Damp conditions confronted the first bands on at today’s Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton. The picturesque park juts out into the confluence of the rivers Clyde and Leven and as such can be very exposed in high winds. Defending Grade 1 champions Inveraray are pictured above. Today’s competition, the penultimate championship of the pipe band summer, is seen as an important pointer for the World Pipe Band…

The world’s best pipers will converge on the west Highland town of Oban on August 22 and 23 for the annual Argyllshire Gathering. Entries for all events are, as expected, very high but the organisers say they are particularly encouraged by the entry among the younger pipers for their two main events, the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd sponsored by the Highland Society of London, and the Intermediate March, Strathspey and Reel…

Canadian composer Michael Grey (pictured) has produced his seventh book of bagpipe music. It will be launched as part of the 2018 Piping Live! Festival in Glasgow. Michael has sent this information: ‘“More Music for Everyone”, will be showcased at a session at the National Piping Centre’s auditorium, Wednesday, August 15 at 2:30 pm. The book is his most ambitious to date with over 20 contributors, a perfect bound 92 page full…

Some say he doesn’t know his high G from an ogee, that when he tunes his snare head it sounds as if he’s been on the Snakehead; others that he thinks KP nuts are fans of a particular drummer….all we know is he is called MacStig – and he was as sober as an RSPBA judge when he wrote this………… The Old Rock in the estuary of mother Clyde will…