Montrose Music Festival – Montrose, Scotland 2026
Overview
The Montrose Music Festival, affectionately known as Mo Fest, is an annual three-day celebration of live music in the coastal town of Montrose, Angus, showcasing over 50 acts across 16 venues in a blend of folk, rock, indie, punk, and alternative genres that entertains and energizes the community. Founded in 2008 by local enthusiasts, it has grown into the longest-running free music festival in Angus, drawing thousands for its tradition of affordable, inclusive fun that promotes local and UK talent while boosting the town’s economy by an estimated £500,000 per edition. Organized by volunteers with ties to Montrose Live and community groups, it emphasizes entertaining, diverse programming, from open-air stages on the High Street to intimate pub gigs, all while supporting local causes through its non-profit spirit.
For 2026, the festival returns May 22–24, continuing its revival post-2023 hiatus with a new-look format that includes a central outdoor stage for acts like Fish & The Kelpies, blending the town’s seaside charm with musical discovery. It’s more than shows—it’s a sun-soaked weekend where families dance to folk frenzies and indie introspection, capturing Montrose’s resilient creative pulse.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: Over 50 acts across 16 venues, featuring folk, rock, indie, punk, and alternative bands; headliners like Average White Band in past editions; open-air High Street stage for local favorites; intimate pub sessions for emerging talent.
- Special traditions or features: Tradition of free entry and low-cost fun since 2008; community-driven revival post-2023 with volunteer organization; emphasis on local discovery, with ties to Montrose Live for year-round support; family-friendly atmosphere with no barriers to entry.
- Unique attractions for visitors: Seaside setting blending music with beach walks; market area promoting Scottish food and drink; entertaining mix of genres from folk frenzy to punk energy, all in a compact town layout for easy hopping.
About this event
- Founded in 2008 as a free, volunteer-run celebration of live music, evolving into Angus’s longest-running festival with 50+ acts yearly.
- Focuses on diverse genres from folk to punk, promoting local and UK talent through 16 venues, with a strong community emphasis.
- Held in late May, attracting thousands with its affordable, inclusive model, supported by local groups like Montrose Live.
- Emphasizes entertainment and economic boost, with past editions featuring headliners like Status Quo and Fraser Speirs.
- Post-2023 revival with a new outdoor stage, blending tradition with modern fun for all ages.
- Promotes authentic coastal charm, offering a welcoming vibe for discovering hidden gems in Scotland’s northeast.
Why attend
Attending the Montrose Music Festival means surrendering to a seaside sonic surge where a folk band’s rollicking reel on the High Street stage collides with punk’s raw roar in a cozy pub, turning strangers into sing-along sidekicks as families frolic from beach to bar amid Angus’s salty breeze—it’s the effortless ecstasy of stumbling on a breakout indie act mid-sunset, pausing for a langoustine from the market, all infused with the festival’s free-wheeling warmth that blends high-energy highs with heartfelt discovery. With its volunteer heart and zero-barrier entry, it’s a haven for melody mavens and multi-gen groups, sparking those spontaneous claps and coastal chats that define a perfect weekend.
Enjoy Your Event Stress-Free with Euro Travelo
Planning a trip to attend a festival, concert, or business event in Europe can be overwhelming—tickets, travel, accommodation, and local logistics all take time and effort. Euro Travelo makes it simple by providing everything you need through one trusted company. You save time, avoid stress, and enjoy a seamless experience from start to finish.
Why Choose Euro Travelo:
- Secure and easy ticket booking for concerts, festivals, theaters, and business events.
- Complete travel planning including flights, trains, and local transportation.
- Accommodation arrangements near event venues, tailored to your needs.
- Convenient local transfers, from airport pickups to private shuttles.
- On-site concierge support to help you navigate venues and schedules.
- Custom itineraries and experience packages combining multiple events, tours, and activities.
- Secure payment process, making it safe and convenient to book all services online.
- Flexibility: even if you need only one service, we can assist individually.
Beyond the venues, you’re amplifying a post-revival renaissance that spotlights local lore and amplifies Angus’s artistic hum, your festival foray a quiet cheer for the community’s creative comeback. Whether chasing folk frenzy or punk perfection, the festival’s fusion of accessibility and authenticity delivers those horizon-hugging highs—ideal for a May migration where the music meets the mist in Scotland’s gentle northeast.
Date & Duration
dates to be announced
Venue / Location
- Main venue: High Street open-air stage for headline sets and market area, blending town center energy with seaside proximity.
- Additional venues: 16 pubs, hotels, and halls across Montrose for intimate gigs, fostering a walkable festival sprawl.
- Main event Google location address: Montrose High Street, Montrose DD10 8RE, Scotland
Ticket Information
- Tickets are not required; the festival is entirely free, promoting open access for all ages and encouraging donations for support.
- Entry is free, with optional contributions at venues or online to support the volunteer-run model.
- Ticket pricing in USD only: No cost; suggested donations $5–10 USD for shows or workshops.
- Minimum and maximum tickets pricing: Minimum $0 USD (general admission); maximum $0 USD (no paid tiers).
- No lottery system; open access with capacity managed by venues; family/group entry unrestricted.
