UK band competition season starts on weekend

After a long winter of practicing, bands based in Great Britain and Ireland will be out with their new line-ups and music this weekend with the first outdoor events of the year.

The biggest contest will be the annual Malahide International Festival of Piping & Drumming outside of Dublin. In Grade 1 local favourites St. Laurence O’Toole will be vying for the prizes against Field Marshal Montgomery and ScottishPower, which is making the trip from Glasgow.

ScottishPower is taking a pass on the Dunbar Highland Games on Saturday, which has only three Grade 1 bands entered: Clan Gregor, Vale of Atholl, and Tayside Police, the last of which will be making its debut in the top grade.

The Malahide Festival is a two-day event that has become increasingly popular with bands. Field Marshal Montgomery has won Malahide every year since it began in 1997.

Stay tuned to pipes|drums for results from these events as they become available.

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