PP Editor’s Blog: SPA KO/ Gordon Duncan Book/ Kilberry Bagpipes/ Scottish Schools

Vice President Hugh Anderson reports from Saturday’s SPA Knock Out: ‘We had a really good night despite high winds and heavy rain all day. You could hear the wind gusting in the hall fortunately it was at the back so did not affect the players or the sixty-odd audience. Chris [Armstrong] won the toss and played first and played really well then after the break it was Stuart’s [Liddell] turn…

John MacDonald Recordings – Glasgow Police or Inverness?

Many thanks to John Don MacKenzie, Dornie, for alerting us to this possibility regarding the John MacDonald recordings highlighted last week: ‘Hi Rab, I have been listening to Alan Lomax’s recordings; really good stuff and interesting indeed both in Scotland and abroad. It’ll keep me going for some time along with http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/ which has loads of John D. Burgess ceol mor on it. Willie Ross and John D are sparkling indeed…

Highlands & Islands Festival Celebrates 30 Years of Music and Dance

The popular Highlands and Islands Festival has celebrated its 30th anniversary at a reception held in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, writes Robert Wallace The festival began in 1983 as an idea floated round the kitchen table of former Chairman Neil Sinclair and his wife at their home in Oban. Since then it has enjoyed years of showcasing the best in Scottish music and dance. It has grown to such an extent…

PP Editor’s Blog: National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund/ Archive Recordings/ Archie Kenneth/ SPA KO etc

A meeting will be held this weekend to decide on the disbursement of the first grants from the RSPBA’s National Juvenile Pipe Band Fund. The fund was launched last World’s Week. It’s aim is to help young bands who are struggling to find the cash for competition buses, instruments and  tuition. Most of these bands receive  nothing from the public purse at all and it was to try to redress…

National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland ‘400%’ Concert – Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

This concert gets many cheers.  For the repertoire  an imaginative mix of old and new.  For the piping – what talent, musicianship, dexterity and dedication.  For the backing  –  enhancing,  not overpowering.  For the playing –  exciting, but not hysterical.  For the sound – bright and solid.  No wonder a packed Eden Court enthused.   Pipe Major Sandy Spence by Gordon Duncan started the show.   Compere Alasdair McLaren observed that…