Rose & Thistle Ladies Pipe Band

Inspired in part by the video ‘Don’t Look Back, I’m Right Behind You’, a new US ladies band is preparing for a trip to Scotland to play at the Worlds and to raise money for an important cause. Andrea Jones reports…. The Rose & Thistle Ladies Pipe Band was formed in 2025 with the goal of putting together a band to play at events and raise money for cancer research….

Editor’s Notebook: Judges Training/ RSPBA Website/ St Columba’s Concert/ Pipes ID/ Gloria Aicken

When chatting to Jack Lee before his Talk Piobaireachd presentation this week we rounded on the need for continuous professional development (CPD) among judges and teachers. It was this that made sessions such as TP so valuable. CPD is common in all walks of professional life and piping should be no different. Jack’s tunes were the Earl of Seaforth’s Salute and the King’s Taxes. Both I have played and taught…

Reviews: Ben Duncan Recital/ Airdrie Recital Videos

The piping recital season is in full swing in Scotland and indicative of a healthy desire among enthusiasts to hear top class, live piping. Today Les Hutt reports on a recent recital in Inverness and we have short videos giving a flavour of the highly successful recital/ fundraiser held in Lanarkshire last Friday…… For a second time this season, Inverness Piping Society’s recital coincided with a weather warning, writes Les Hutt. Fortunately this…

The Inaugural Peter MacLeod Memorial Recital

This past Friday (13/2/26) saw lovers of highland piping fill out the function room of Airdrie Working Men’s Social Club in Lanarkshire. The large audience was made up of people from all over Scotland and even a group who had travelled up from southern England to attend. The event was the very first held by the foundling charity, The Lanarkshire Piping and Drumming Trust.  By Dan Nevans The recital featured…

Editor’s Notebook: Bob Nicol/ Tonight’s Recitals/ RSPBA Website/ Solo Judging/ Balvenie Medal

Reading Duncan Watson’s article on Bob Nicol I thought, ‘they don’t make ’em like that any more’. Quite a character. To be a good teacher you must have a clear vision of how a tune should be played and RB Nicol clearly had that. Too many alternatives and the student becomes confused. But there is more to the man. When all we hear is of Nicol’s teaching we tend to…