78th Fraser Concert/ Fred Recital/ John MacLellan Contest etc

The organisers of the 78th Frasers  Concert at Celtic Connections next January have sent the announcement below. The above picture shows the band under P/M Bill Livingstone in 1987, the year they created history by becoming the first ever overseas band to win the World Pipe Band Championship:  Superstar Percussionists Added to Cast of Glasgow’s 2016 Celtic Connection Festival’s Celebration of the Music of ‘Live in Ireland 87’  A group…

P/M Richard Parkes Interview Part 2: My Pipe Band Philosophy

Today we continue with our interesting interview with P/M Richard Parkes of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, the most successful of modern times. The band suffered a setback this year when trying for their fifth Worlds title in a row, but they still had a very satisfying season winning three Major titles and the Grade 1 Champion of Champions title. However, the Worlds was the big one, and here P/M Parkes…

Westinghouse Pipe Band/ Archibald Campbell Part 2/ Pipes for Sale/

We hear much about piping in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, these days: the Carnegie Mellon Pipe Band under the expert leadership of Professor of Piping Andrew Carlisle, and the piping degree course established at CM University by Jimmy McIntosh, a trailblazer for similar courses around the world. But how many denizens of the steel town know of this band of yesteryear? They are the ‘Westinghouse Bagpipe Band’ from Wilkinsburg and the ‘Piping, Drumming…

PP Editor’s Blog: David Murray/ Glenfiddich/ Advertisers/ Pipe Band Roadshow

It was a pleasure yesterday to speak to David Murray on the phone. David has just celebrated his 94th birthday and is still taking a keen interest in piping via Piping Press. In his time he was President of the Piobaireachd Society, Piping Convenor at the Northern Meeting, a highly respected Senior Adjudicator, Director of the Edinburgh Tattoo, and a writer of note. His articles on competitions and piping history…

Famous Pipers; Archibald Campbell/ KO Correction/ Comedy Caption

Our History column has been added to this morning with the first part of a look back at the life and times of piobaireachd scholar and writer Archibald Campbell, Kilberry (left). The column examines some of his letters and there is a piece on his father by the late James Campbell, Cambridge. The article first appeared in Piper Press magazine the print forerunner to this web magazine. Jimmy Banks of…