Category: Reviews

How ‘Mull of Kintyre’ Became the Biggest Selling Bagpipe Song of All Time

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A new book on the music of Paul McCartney contains much revealing detail on the origination, recording and promotion of his song ‘Mull of Kintyre’ featuring the Campbeltown Pipe Band and their Pipe Major Tony Wilson……. There was one song in particular that had been tugging on Paul’s imagination for at least three years and that he now had an urge to complete. That song, Mull of Kintyre, its melody,…

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News from Across the Water: Derry-Londonderry to Host All Irelands/ RSPBANI AGM/ Tartan Dander

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Next year’s All Ireland Pipe Band Championships will be coming to Derry-Londonderry on 5th July 2025. Surprisingly, but none the less welcome, the announcement came from the Executive Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly This underlines that they consider it a significant event in the region’s cultural and tourism calendar and means there will be financial backing for the event. The venue is the city’s Ebrington Square, a public space…

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Review: An Alternative Desperate Battle of the Birds

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By Duncan Watson A few weeks ago I attended a talk at Aberdeen University’s Storytelling Festival. It was given by Jamie MacDonald Reid with musical accompaniment by a cellist. The title was ‘The Desperate Battle of the Birds’ and that’s what sparked my interest. I was not sure what to expect. I thought we would have the usual story backed up with extracts of the tune: the cock birds stalking each…

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News from Across the Water: SLOT Headline Charity Night/ NI Success at WSD/ David Hanna/ Blackthorn/ FM Drummers

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St Laurence O’ Toole Pipe Band will headline the ‘Kids with Cancer Charity Concert’ on Saturday 22nd March, 2025, in the Royal Hotel, Cookstown. SLOT, under the leadership of P/M Alen Tully and L/D Stephen Creighton, are the current UK Champions and World Champion drum corps. Also on the programme will be a ’70s tribute band with P/M David Caldwell and John Scullion in charge. As this is the first…

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News from Across the Water: All Change at NI Branch/ Jeffrey McCready/ Bands Query/ Belfast Tartan Day

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Change afoot in the RSPBA Northern Ireland Branch. The AGM is at 11am this Saturday, 30th November, in Cookstown Methodist Church Hall. Judging by the number of post holders who have decided to step down, there will be significant changes to the 2025 officer team. Those not standing for re-election include current Branch President Winston Pinkerton, Treasurer Kenny Crothers, RSPBA NI Director Lorraine Ronaldson and Branch Chief Steward Brian Harvey….

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