Entries for the major competitions at the 2025 Argyllshire Gathering (Aug. 27/28), and the Northern Meeting (Sept. 11/12), close on January 31, just over two weeks away.
No late entries will be considered by the promoters. The entry deadline includes those playing for the Senior Piobaireachd, the Clasp and both Former Winners’ March, Strathspey and Reel competitions.
A meeting to finalise those eligible for Gold and Silver Medal competitions will be held next month and the pipers notified as soon as possible. Entry fees for both Oban and Inverness are £50 (multiple events).
AG entries here; NM entries here. NB: Entries for The MacGregor Memorial competition at Oban should be received by 31st March. This competition will be capped at 30. Inverness juniors: Applications should be made before 31 May here.
Northern Ireland Bands
RSPBANI Chairman Alastair Patterson has announced a roster of dates for the 2025 season. Dates and venues may be subject to change ‘partly due but not limited to the anticipated announcement regarding 2025 British Pipe Band Championship’.
Mr Patterson added: ‘The Northern Ireland Branch is delighted to announce the proposed schedule of competition dates for the 2025 season. I am pleased to say we are in a positive position and at an advanced stage with the work continuing behind the scenes.
‘For those events that are still marked TBC, we continue our work to finalise these events and will update all our Bands and Drum Majors as and when we can – but rest assured, the dates are now there and I trust all of you can start to plan the season ahead.’
Ross Record
Ross Miller: ‘I’m releasing a new single on Friday 24th January titled ’The Drunken Man from Kalabakan’. It’s coming out on the same day as my gig at Celtic Connections. I’m getting it out ahead of time to encourage people to buy tickets to my gig but also to Pre-Save my new single so it’s in their playlists as soon as it’s released.
‘My gig is in the Strathclyde Suite at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall the night before Inveraray play at the piping concert so people could make a weekend of it. This new single takes three classic pipe tunes and presents them in a modern and engaging style. Beginning with a voice note of the original idea, the listener is transported straight from the infancy of the concept to impactful, full band sound.’
