Editor’s Notebook: Campsie Book/ Piping Times/ NZ Drumming/ Argyllshire Gathering/ Uist & Barra/ Balmoral Camps

Anybody take a look at the blurb for Alistair Campsie’s ‘Madness of Angus MacKay’ book currently on sale at Amazon and mentioned here a couple of weeks ago? Someone needs to write to them. I think the late Alistair, never short of hyperbole where piping was concerned, must have written it himself and the gullible at the retail giant have swallowed it whole. Here’s a taster…‘This book, which hit the…

Highland Games 2024 and a Warning as Two Close Down

If we needed any indication of the fragility of some of our Highland games then we received just that last week with the final announcement that two games, Cupar and Thornton in Fife are now no more. Lack of cash, volunteers and enthusiasm are to blame. We are not sure if these games had thriving piping events – if not, perhaps that was part of the problem too. No matter,…

Editor’s Notebook: World Solo Piping/ Worlds Week Concert/ Florida Academy/ NZ Film/ Malcolm McRae

Applause for the RSPBA and their idea of a new World Solo Piping Championship based on the World Solo Drumming. With their global reach, the Association are the only organisation which could pull together such a competition. One wonders what form it will take. I should imagine it won’t include piobaireachd. MSR and H&J only. Who will judge? A band piping judge might be wholly unsuited to the solo bench….