By Laëtitia Bernigaud From August 7 to 16, 2020, we should have celebrated the 50th year of the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, entitled ‘Year of Brittany’, and half a century of contemporary ‘intercelticism’. It is hard to believe 50 years have passed since the arrival in 1971, in Lorient, of the National Bagadoù Championship, the forerunner of the Festival. In five decades the ‘Fête des Cornemuses’ associated with the first Lorient…

There is a vacancy created by another withdrawal from Aboyne, writes Dr Jack Taylor. Anyone interested in entering will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Six piobaireachd and three MSRs are needed, tunes chosen on the day.  An audio recording is made on Games Day, 1st August, supervised by one of our stewards. Contact me on jackandmarytaylor@gmail.com or 07999955386. Details are on the entry form here. At least there won’t…

Composer and piper Karen McCrindle Warren (pictured above) is the winner of the Piping Press Lockdown Composing Contest. Judge Barry Donaldson selected Karen’s air ‘Becca’s’ from some high quality entries. She receives a voucher for the Piping Press Shop. On hearing the news Karen said: ‘That’s wonderful; I’m absolutely delighted. If you want a little background, it’s named after one of the pipers in Kilmarnock Pipe Band, Rebecca Melaugh from…

The Argyllshire Gathering has confirmed that they will not be holding Gold or Silver Medal or light music piping competitions this year. Nor will there be Senior Piobaireachd or Former Winners’ MSR contests. All events had been due to take place in Oban in six weeks time on August 26 & 27. The only competition which will go ahead is the online MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd for young professional pipers. However…

By Ian McLaren Below are details issued on behalf of Aboyne Highland Games about its decision to move some of its piping competitions online this year following the event’s cancellation due to COVID-19.  Aboyne is believed to be the first Highland games in Scotland to introduce virtual piping competitions this year, a move that will provide solo pipers with a platform to play competitively.  Demand from pipers led to the number of…