World pipe band championships have youth appeal

A record number of young people have signed up to participate in the world’s biggest week of piping. Piping Live!, the Glasgow International Piping Festival, returns to Glasgow from 13–19 August, and will see with 33% of the 800 performers at this year’s event, and 40% of competitors in The World Pipe Band Championships, under…

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Thousands braved the rain for pipe band event

Pipe bands came from all over the world, as more than 16,000 people braved the weather, for the 2018 Scottish Pipe Band Championships. Pipers and drummers from more than 120 bands descended on Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, for the event on Saturday. And despite heavy showers throughout the day, their spirits weren’t dampened. There was celebrations…

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The fantastic four power on in Rura’s new album

Four go on alone in Rura’s third album which, for the first time, is a wholly instrumental recording following the departure of singer Adam Holmes at the end of 2016. It is a testament to the confidence the remaining band members have in their own musical ability to defer seeking a new vocalist either from…

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It’s nearly time to pipe up for this year’s festival

Glasgow’s International Piping Festival is now just a few weeks away, and the preparations are hotting up. Piping Live! Glasgow is the biggest bagpipe festival of in the world, and the week-long celebrations will see over 150 events take place in various venues across the city from 13–19 August. Its diverse programme is famed for…

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Get half-price tickets for the Military Tattoo preview

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has announced that a batch of half-price tickets for its annual preview evening will go on sale on Monday 23 July at 10am. The preview evening takes place on Thursday 2 August at 9.30pm ahead of the event’s official opening ceremony (Friday 3 August). It is an opportunity for locals…

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Piping Live! teams up with fashion partner for good cause

Music and fashion will pipe up for mental health at a major festival next month. Piping Live!, the Glasgow International Piping Festival, has teamed up with one of Glasgow’s top designers. While the brief was to create a cool new bag cover for bagpipes which aided comfort for the player, an inspired idea to incorporate…

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All ready for the skirl of pipe band championships

Preparations are in full swing in the build up to the 19th Scottish Pipe Band Championships. The event has grown to be one of the biggest free pipe band competitions in the world and is this year taking place in West Dunbartonshire, bringing significant economic benefit to the area. More than 100 bands and 25,000 people…

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Fiddlers gather for a celebration in Aberdeen

Scottish fiddlers will be taking a bow at the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention. Young musicians are taking centre stage at the event, being held in north-east Scotland. Taking place during Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, it is in tune to deliver its biggest ever youth programme. Starting yesterday, from traditional fiddle classes to a…

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Scotland’s pop music scene in new TV series

A new TV series looking at the history of Scottish pop music is set to air next week. Rip It Up: The Story of Scottish Pop, will get underway on BBC Two Scotland next Tuesday, July 17, at 9pm. From the 1950s to the present day, the three-part series delves deep into Scottish music’s back…

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Inverness to host European Pipe Band Championships

The European Pipe Band Championships will take place in Inverness for the next three years, it has been announced. Piping Inverness will bring together hundreds of pipers, drummers and Highland dancers to Bught Park, with live entertainment, food and drink and craft stalls. Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) chief executive Ian Embelton: ‘The RSPBA…

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