PP Ed’s Blog: Band Formations/ Muirheads Names/ Colin Thomson/ Braemar/Jack Lee

Those of us who have been advocating ‘concert formation’ for pipe band competition for many years were cheered by yesterday’s announcement that the Edinburgh Pipe Band Championship, to be held in Princes Street Gardens on June 18, will adopt just such a format. All credit to John Hughes the RSPBA Lothian & Borders Branch Chairman, and Vice-Chairman of the Association, for taking this initiative. When I played there in the…

Pipe Band Contest Returns to Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh

On Sunday 18th June 2017, the City of Edinburgh prepares to welcome back the pipe band fraternity after an absence of 17 years. Not since the year 2000 has there been a pipe band contest in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. This year’s Axios Systems – Edinburgh Pipe Band Championship will take place at the Ross Theatre in West Princes Street Gardens. The Edinburgh Championship will provide an ideal platform…

PP Ed’s Blog: J Ban MacKenzie/ Weekend contests/ Govan concert/ Donald McBride

A painting of John Ban MacKenzie reputed to be worth £10,000 has been stolen from a house in East Lothian in what police have described as a ‘targeted theft’. The picture entitled ‘Piper to the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane’ by JM Barclay, which dates from 1842, was taken from a house near Kippielaw Farm, near East Linton. The BBC reported that four other paintings of black and gold Asian-style design were…

World’s Week Parade to Aid Glasgow Children’s Hospital

The press office for Piping Live have sent this about a spectacular fundraiser during World’s Week…. Calling all pipers and drummers! Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival (7 – 13 August) is inviting you to take part in this year’s Piping Live! Big Band – a spectacular parade set to open this year’s festival, in honour of the work of the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. The Piping Live! Big Band will…

Solo Piping Versus Bands and Thoughts on the B Piobaireachd at the Atholl Gathering

As you may have read, the winner of the B Grade Piobaireachd at Sunday’s Atholl Gathering was Charles MacDonald from Inverness (pictured above on his way to victory). His tune was the Lament for Captain MacDougall, writes the Editor. He had a lovely pipe as far as could be discerned through the discordant hum of the bouncy castle generator directly opposite the platform. Charles’s finger was good apart from the odd…