A Day at Piping Live! and Stories of the Big Spree

It was a pleasure to perform at the National Piping Centre yesterday as part of the Piobaireachd of the Day series sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society, writes the Editor. From the moment of arrival until departure late afternoon, the staff at the Centre did everything to make the experience enjoyable – crucial for someone like me who had not done a recital in Scotland for seven or eight years. Indeed…

Piping Live! Well Underway – Time to Make Your Contribution!

This year’s Piping Live! got underway last weekend and as Scotland enters a new phase of freedom, the Glasgow festival is set to host another six days of world-class performance and piping competition between now and Sunday, 15 August, writes Claire Hutchison A number of exciting in-person shows are being staged for up to 1,200 attendees as part of the annual event at the National Piping Centre, alongside a rich programme of…

Editor’s Notebook: Silver Chanter/ 2022 Majors/ National Mod/ Lochaber/ Norrie Gillies

Congratulations to Angus MacColl on winning this year’s Silver Chanter. Talent will out. James from Minneapolis has written. He’s surprised so few people tuned into the livestream. I think there will be many more catch Angus and the others on catch-up James. But you have a point. The Silver Chanter has lost some stardust since it was moved from Dunvegan Castle. The NPC did well rescuing it. Now they need…

Northern Ireland Pipe Band Festival Heading for a Sell Out/ Province Stages Live Outdoor Solo Piping and Drumming

When the RSPBA NI Branch abandoned their contest programme they resolved to hold a series of Pipe Band Festivals and they get underway this Saturday, 7th August, with the Antrim & Newtownabbey Pipe Band Festival. It will take place at the Antrim Castle Gardens and it is supported by the local council and will feature bands, drum majors and Highland dancers performing under the RSPBA’s jurisdiction for the first time…

Northern Ireland’s Pipe Bands Return to Action

Toward the end of May 2021 the NI Executive announced that bands could undertake static outdoor practices (although no singing was allowed) and this was embraced enthusiastically by the majority of the country’s seven hundred bands. Week by week individual bands or band forums were showing photographs of bands at practice in all sorts of environments from car parks to farm yards in order to stick to the rules. Pipe…