P Ed’s Blog: PS Conference/ Set Tunes/Glasgow Transport Band/ Duncan Johnstone/ Allan Chatto

To the Piobaireachd Society Conference today for what is always an enjoyable weekend of good friendship and good music. For the past several years it has been held at Birnam in Highland Perthshire, a peaceful spot on the banks of the mighty Tay river and always with a welcome hint of spring in the clean, clear air. It invigorates the mind in preparation for the active discussion (in committee) of…

PP Ed’s Blog: Online Band Registrations/ Piob Soc Conf/ Recital Cancelled/Neil in Falklands/ WW1 Tunes

The RSPBA have announced that registration for all major championships for 2018 is now available online. Chief Executive Ian Embelton says on the RSPBA website: ‘Online entries are now open for the 2018 championship season. ‘Entries for bands and drum majors will only be available online. We introduced this facility three years ago and in 2017 almost all entries were made online so we have now decided to remove the…

Donald MacKillop/ Sandy Hain/ Lexy MacAskill/ Tommy Shearer

There is so much history all freely available to those prepared to search through the pages of Piping Press. Today we add to that fund of knowledge with this from reader Iain MacKillop… Dear Piping Press, I hope this message finds you in good health as it leaves me. I write in connection with what is admittedly old news. I refer to an article dated 7 January 2016 ‘Sandy Hain/ Donella…

January 2018 Pipe Band Magazine Preview

The January 1, 2018 edition of the RSPBA’s Pipe Band Magazine will be available for free digital download in the next few days. Keeping checking Piping Press and the RSPBA’s own website for your copy. The front cover pays tribute to World Solo Drumming Champion Steven MacWhirter (see above) who secured his eighth title at the championships held last October at Glasgow Caledonian University. Inside the 30 page magazine: Headquarters…

PP Ed’s Blog: SLoT/ MacCrimmon Cairn/ Pipes for Sale/ World Drumming/ Queensland

Speaking to Gaelic poet and writer Angus Peter Campbell at the Scots Guards contest on Saturday. He told me that daughter Brighde had been playing at a big traditional music concert in Dublin. Taking part were former World Pipe Band Champions St Laurence O’Toole (above). And, get this, it was the first time a pipe band had ever appeared on a concert stage in the Republic. Can you believe that?…