By The Editor A week on Saturday the RSPBA Music Board is hosting a meeting of all Grade 1 pipe majors and leading drummers. The main topic for discussion in what is billed as a ‘ground-breaking event‘ is the future of the pipe band medley. The current shutdown has afforded an opportunity for those at the top of the movement to get off the treadmill, think outside the box, go…

By Robert Wallace It is with sincere regret that I report the passing of Tommy Johnston, one of the great characters of pipe band drumming and piping, much loved father of Finlay and joint proprietor of world famous reedmaking company Pipe Dreams. Tommy passed away in hospital last night after a short illness aged only 65. His loss will be felt by all who knew him and his hundreds of…

By Robert Wallace There were a few points I missed in my ‘nightmare scenario’ comments last week. The first is the plight of our bagpipe making/ Highland supplies industry. Orders are slowing. Without pipe band competition, and to a lesser extent solo contests, the future does not look good. The blow to these companies is being offset at the moment by the UK government’s furlough scheme which guarantees 80% of…