Have Pipes, Will Travel: How to Deal with the New Blackwood Legislation

Since our articles on the new CITES regulations covering pipes made from African blackwood there has been a growing concern among pipers about how they may be affected when travelling abroad with their instruments, writes the Editor. In particular ‘what about the hundreds of pipers who travel here for the Worlds?’ has been a familiar cry. Before I get to that, I need to repeat that at the moment travel within the EU…

Latest from the Midwest Highland Arts Fund ‘Winter Storm’ Event

The organisers of the annual ‘Winter Storm’ piping and drumming weekend have sent this from Kansas City, USA: ‘MHAF Winter Storm continues to grow in 2017.  Since 2001, The Midwest Highland Arts Fund has been striving to continuously build, improve, and grow one of the premier piping and drumming events in the world – Winter Storm. ‘This year marks as the inaugural year for amateur grades 1, 2, and 3…

The Day Richard’s Bag Burst, the Power Burst a Drum and the Vale Played the Wrong Tune

This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of the RSPBA’s ‘Pipe Band’ magazine. As this issue of the magazine is now out of print, it is reproduced here in the belief that it will be of interest to pipe band members, adjudicators and the listening public. The article was written by Alistair Aitken OBE, one of our most respected pipe band commentators and a former RSPBA adjudicator….. Burst…

Virginia Tattoo Contest Opens Doors to Grade Three Pipe Bands

Organisers of the Virginia International Tattoo Pipe Band Competition have sent details of their 2017 event. There is no information as yet of Grade 1 bands taking part. The above picture shows P/Ms Douglas Murray and Stuart Liddell leading the massed bands in Amazing Grace at last April’s competition. The release reads: ‘The Tattoo will host the Second Annual Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship on April 29, 2017,…

All Ireland Results/ London Reminder/ Band Regradings

Reminder: Andrew Hall, President of the Scottish Piping Society of London, has asked us to remind everyone that entries for this year’s competition close on September 30th and that late entries will not be accepted. The draw for the competition will be announced early next month. Andrew added: ‘We are particularly keen to encourage more juvenile entries.  There are three events in that grade which are all own choice tunes. …