The Piping Live! Big Band will return for its 5th showcase at this year’s festival as pipers of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in the mass participation event, the Festival announced today.
On Monday 8th August 150 pipers will gather, ranging from little learners playing their chanters to seasoned professionals playing the pipes in their retirement. The bespoke big band will walk the streets of Glasgow as they perform a repertoire of tunes that everyone can play.
The Piping Live! Big Band is open to anyone who plays apractice chanter, bagpipes, snare, bass or tenor drum, or is a drum major! All ages are welcome, with past events welcoming people aged 8-86. Players can sign up to be part of the Piping Live! Big Band at www.pipinglive.co.uk.
The Big Band is a way of bringing pipers who are not otherwise taking part in the festival together and lets them be a part of the prestigious Piping Live! line-up. Leading the parade this year will be Piping Live! Artistic Director and the Director of Piping at the National Piping Centre, Finlay MacDonald, as well as some of the National Piping Centre’s world-renowned teaching team.
The Piping Live! Big Band will set off from Blythswood Square at 12noon and make its way to George Square via West George Street. The event will last for around an hour.
This year will be the first Big Band event since 2019, due to the covid restrictions that were in place in 2020 and 2021. However, now with the festival back to its full in-person offering, organisers can’t wait to welcome everyone back to take part in this fantastic event.
