Glasgow’s much-loved Piping Live! festival burst into life for its 21st edition bringing the sights and sounds of Scotland’s national instrument to streets and venues across the city. The sensational celebrations got formally underway yesterday, Monday August 12, with the seventh Piping Live! Big Band.
A record number of 170 pipers and drummers lined Glasgow’s west end streets, marching from Mansefield Park in Partick to the concourse of the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in a spectacular display.
The mass participation event welcomes pipers and drummers of all ages and abilities and from all corners of the globe, to walk the streets of Glasgow’s west end and perform arousing repertoire of tunes for the mass participation event.
This year, the Big Band’s charity partner is Glasgow-based charity Articulate Cultural Trust, which helps care experienced and marginalised groups of young people access tools to build robust and fulfilled lives. All registrants made a donation to the charity through their event entry fee.
Piping Live! Big Band Pipe Major Dr Andrew Bova and Piping Live! Artistic Director Finlay MacDonald led the parade. Participants included piper Leanne Richardson, from Cumbernauld playing for the fourth time. Leanne has epilepsy and finds the Big Band showcase a great event to participate in, as it’s a stress-free environment.
Magnus Turpie participated with his dad Mike. Magnus has Down’s Syndrome and is paving the way for integration and inclusion in Scottish traditional music. Judy Gauci from Perth, Australia participated in the Big Band for the first time, after picking up the pipes at the age of 40. Calvin Cheungalso participated for the first time, as part of a group from Hong Kong.
