Worlds Underway/ Ballater Juniors/ Cortachy Games/ Weekend Games

The World Pipe Band Championships kick off in Glasgow today (Aug.15) with the first two rounds of the Grade 1 contest and the Juvenile and Novice grades. The weather is set fair but if you cannot manage to Glasgow Green here is the live-streaming link. Prizes in the junior grades are expected anytime after 7pm tonight and at a similar time tomorrow for all other grades. Things should be over…

Review: ‘Solas’ – Shotts in Concert

Who would have believed that a band founded in a hut in the Lanarkshire coalfield 115 years ago could stage such a spectacular evening’s entertainment as we enjoyed last night? I said on Tuesday that this concert was the highlight of Worlds Week. After two hours of live pipe band music no one in the 2,000 crowd at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall could gainsay that statement. The title of the…

Reflections on the Silver Chanter and Skye Gathering

It is just a week since the Silver Chanter and the important piping competitions held at Portree as part of the Skye Gathering, writes the Editor. Entries for the Dunvegan Medal topped 29 and looking down the list it seems to me that it may be time for the promoters to limit these to those graded B+ upwards. This competition really is not for anyone below that standard. Pipers without…

Editor’s Notebook: Shotts Concert/ PS Recital/ Tutors Wanted/ Fintan Lalor/ Lorient Bands

A highlight of Worlds Week is always the band concert on the Wednesday night. This year Shotts & Dykehead are on stage at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Aug 13). As expected, the concert is a sell-out and such is the paucity of briefs the band have issued a plea to those who have bought tickets but who now discover they can’t attend. In a statement Shotts say: ‘We have been…

Weekend Games Results Round Up

Five different Highland Games piping contests were held over last weekend, one on Friday, three on Saturday and one yesterday, August 10. Attendances at some were affected by the European Pipe Band Championships being held in Perth. Once more we appreciate the assistance of those correspondents who have sent the following information and pictures: Nethybridge, August 9Seven seniors played at Nethybridge, writes Dr Jack Taylor. This Games runs its own…