Hector Thomson is the latest member of the Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) to be profiled. • Where are you from and how did you get into piping?I was born in Selkirk on the night of the Common Riding* so I was born with pipe bands ringing in […]
Tag: Chris Armstrong
16 questions with … John Dew
1. How are you these days?I’m pretty well. I didn’t think I’d be missing the business of university but with restrictions in place I’m going a little mad. Other than that, I’m grand. I spent four years studying on the BMus (Traditional Music – Piping) Degree course at the Royal […]
Simon McKerrell: Why we should abolish the Set Tunes
In his far-reaching blog posted on this site last week, Stuart Letford questioned whether the Set Tunes should continue to be set solely by the Piobaireachd Society’s Music Committee. I suggest it is time to actually abolish the Set Tunes altogether. I have spoken on this topic before. Indeed, this […]
CLASP online contests/ Angus MacLennan, Jim Haddow / Chris’ tune / Roddy joins the Vale
Following the success of its online competition in March, CLASP – the Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers – is planning more remote competitions. Entries are now open for two new competitions in June and August – the annual end of season contest on June 20 and the annual World […]
Kids with Cancer concert now sold out / Fred Morrison book and tour
Of all the good causes for which money could be raised, there is none more deserving than one for children with cancer. The Royal Hotel in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone is the venue next Saturday (22nd) for a fundraising piping and drumming show to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Unit […]
The real life of Chris Armstrong
Chris Armstrong has played bagpipes for all but six years of his life. His piping was first nurtured in the Torphichen and Bathgate Novice Juvenile Pipe Band and from those early beginnings, his piping career has been one of sharp, upward trajectory. He’s a complete all-rounder in the piping world: […]
The Grouch
This photo of Chris Armstrong was taken for a Q&A in issue 73 of Piping Today magazine in 2014. In the article Chris said of himself: “Generally, my friends would describe me a crabbit individual – the clean version – (laughs) who is very intolerant of stupidity. A real Oscar […]
Grade 1 queue
Grade 1 pipe majors wait in turn to receive their prizes at the British Pipe Band Championships in Paisley 2016. Inveraray won first prize that day, with Richard Parkes shown going to collect second prize, followed by Allen Tully, Chris Armstrong, Roddy MacLeod and Ryan Canning respectively.
ScottishPower pre-Worlds concert
ScottishPower Pipe Band will headline this year’s pre-Worlds pipe band concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The band, now in its 30th year of sponsorship by the utility company, last headlined this show in 2011. Kurt Mackintosh of promoters, Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band, said: “Scottish Power is known for […]