All-new Ballycoan takes Lisburn stage March 29th

Northern Ireland’s Grade 1 Ballycoan Pipe Band plans to take the wraps off of numerous new elements at a concert in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on March 29th.In addition to what the band describes as “new medleys and reorganized MSRs,” the even marks the first public appearance of the band under new Pipe-Major Glen Cupples, a former member of Field Marshal Montgomery.”There are also a lot of new faces in the band which will give the seasoned competition spectator plenty to talk about,” said band Vice-President and piper Raymond Campbell.Along with new personnel, Ballycoan will be wielding brand-new Andante percussion instruments.The band will also don a completely updated uniform. “The whole look of the band has changed except for their traditional Royal Stewart tartan,” Campbell added.Sharing the concert bill at Lisburn will be renowned solo piper Fred Morrison, former World Solo Drumming Champion Steven McWhirter and other guest artists. The event will be at Lisburn’s Island Centre with a 7:30 pm start time. Tickets are priced at £10, available from the box office at 0289-250-9292 or from the band directly at 0776-889-8883.Ballycoan finished seventh in the Grade 1 Qualifier competition at the 2008 World Pipe Band Championships. The band’s highest placing at a 2008 major was eighth at the British Championships.p|dWhat do you think? We always want to hear from our readers, so please use our comments system to provide your thoughts!Do you have news? Be sure to send your information to pipes|drums. We can’t report what we don’t know about! Please remember to support the businesses that advertise and make the not-for-profit p|d possible.