Category: Reviews

Northern Ireland Pipe Band Update: Richard Garnham/ Cancer Kids Charity/ Web Designer/ Closkelt Concert

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

There was widespread sorrow across the pipe band community, and in particular the Upper Crossgare Pipe Band, on the passing of their leading drummer Richard Garnham. Pipe Major Mark Rodgers, led the condolences on behalf of the band and conveyed their sympathy to Richard’s wife Elaine, son Ryan and the family circle. Richard is pictured fourth from the right celebrating the band’s success at the UK Championships in 2015. He…

More Northern Ireland Pipe Band Update: Richard Garnham/ Cancer Kids Charity/ Web Designer/ Closkelt Concert

Livingston Invitational Solo Drumming Competition 2021 – With Prizes for Pipers!

Posted on      by      3 Comments

My last judging outing was to the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships at Kilmarnock on the 8th of March 2020 so when my good friend and colleague Jim Baxter invited me to adjudicate at his ‘LIVI INNvitational Solos’ on Saturday, the 13th of November, I was more than delighted to accept.  The day’s events took place at Deans Bowling Club in Livingston and comprised two competitions: an MSR and an ‘anything goes’ freestyle competition.  By Peter…

More Livingston Invitational Solo Drumming Competition 2021 – With Prizes for Pipers!

MacStig Returns: Though Not a Happy Bunny, He’s Kinda 2022 Hopeful

Posted on      by      1 Comment

There is little point registering the disappointment shared at the absence of the activity we are all fans of. So much water under the bridge, players sadly lost to the pandemic, lost to the bagpipe, and pages of time turned. I’ve played more board games, had overseas travel cancelled and looked at empty supermarket shelves more than I’d want to in a lifetime. The buzz of a ‘major’ venue, the…

More MacStig Returns: Though Not a Happy Bunny, He’s Kinda 2022 Hopeful

Editor’s Notebook: Northern Winter School/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Calum’s New Book/ John Dew/ Col. Alastair Campbell

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

We had several hours to kill before our flight home from the Northern Winter School and accepted an invitation of a short tour of the nearest great city, Hamburg, from our generous guides Frank and Kirsten. Hamburg vies with Rotterdam as the most important port on mainland Europe. A previous tax-free enclave made it a world centre for coffee roasting. Much of the old quarter is built on oak piles…

More Editor’s Notebook: Northern Winter School/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Calum’s New Book/ John Dew/ Col. Alastair Campbell

The Glenfiddich Championship – A View from a Rookie Piobaireachd Player

Posted on      by      2 Comments

For those of you who are regular readers of Piping Press this will be something of a departure from the usual informed reporting you might read here. However I would hope that it is an opportunity to consider a refreshing vision of last weekend’s Glenfiddich championship. Over a long period of time I have had a passing acquaintance with piobaireachd. I have always listened to it and in the 80s…

More The Glenfiddich Championship – A View from a Rookie Piobaireachd Player