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Fifty-two entries for the 2024 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships 

Fifty-two entries for the 2024 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships 

Tamaki Makaurau Auckland will host over fifty pipe bands at the 2024 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships, making it the largest pipe band competition event outside of Europe. Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association President Iain Blakeley said: “Having so many bands attend the Nationals is a testament to the hard work of […]

Three concerts in March at the National Piping Centre

Three concerts in March at the National Piping Centre

The National Piping Centre will host three concerts in the first two weeks of March in the auditorium at McPhater Street, Cowcaddens. Tickets for all concerts can be bought through this page on the National Piping Centre website. The first concert sees Routes String Quartet debut their new film, Routes: […]

RSPBA announce two major championships for May and June 2024

RSPBA announce two major championships for May and June 2024

The RSPBA have issued two press releases this afternoon, February 12, with more good news and progress made to re-establishing five major pipe band championships in the 2024 calendar. The addition of the UK Championships in Bangor and British Pipe Band Championships in Forres means there are now five majors […]

Amateur piper registrations still open for CLASP on March 2nd

Amateur piper registrations still open for CLASP on March 2nd

The next CLASP in-person event takes place at the National Piping Centre, Cowcaddens on Saturday, March 2. The competitions are graded 1, 2 & 3 for adult amateur pipers, and Grade 4 pipers can play up in Grade 3 events. The last day to register will be Sunday, February 25, […]

History of the Argyllshire Gathering: the 1989 competition

History of the Argyllshire Gathering: the 1989 competition

• PART 54 • BY JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE. In 1989 the Argyllshire Gathering reverted to two days, August 23 and 24. Entry to the Gold Medal had been expanded to include those selected on merit by the Joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting so the number of […]

Michael Grey’s Notes: the collateral damage of nice

Michael Grey’s Notes: the collateral damage of nice

GREY’S NOTES by Michael Grey. Piping Today #86 • 2017. To be clear and direct in communicating – getting across what you really feel to your fellow person – must surely be one of the rarest of human traits. In my experience, it’s the norm for people to often do […]

Photos from Celtic Connections’ annual pipe band concert

Photos from Celtic Connections’ annual pipe band concert

World-renowned folk, roots and world music festival Celtic Connections 2024 drew to a triumphant close in Glasgow last night after 18 days of spectacular sold-out concerts, innovative musical sessions and star-studded collaborations. From January 18 to February 4, the city came alive with over 300 incredible events involving 1,200 artists across 25 of […]

Friday night pipes in the Drygate at Celtic Connections

Friday night pipes in the Drygate at Celtic Connections

A double bill of Mairearad Green & Mike Vass, followed by John Mulhearn performing The Pipe Factory album attracted a large, enthusiastic audience to Drygate at Celtic Connections last night, Friday, February 2. A surprise treat was the addition of Ailis Sutherland who was a second piper for the whole […]

Date set for Uist and Barra Invitational solo competition 2024

Date set for Uist and Barra Invitational solo competition 2024

The Glasgow Uist and Barra Invitational Annual Piping Competition will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The competition returns to the National Piping Centre at Otago Street, G12 8JH, in Glasgow’s West End. The Glasgow Uist & Barra Association will issue invitations to 14 pipers using the criteria set […]