Over 200 musicians from around the world played as one to mark the beginning of this year’s Piping Live! Festival. Marching to the beat of their own drum, quite literally, the Piping Live! Big Band in Glasgow yesterday, Monday, August 11, marked the start of the popular international festival which every year sees thousands of piping enthusiasts descend on the city for a week of lively events and performances.
Bringing together over 200 talented pipers and drummers of all ages and abilities from diverse backgrounds, this year’s Piping Live! Big Band was the largest in the event’s history.
As the musicians set off from Mansfield Park in Partick towards the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, they performed a range of well-known tunes to entertain onlookers.
Friends, family and spectators lined the streets to applaud the passing parade, which this year welcomed pipers and drummers aged from eight to 86 years old. Many of those who assembled for today’s Big Band event will be joining their own bands to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships on August 15 and 16 at Glasgow Green.
First time attendee of Piping Live and Worlds!, Drum Sergeant Alexander Manfield from Warwick Thistle Pipe Band, travelled from Australia to be a part of this unforgettable experience. This is the first time in the band’s history of over 100 years that it has ventured outside of Australia, bringing with them performers aged 11 to 74-years-old.
He said: “I’ve been with the band 20 years and it’s amazing to finally come to Scotland to perform in this beautiful part of the world. Many of the band have Scottish roots, so it means a lot to us to come here – some of us have travelled with family as there are multiple generations in the band, so it’s special. It’s also great to meet people from other bands we speak to virtually – we’ve been snapping selfies already! We’re so excited for the week ahead, we’ve put a lot of work in to prepare.”
Every year the Piping Live! Big Band partners with a charitable cause, with the 2025 chosen recipient being Scotland-based charity, the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust. The Trust was established in honour of the talented piper, Eilidh MacLeod, to support music education for children and young people.
Eilidh’s family travelled from Barra to lead this year’s parade, with Roddy MacLeod, the late teen’s father, saying it ‘means a lot’ to see the event support the good cause: “We didn’t expect there to be such an amazing turnout, it’s so impressive, you can’t beat seeing so many people take to the streets of Glasgow. It means a lot to us to be thought of.”
Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director of Piping Live! helped lead the procession of musical talent through the city. He said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see today’s wonderful parade officially marking the beginning of what promises to be a hugely exciting edition of the Piping Live! festival.
“This year is a particularly special one for us, as attendees can experience our brand-new reimagined outdoor space at the home of the festival, the National Piping Centre.
“We’ve got a fantastic week of events planned, with something on offer for all ages. We’d love to see as many people as possible join us for this dynamic and wide-ranging programme of global talent right here in Glasgow.”
This year sees a re-designed Festival Site at the festival’s home, the National Piping Centre on McPhater Street, a two-minute walk from Cowcaddens Subway station.
