I don’t do drugs. Expanding the horizons of my consciousness with chemicals has never seemed as interesting as expanding my consciousness with more corporeal, external media. But, if I did want to smoke DMT or rub mushrooms on my temples until time becomes a visible substance, I’d do it to […]
By Stuart Letford Ever wondered what it would be like to have a private recital given by our ten best pipers? Well, that’s almost what I experienced last Friday at Blair Castle where this year’s Glenfiddich, the 47th, was held behind closed doors. By now, you will no doubt have […]
The details for the Scottish Piping Society of London’s online solo piping competition are now available on its website. The competition will include C Grade ((Piobaireachd and MSR) and Open Amateur categories as well as SPSL member events (Piobaireachd, March, Strathspey and Reel, and 6/8 March). There will be a […]
By Captain John MacLellan The year 1781 has much more significance to piping than the fact that it was the first time that a properly organised competition for ceòl mòr was held. As to the past, we can only surmise that competitions were held – none are on record. Apart […]
This never-been-seen-before photo positively demands suggestions for a suitable caption: The individuals having a nap are Strathclyde Police Pipe Band members Pipe Major Ian McLellan, Jim MacLean and John Wilson. Not in the picture is the man behind the camera, who, we are reliably informed, was Jim Wark. Seemingly, the […]
A week on Saturday – August 8 – the 54th annual Silver Chanter competition will take place. The invited pipers are Sarah Muir, Fred Morrison, Callum Beaumont, Stuart Liddell, Connor Sinclair, and Iain Speirs. Murray Henderson is the judge and James Beaton is on fear an tighe duties. As we […]
Piobaireachd Dhuneideann – The Edinburgh Piobaireachd – was composed by Captain John MacLellan (1921-1991) in 1981 to mark the many piping occurrences which have taken place in Scotland’s capital city over the past couple of centuries. “At the beginning of the 19th century,” MacLellan wrote in the October 1981 edition […]
Inveraray & District Pipe Band was named the Scottish Pipe Band of the Year at the 2019 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards held last night in Aberdeen. The award ceremony has been held annually since 2005 to recognise excellence within Scotland’s thriving musical culture. Approximately 100,000 public votes are […]
Cowal Highland Gathering may not be the piping and pipe band event it once was but its organisers are celebrating winning a leading tourism prize. Cowal has just been awarded the Best Cultural Event or Festival title at last weekend’s The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards. Cowal beat the HebCelt […]
