The Glasgow Barons Early Music Festival

The Govan Early Music Festival returns for its third year, taking place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July at the historic Govan Old Parish Church, home of the Govan Stones.

Curated by Glasgow Barons Executive Artistic Director Paul MacAlindin, the festival presents a weekend of free and low-cost concerts celebrating the growing early music scene in Scotland and beyond.

This year’s programme brings together returning favourites and new ensembles. The Glasgow-based vocal quartet Iuchair returns, alongside performances from emerging and established musicians across the UK and Europe.

Highlights include The Curious Collection, a new early music ensemble led by Aaron McGregor; Iuchair performing 12th-century devotional music from Santiago de Compostela; and cellist Pei-Jee Ng, principal cello of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, performing Bach’s Cello Suites 1–3.

The festival also features The Glasgow Barons' Emerging Artists programme, with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland master’s students performing baroque arias with student string players on period instruments. Other performances include Héloïse Bernard and friends performing the music of Dowland on the 400^th anniversary of his death, and The Royal Sackbut Collective, a young London ensemble performing music from the medieval to baroque periods on early brass instruments.

All concerts take place in the atmospheric setting of Govan Old Parish Church. Lunchtime performances are free, while evening concerts are priced between £1 and £5, ensuring the festival remains accessible to all.

Paul MacAlindin, Executive Artistic Director of The Glasgow Barons, said: “Our third edition of The Glasgow Barons Early Music Festival brings 600 years of fantastic music into the atmospheric environment of the famous Govan Stones. In just two years, we've turned Govan into a centre for Scottish excellence in early music. Just as we celebrate the ancient, we also support today's young musicians to fall in love with the art of playing these works, sharing their expertise and joy with you. Beautiful music, rock bottom prices, free hot drinks and disabled access. Come and join us!”