PP Ed’s Blog: Skye Concert/ Two-Drone Pipes/ Paisley Cancelled/ Ayr Society PB

A great night of good music looks in store on the island of Skye tonight. If you are on the island or anywhere close, get along to hear Skye Piping Society’s concert featuring Patrick Molard, all the way from Brittany, Brighde Chaimbeul and Gaelic singer Isla MacLeod (see poster above). Tickets are £7/£4. Re the two-drone bagpipe item I carried last week, Avi Bloomenstiel of Dallas, Texas, has written: ‘According…

Piobaireachd Society Conference – 45 Years and Still Going Strong

The highlight of the 45th annual Piobaireachd Society Conference was, for me, the talk given by John Shone. John has been a faithful at the conference for decades and in a cosily busy room at the Birnam Hotel late on Saturday he regaled us with tunes and tales of his teachers. What a list. From beginnings in the Croydon BB there were lessons from JB Robertson, Donald MacPherson, Bob Nicol,…

New South Wales Silver Chalice Results/ Scots Guards Knock Out

The New South Wales Pipers Society held their annual Silver Chalice competition last Saturday at what is considered a superb location, the Presbyterian Ladies College in Sydney, Australia. The contest was the strongest for a number of years with the ‘A’ grade entry of 10 competitors including pipers making the journey from interstate for the prestigious event. The guest piobaireachd judge was Brett Tidswell from Adelaide. Photo above shows: Garry Barker…

Netherlands Pipe Band Association Solos and Mini – Bands

Netherlands Pipe Band Association and Mini – Bands March 25, 2018. Anna Kummerlöw reports: ‘This weekend we had a very well organised competition, indoors, run by the NOvDB in the Netherlands. There was a good crowd.  Saturday were mini bands, solo drumming with piobaireachd in the evening. Sunday: solo piping. Attached you’ll find the results and a picture of the two first winners in piobaireachd and Mr Ronaldson the judge. I played…

Gordon Duncan Remembered at Perthshire Beauty Spot

I talked yesterday of the Piobaireachd Society Conference and the clear air in Highland Perthshire, writes the Editor. Yesterday evening, after a lengthy meeting, I took to it and strolled over Thomas Telford’s elegant Dunkeld Bridge, stopping at an inn for a well-earned refreshment. The place was called ‘The Taybank’ and I was delighted to find on the wall a framed memorial to the late Gordon Duncan. In a glass covered…