‘RISE’, the 23rd Annual Worlds Weeks Pipe Band Concert by Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia

Straight off the bat, we’ll avoid the mumbo jumbo about the Pre Worlds’ Concert (PWC) band having the best chance of winning the big title itself a few days later.  It’s one of those unconscious bias things we have, and in most recent times only FMM has done it. A double-edged sword perhaps. All that practice and time spent on the programme content, whilst the competitive edge may not really…

Good Advice from MacStig on Playing in Arena 1

‘They seek him here, they seek him there, those pipers seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell, the elusive pipe band pimpernel?’  The MacStig algorithm and spreadsheet stack is more complex than the Cameronian Rant. I’m trying to keep tabs on who is where and when this hectic week. I have been a moving target all week, dipping in and out of practices around Glasgow…

Review of Grade 2 at the Scottish Pipe Band Championships

Some say he can’t tie a ghillie brogue without asking for help….others that he thinks a good chanter is a Glasgow pub singer…..whilst more say that to him a Swiss Ruff is a hangover in Geneva….all we can say is that he’s called MacStig… Reporting from near Dumbarton Rock on a dreich Scottish Saturday. Overcast sky, temperature around 16 to 18C at best, and fresh westerly wind. Showers were present…

Review of the Grade 1 Competition at the 2017 Scottish Pipe Band Championships

I have to say that I did not agree with the result in Grade 1 at the Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, last weekend. The winners, Inveraray (above) were good, very good, but in my view they were bested in musicality and tone by Field Marshal Montgomery. However, all congratulations to P/M Stuart Liddell on his success. The judges had him first and that is all that…

McCallum Bagpipes to Sponsor Launch of Bill Livingstone Book

Meaghan Lyons, the publicist for Bill Livingstone’s book of memoirs, has sent this:  ‘Bill Livingstone is delighted to confirm McCallum Bagpipes Ltd as sponsor of a very special celebration of Preposterous: Tales to Follow, Bill’ soon-to-be-released memoirs. The event will take place on Thursday, 10th August 2017, 4.30 – 5.30pm, at the National Piping Centre and will be hosted by Stuart Liddell. ‘The hour-long event will include a reading of selected…