Midst all the mayhem of Worlds Week, where the pipe band rules no question, piobaireachd, classical pipe music, could still be found by those looking for a more measured and contemplative bagpipe experience. The Piobaireachd Society was to the fore in providing just such an opportunity and here we have reviews from two recitals the Society promoted over the past seven days, the first in Edinburgh and the second in…

Overall Winner – Stephen Ross (pictured above receiving a new trophy, the Dr Colin Caird Quaich, from Frances Bullick (Dr Caird’s daughter) in memory of her late father, a prominent member of Piobaireachd Society and an amateur piping champion in his own right. Pictures courtesy Alastair Sinclair. Results: Grade 1 – Piobaireachd 1st Andrew Park 2nd Robert Wilson 3rd Stephen Ross Grade 1 – MSR 1st Stephen Ross 2nd Charles…

The 2018 Worlds Grade 1 competitions will be streamed live over the internet tomorrow (Aug 17) and Saturday. The Grade 1 qualification tomorrow (Friday) will be streamed live (from 10.30am) from the main arena by promoter Glasgow Life. Viewers will see one performance from each the 22 G1 bands, 11 bands from Qualifier 1 playing their MSR in the morning then the remaining 11 bands from Qualifier 2 playing their…

I think I know after nearly three hours of listening to them at close quarters what makes St Laurence O’Toole the band they are, writes the Editor. There is a spine of excellence running from the pipe major through their heartbeat, bass drummer John Dunne, to the admirable Creighton, D/Sgt. Stephen of that ilk. Pipe Major Alen Tully has a quiet command about him and Stephen homes in on every…

John Kelly reports from the Lorient Festival Interceltique in Brittany….. Eleven pipers from Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, USA, Australia and New Zealand competed for the 38th MacCrimmon Trophy held at the Palais Des Congrés at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient on Sunday 5th August. The winner was Stuart Liddell from Scotland who received the winning trophy from Festival Director, Lisardo Lombardia (above). The eleven contestants were: Brittany: Quentin Meunier, Gwenael Le…