Not looking good for the early pipe band season I’m afraid. Our Chancellor of the Exchequer has just confirmed that the furlough scheme which subsidises UK wages will stay in place until the end of April. Relief for beleagured businesses, but it also means that we can expect lockdown or semi-lockdown restrictions until that date at least, and this despite the vaccine coming on stream. We are back close to…

It is worth spending some time reading the wide ranging tributes to Iain that have been submitted since his death was announced on Friday, writes the Editor. I think everyone who knew him would echo the sentiments shared. I have put together this short pictorial tribute which has images from his career, through his Army days, on the boards, and there’s one at the end with him with his pupil…

Several years ago former Strathclyde Police piper Allan Hamilton embarked on a project ‘Pipers’ Persuasion’. His aim was to record some of the leading figures in piping and pipe bands. Travelling the length and breadth of the land armed with microphone and camera, Allan and his team secured lengthy and insightful interviews. Now, during the pandemic, is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some of your piping history. As…

Tonight (Dec 16) at 8pm GMT the Piobaireachd Society is hosting the latest in its online ‘Talk Piobaireachd’ sessions. Leading the discussion will be champion piper Jack Lee from British Columbia, Canada. Jack will discourse on aspects of ceòl mòr using suitable tunes to illustrate his comments. Jack has over 40 years experience at the very highest level of solo piping competition. He has won all the awards open to…

In what will be seen as a welcome taste of normality, the two major solo piping competitions in the world have announced that they are now accepting entries for next year’s competitions at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting. The AG is at Oban on August 25 and 26 and the NM at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on September 2 and 3. The last two dates represent a return to…