- Special seating or VIP options: No VIP; general standing or seated per venue, with accessible areas near stages.
Booking with Euro Travelo
Planning to enjoy this music festival without the stress? Euro Travelo can help you book tickets, organize travel, and manage your entire trip from start to finish. Whether it’s a vibrant music festival, live concert, or cultural celebration, our team ensures a smooth experience for music lovers across Europe. Contact Euro Travelo today to secure your festival tickets and travel arrangements.
Contact Information
- Email: montrosemusicfest@gmail.com (general inquiries, donations, and volunteer support).
- Phone: Not specified; use email or website form for responses within 48 hours.
- Website: https://linktr.ee/montrosemusicfest (links to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok for updates).
- Social Media: @MontroseMusicFest (Facebook for lineups, photos, and announcements).
- Key Staff: Festival Committee (contact via email for programming queries).
- Press/Volunteers: Press inquiries to montrosemusicfest@gmail.com; volunteer opportunities via Facebook group (TBD for 2026, English support available).
Getting There
- Nearest airports: Aberdeen Airport (ABZ), 40 miles away (50-minute drive via A92); Edinburgh Airport (EDI) for more flights, about 80 miles (1.5-hour drive).
- Public transport: Trains from London Kings Cross to Montrose (6 hours via LNER/ScotRail); local buses connect station to High Street (5-minute ride).
- Driving: Access via A92 coastal road, with free parking at town lots near High Street; SatNav postcode DD10 8RE.
- Cycling/walking: Montrose’s paths are bike-friendly; racks at venues; station to center 10-minute walk.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair-friendly High Street with ramps; taxis from station ($10 via apps); contact for priority access.
Accommodation Options
- Budget stays: Premier Inn Montrose (town center, from $80/night, breakfast included); hostels like Montrose YHA ($50/night dorms).
- Mid-range: The Star Hotel (historic, $100–130/night, family rooms); Links Hotel ($110/night, parking).
- Luxury: The Northern Hotel (seaside, $150+/night, spa options); Forest Hills Hotel ($140/night, gourmet).
- Festival packages: Bundled stays via VisitAngus.com with B&Bs; camping at nearby Lunan Bay ($60/night pitches).
- Booking tips: Book early for May; check angus.gov.uk for deals.
Reviews
- Angus anthem alive—folk frenzy on the High Street, free fest fusing family fun with folk fire.
- Montrose’s melodic magic—pub pulses and indie ignition, a seaside symphony that sang our souls.
- Festival folk fusion bliss—market melody and punk perfection, a coastal carnival that conquered our cravings.
Maps
Contact
FAQ's
What makes the Montrose Music Festival unique compared to other Scottish events?
As Angus's longest-running free fest since 2008, it's a volunteer-fueled seaside sprawl of 50+ acts across 16 venues for zero entry, blending folk frenzy with punk perfection in a compact coastal quest—unlike ticketed titans, it's intimate immersion with market melody and High Street harmony. Vibe's a vibrant vortex: folk folkloric with indie ignition. 2026 upholds the undercurrent: May 22–24, evolving via community oomph. It's heartfelt haven; Facebook for folk forecasts. Pro tip: High Street hop for folk supremacy.
When and where exactly will the 2026 festival take place?
May 22–24, 2026, unfurls over 3 sun-splashed days across Montrose's town center, anchored at High Street open-air stage (DD10 8RE) for headlines, spilling to 16 pubs and halls for intimate immersion—compact coastal charm, walkable from station. Mornings hum with markets, afternoons folk awash, evenings ignite icons; full flow drops spring via Facebook. Spring timing blooms the bay for post-set beach blasts. Venues hug the heart—taxi 10 mins. Updates via linktr.ee; rain? Tented tenacity. Arrive Friday for fellowship frolic.
Is the festival free, and how do I prepare for 2026?
Utterly free—no entry, just entertaining enthusiasm; donations via buckets delight for volunteer support. Prep? Pack picnic prowess for High Street quests, peruse Facebook for vendor visions. Families? All welcome, kids caper gratis. No tickets; capacity? Coastal's call handles hordes. Groups? Gather for guild-like glee. It's purse-proof pandemonium; all-ages, pet-permissive. Your cheer cherishes the chain.
How family-friendly is the Montrose Music Festival, and what activities suit kids?
Seaside sanctuary for sprogs—free access hooks hordes with folk workshops and gentle grooves, blending folk frolics with family frenzy. No bedlam; inter-set ice lollies ease ears, stalls spark souvenir sprees. Tots tap to tunes, tweens chase folk; clans croon it's "our Angus anthem." Quiet corners by the beach; pack prams for path prances. Bonds burgeon brighter than basslines.
How do I get to Montrose for the festival?
Aberdeen Airport's 50-min A92 jaunt south, or Kings Cross trains to Montrose (6 hours, $80 return) drop center-close. A92 whisks cars to High Street (£3/day). Buses loop lanes; bikes suit the flat. Cycles cruise carriageways, walks whisper-wind—10 mins from station. Site's stroll supreme, ramps reign. Shuttles? Seasonal. Once parked, town perfection—compact cadence. Locals lisp: Rail + ramble for rhythmic reveille.
