The following press releases were issued to day by Piping Inverness, the promoters of the European Pipe Band Chanpionships, and the National Piping Centre promoters of the Piping Live! festival. Firstly Piping Inverness…..
Piping Inverness takes place next month, with over 140 bands competing, including eight from Australia (Knox Grammar School Pipe Band, Sydney, pictured above) one from the USA, and one from Switzerland. Piping Inverness encompasses the European Pipe Band Championships, which are expected to attract 4,000 pipers and drummers and dancers to Inverness’ Bught Park on Saturday 29th June.
Entries have exceeded expectations, with the bands travelling from as far afield as Melbourne in Australia, whilst closer to home, pipe bands are coming from Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, Dornoch, and Skye. Thirty-four Juvenile Bands have also entered, with some of the pipers as young as nine participating in this much coveted competition.
The European Pipe Band Championships are a one-day competition, with bands and Drum Majors competing in nine categories. The Champions will be the winning Grade One band.
[wds id=”2″]Ian Embleton, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), said: ‘We’re delighted that so many bands have entered the European Pipe Band Championships as part of Piping Inverness, and with 12 Grade One bands taking part this year, it’s set to be a tightly fought competition. Good luck to all the competitors.’
Rebecca Corbett of LCC Live, the organisers of Piping Inverness, said: Piping Inverness is proving exceptionally popular with bands travelling from around the world, and visitors coming from near and far to enjoy what will be a superb pipe band competition.
“To have eight bands travelling from Australia and 12 Grade One bands competing reinforces the popularity of the Championships, but also the appeal of Inverness as it plays host to the event for the first time.”
Tickets for Piping Inverness are available at: www.pipinginverness.com.
Piping Live! Promo
‘Glasgow’s Buchanan Street was today transformed into the Piping Walk of Fame, with Hollywood-style stars revealing the headliners of this year’s Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival, which returns to the city 10 – 18 August 2019.
‘The festival gave Glasgow’s Style Mile a piping hot makeover, lining the popular street with tartan-themed stars announcing the big names set to perform – including Dougie MacLean, Finlay Johnston, Dàimh and Lúnasa.
‘Now in its 16th year, Piping Live! is the biggest festival of its kind, attracting over 40,000 music fans, families and tourists who travel from around the globe to watch more than 5,000 pipers perform at 150 events across the city.
‘The programme will feature performances by the very best international acts from countries including New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada and Scotland, and will also see the return of the fiercely contested Masters Solo, International Quartet and Pipe Idol competitions. In addition, there will be daily performances, family fun and the hugely popular Street Café will return to The National Piping Centre for the festival.’
Piping Live! is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and Glasgow Life.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: ‘Events play a key role in our visitor economy and EventScotland is delighted to be continuing its support of Piping Live! in 2019.’
Councillor David MacDonald, depute leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life said: ‘The return of Piping Live! always brings a vibrancy to the city with exceptional musical performances from incredible musicians. Coming in the days leading up to The World Pipe Band Championships it makes for the biggest celebration of piping and Pipe Bands in the World.‘
The BBC’s ‘Pipeline’ show will be recording a Piping Live preview on Thursday 13th June at the National Piping Centre. The line-up includes Jarlath Henderson, Iain Speirs and Hecla. Tickets are on sale now via www.pipinglive.co.uk
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