Piping Live! poised for take-off

The eighth rendition of the Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival is set to start Monday, and the week-long event promises to be the most extensive yet in terms of talents and entertainment as thousands descend on the city of Glasgow culminating with the World Pipe Band Championships on Saturday, August 14th.

The line-up of artists reads like a who’s-who of piping talent. For the Highland piping purists there’s more than enough to satisfy. Daily recitals from solo piping greats such as Stuart Liddell, Willie McCallum and Angus MacColl, to pipe band concerts at George Square from the likes of the 2009 World Champions Simon Fraser University, the Pipeband Club Sydney and Auckland & District, to heated contests like the International Quartet Competition and the Masters Solo Invitational will please traditionalists.

For those looking for a more international flavour, the week features piping from other countries in its myriad forms, whether from Galicia, Ireland, Brittany, Italy or other European locales. Those looking for the fun and the frivolous will be spoiled for choice with some of the most creative offerings yet from the festival.

Throughout the week in Glasgow pipes will be everywhere every day, even outside of the festival. The adventurous looking to create their own fun can hunt down the band practices of the world’s greatest pipe bands as they prepare for the big competition at Glasgow Green. And be sure to make your prediction for which bands will finish in the top six at the World’s in the pipes|drums “Pick the Six” contest, offering nearly $3,000 in prizes to one canny winner.

Throughout the week pipes|drums will be reporting from Piping Live!, doing our best to bring our readers from around the world a taste of the Glasgow action. So, stay tuned!