Reflections on the Argyllshire Gathering 2016 – Silver & Gold Medals

I judged the Oban Silver Medal with Ian Duncan and Malcolm McRae. I remind readers of the statement top left on this page. The standard has been better. I don’t know if it was the tuning facility in the rather dank Ceilidh House, but too many pipers just didn’t have settled instruments on which to demonstrate their prowess. As stated earlier, the winner was Nick Hudson, Pittsburgh, USA. His tune…

Bagpipe Lung: The Definitive Report

There was much brouhaha in the national press a couple of weeks ago about the dangers to pipers from fungal spores and bacteria in their instruments. Today we publish the actual scientific findings on which these reports – some of them misleading – were based. Although the article contains a lot of medical terminology (as one would expect), we believe it is worth a proper read so that pipers fully understand, as best…

Results from Robert Burns Juniors, Dumfries

Results of the 17th Robert Burns Piping Contest 53rd September 2016, held in Dumfries Academy, Dumfries, supported by  South West Scotland Piping & Drumming Academy. Prizes were presented by Andy McCartney representing the South West Scotland Piping & Drumming Academy, the group who will now oversee the future of the Robert Burns Piping Contest as Sheila Howat is now stepping down after setting up and successfully growing the event for…

PP Editor’s Blog: Belfast Tattoo/2017 band dates/ FMM Recording/ Police losses/ Poll

The grand finale of the Belfast Tattoo last weekend marked the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme.  The massed bands and dancers were joined in the arena by Royal British Legion standard bearers in a moving tribute to all of those men and boys, who selflessly gave their lives.  The evening concluded with the audience joining the bands in singing, ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’, ‘It’s Long Way to Tipperary’ and ‘Auld…

Braemar Gathering – Updated With Juniors, Pic and Comment

A mixed day weather wise but the pipers had the benefit of a covered platform on which to play, writes the Editor. The standard was mixed too but the winner of the ceol mor, Nick Hudson, Pittsburgh, USA, produced an outstanding rendition of one of the most difficult tunes in the piobaireachd canon to take the £1,000 medal. Braemar Gold Medal Piobaireachd 1 Nick Hudson, Lament for the Laird of…