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…

MacStig Ends his 2017 Review With a Look at Juvenile

In the year just ending I was paying most attention to Grade 2 with Juvenile and Novice bands and their wider organisations. As everyone will know, most of these competitions happen earlier in the day and are well worth following. They are often led by big names in the upper grades.  In Juvenile, Matt Wilson’s (FMM) Dollar Academy Juvenile Band (pictured top) had the lot – sound, tightness, musicality and…

Join MacStig for a Boxing Day Look Back at Grade Two in 2017

Some say he thinks ‘reindeer’ is a weather forecast, others that he believes ‘snow’ is just a Glasgow negative; yet more are convinced he’s as thick as the sole on an Army issue brogue….. All we know is he is called MacStig….  So the year is about to turn; 2018 is almost upon us. One hundred years from the end of the Great War and a defining moment for Army…

RSPBA Announces 2018 Calendar/ Worlds Picture Gallery Part 2

Dates and other details for all 2018 outdoor pipe band contests have now been issued by the RSPBA. Headquarters says: ‘These events are of course subject to change so please check back frequently. You will find links here to contest summaries as we receive them as well as any pre drawn contests sent from branches. All previous years summaries can be found via our results service. ‘A reminder that this…

PP Editor's Blog: Worlds Pix Gallery/ Bad Taste on Fb/ NPC Contests/ Gordon Duncan/ Strange Brew

A real taste of the season to come from yesterday’s posting on the major championship tune requirements for next year. Proof again that the RSPBA are really on the ball and thanks to them for providing the info in such good time. Just to keep the look-back feel going, here is a small selection of pix from last year’s Worlds. Check them out and see if you figure. We’ll have more…