The packed audiences in the Strathclyde suite at Celtic Connections 2024 were treated to the sparkling bagpipes and music of Finlay MacDonald, José Manuel Tejedor and Ali Levack over the weekend of January 27 and 28. The Saturday evening concert began with the captivating sound from the Asturian gaita of […]
A Scottish festival which captivated Highland music fans 30 years ago is being lovingly rebooted thanks to renowned musician, broadcaster, and event organiser Gary Innes. Lochaber Live, set to take place in Fort William from Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd September 2024, will see a whole host of Scottish talent […]
The Scottish Pipers Association will hold their professional competition on Saturday, April 6, at the National Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. There will be an Open Piobaireachd for those of A and P level and non-CPA graded pipers. And also a B Grade Piobaireachd and C Grade Piobaireachd. For light […]
The piping and chanter competitions of the Ayrshire Music Festival take place on Saturday, March 9, at St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats. The competitions are open to musicians who are registered with a school in Ayrshire (North, South & East) or who are resident in Ayrshire. Some of the classes […]
The national poet and the national instrument By Dr VIVIEN ESTELLE WILLIAMS With Robert Burns as the national poet of Scotland, and the bagpipe as the national instrument, it comes as no surprise that there should be a narrative connecting them. This article examines the presence of the bagpipe in […]
Ryan Wang is 18 year old student on the National Piping Centre’s HNC/D piping course and has a busy young life juggling his studies with his commitments to his pipe band, his martial art and working in his parents’ Chinese restaurant in Clydebank. He was born in Glasgow and attended St Saviour’s […]
The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band Junior Piping and Drumming Competition was held on Saturday, January 20, in Pitlochry High School. With more than 130 entries, it was their biggest competition ever. Paul McKay from Seattle, USA, who attends Dollar Academy, was the overall Champion Piper on the day. Kenzie […]
The Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton Band played to a large, adoring audience last night, January 20 at Celtic Connections 2024. The performance was a showcase for their prodigious compositional skills and musicianship, but was interspersed with some tunes written by their mentor Gordon Duncan, a song from Connor Markey […]
Finlay MacDonald is Director of Piping at The National Piping Centre and that is a role he manages alongside gigs such as piping with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and rock bands Biffy Clyro and Primal Scream. He was one of the first graduates from the BA Piping […]
If you are out late during Celtic Connections and wish to prolong your evening with drinks, or perhaps find space for a few session tunes, take yourself and your instruments and head to The Pipers’ Tryst, McPhater Street, Glasgow. The Piper’s Tryst bar at The National Piping Centre is open […]
