clarity, drive, and instinctive musicality make him an exceptional rhythm and solo guitarist, and John Wheatcroft, a bassist with a superb feel for time, texture, and ensemble playing. Together, they form a trio with real depth and rapport. They'll be playing music from Robin’s acclaimed album For the Love of George, weaving gypsy jazz with fresh interpretations of George Harrison’s songs. Expect a performance that’s dynamic, thoughtful, and full of the kind of musical conversation that only happens between players who truly listen to one another.
LATE NIGHT JAM SESSION
Everyone is welcome! Following our headline performance by Robin Nolan Trio, the music continues with an informal jam session. Stay on to take part in – or simply enjoy – spontaneous collaborations and improvisation between local and visiting musicians in a relaxed, late-night setting.
SUNDAY 21st JUNE 26
11 am – 2 pm DJANGO JAM SESSION
Everyone’s welcome at The Elph for an easy-going Django‑inspired jam. Bring your instrument or just come along to enjoy the music, the company, and some fine whisky as players gather to celebrate Django’s legacy.
Venue: The Elphinstone, 145 High St, Biggar ML12 6DL
2 – 3:30 pm FREE WORKSHOP GUITAR Django Improvisation
Learn Django‑style improvisation with John Wheatcroft, Principal Lecturer (Guitar) at BIMM London. This in‑depth session explores core technique, arpeggio shapes, rhythmic power and the expressive phrasing at the heart of Gypsy Jazz. John draws on experience gained from performing with Biréli Lagrène, Billy Cobham, Alex Acuña, John Williams, Frank Gambale, Paco Peña, Stochelo Rosenberg, Angelo Debarre, Paulus Schäfer and Mozes Rosenberg, offering practical insights you can immediately apply to your own playing. John also appears at Biggar Django Festival on upright bass for Robin Nolan Trio.
Venue: Arcadia Music Cafe, 1 Howieson Square (off High St) Biggar, ML12 6DP *Limited places available – first come, first served. Remember to add the workshop when purchasing your ticket!
2 – 4 pm FREE LIVE BAND SOCIAL DANCE Swing & Lindy Hop
Enjoy a lively social dance with CHARDON BLEU led by Stephen Tyler, featuring upbeat swing, welcoming Lindy Hop vibes and a full‑band festival buzz. Visiting musicians are encouraged to join the band, with a set list to be announced – bring your own charts, iPads and stands to slot straight into the band’s groove. Open to the public.
Venue: The Gillespie Centre, 74 High St, Biggar ML12 6BJ *Limited places available – first come, first served, when this workshop is released.
4 – 5 PM FREE WORKSHOP Fiddle
Join award‑winning violinist, vocalist and composer Seonaid Aitken for a hands-on fiddle masterclass exploring technique, expressive style, and creative approaches rooted in Scottish and Gypsy Jazz traditions, including improvisation, ornamentation, and ensemble playing.
Venue: Arcadia Music Cafe, 1 Howieson Square (off High St) Biggar, ML12 6DP *Limited places available – first come, first served. Remember to add the workshop when purchasing your ticket!
HEADLINE ACT SEONAID AITKEN’S MANOUCHE NOUVEAU
7:30 pm The Manouchetones
A Liverpool‑based Gypsy Jazz ensemble specialising in 1930s Hot Club swing, Latin jazz and Django Reinhardt originals. Micky Dunn, Karl Webb and John Wheatcroft deliver vibrant arrangements, tight ensemble playing and an irresistibly warm stage presence that brings classic swing to life for festival audiences.
8:30 pm SEONAID AITKEN’S Manouche Nouveau
Closing the festival in unforgettable style, Seonaid Aitken leads Manouche Nouveau with a fresh, modern take on Gypsy Jazz. Joined by the virtuosic Ross Baird and Ronan Toal on guitar and the soulful Roy Percy on upright bass, they craft a spellbinding blend of Django-inspired swing, contemporary chamber-jazz textures, and lyrical improvisation. Together, the quartet infuses the tradition with new energy, nuance, and cinematic colour, delivering a richly atmospheric, beautifully crafted performance. A leading figure in Scotland’s jazz and traditional music scenes, Seonaid is known for her work with Rose Room, her BBC broadcasting, and her distinctive blend of classical training, swing sensibility and folk influence. This headline set is a captivating journey, showcasing Seonaid’s expressive artistry and the trio’s dynamic chemistry, perfectly rounding off the festival weekend in style.
Venue: Biggar Corn Exchange, 126 High St, Biggar, ML12 6DL
LATE NIGHT JAM SESSION
Everyone’s invited! After Sunday night’s main gig with Seonaid Aitken’s Manouche Nouveau, stay behind for more music, improvisation, and collaborative jams with local and visiting musicians
The Biggar Live Collective includes:
Arcadia Music Cafe, Biggar Corn Exchange, The Crown Inn, The Elphinstone, The Gillespie Centre, and The Kirkstyle.
