DAN NEVANS relates last week’s in-person competitions at Oban and Lochaber from the perspective of a competing piper I’ve never really been one for vacations. I’m just not good at relaxing. I always feel like the sands of my own personal hourglass increase their irreversible passage as soon as I […]
Tag: Argyllshire Gathering
Torquil bows out in style at Oban
This year’s Argyllshire Gathering – the 150th anniversary – was notable for the fact that it took place at all. Up until the middle of July, there was a widespread belief that, despite Scotland now being in Level 0 of its government’s COVID-19 restrictions, organisers would nevertheless not be able […]
Lorient latest: NO bands / Oban’s new comp. for juniors / Samson book in print
With the COVID situation in France worsening, organisers of the annual Lorient Interceltic Festival say there will be no pipe bands or dancers this year. Methill Pipe Band, Strathallan Pipe Band and Prince Charles Pipe Band (San Francisco) had been lined up to travel to Brittany to take part in […]
Oban finally cancels for 2020
The 2020 Argyllshire Gathering was formally cancelled today. It had been due to take place in Oban, Scotland over August 26 and 27. The belated announcement will surprise no one and comes exactly three months after the Northern Meeting cancelled its competitions for 2020 due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. […]
Covid-19: the game changer
By Stuart Letford for Bagpipe.News Prepare for the long haul regarding the Coronavirus, folks. That was the message from a webinar discussion into the future of piping and pipe bands post-Covid-19. Further, there is a chance there may be no pipe band competitions held in 2021. The webinar took place […]
Stuart Letford: The new piping normal
“We will not succeed in navigating the complex environment of the future by peering relentlessly into a rear view mirror. To do so, we would be out of our minds.” – Ken Robinson, Out of Our Minds (Capstone, 2001). Like most of you, I have now spent eight weeks self-isolating. […]
Pipers for Oban and Inverness announced
The pipers who will compete for the Gold and Silver Medals at this year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting have been confirmed. They are: Argyllshire Gathering Silver Medal Xavier Boderiou; Calum Brown; Finlay Cameron; Greig Canning; Kristopher Coyle; Jason Craig; John Dew; Jacob Dicker; Pipe Major Ben Duncan; Andrew Ferguson; […]