Manufacturers of Airtight Seasoning Win Court Order

St Kilda (Holdings) Ltd., the parent company of bagpipe manufacturers RG Hardie & Co., has won a court order banning the manufacture of ‘Robertsons Original Seasoning’. St Kilda obtained the interdict at a court hearing in Dundee on March 15. The interdict bans ‘Robertsons Original Seasoning’, their agents, contractors and employees from selling, advertising seasoning packaged in a manner that closely resembles Airtight, or describing it as being associated with the original seasoning…

New Sponsor for New England Pipe & Drum Academy

The New England Pipe and Drum Academy (NEPADA) has received new sponsorship from one of North America’s leading reedmakers, Chris Apps Reeds. The Academy runs from June 14 -19 at the beautiful Adelynrood Retreat in Byfield, MA, about an hour from Boston. Registrations are now open, and for 2016 the Academy will feature a full programme for side, bass and tenor drummers. Thanks to the sponsorship from Mr Apps all pipers…

PP Academy – How to Improve Your 6/8 Playing

There aren’t many contests for 6/8 marches these days but the recent posting of the Skye Gathering entry form reminded me of one. And I remember last year at the Donald MacLeod contest they held one which I think featured some of the great composers’ works. Skye’s dedication to the art stems from the enthusiasm of their former Chairman Col. Jock MacDonald, a particular devotee of the 6/8. In the bands…

PP Editor’s Blog: Band Majors/ Herald Story/ Letter/ SPA

Calling all band secretaries: a substantial number of pipe band contest entry forms are now available. These include those for all the major championships. You can access the forms via the events calendar on the RSPBA website. Please don’t forget the minor contests. They need your support. Hard to believe that it is only seven weeks or so to the first major, British, at the new venue at Paisley. If…

PP Editor’s Blog: White House Honour/ Craig Sutherland/ Easter School/ Drum Major Hughes

Happy  St Patrick’s Day to everyone. John Kelly in Northern Ireland has sent this from his local paper: ‘A local piper helped kick off the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the USA by playing at a special event hosted by President Barack Obama.  Grahame Harris, from Templepatrick, was among a small group of musicians from the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland invited to play at a lunch hosted by Mr Obama…