Archive
The Grade 1 Police Scotland & Federation of Glasgow (formerly known as the Glasgow Police) are looking for a new lead-drummer after David Henderson agreed to take the lead-drummer role with the Grade 1 Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia. Henderson replaces Grant Cassidy, who had held the position over the last […]
Iain MacDonald (Regina) brings us the story of a machinist-piper who created an ingenious device to speed the process of turning chanters for the famous bagpipe maker Jimmy Tweedie.
The new version of the product, originally launched in 2022, provides interesting new features and benefits
pipes|drums readers might have wondered what happened to the story about the massed pipes and drums performing at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 on February 8th. Here’s what happened. A few hours after we published the news, which innocently came to us from a very reliable source involved with […]
Two sets of pipes once owned by the great Robert Reid are being auctioned by his grandson and granddaughter. One instrument appears to be the same drones seen in Reid’s photographs, but seemingly without the long stocks that Reid would use for the two tenors, believing they produced a better […]
The success story of the fast-rising bagpipe maker from Kirkcaldy, Scotland, whose pipe chanters are already being played by Grade 1 bands after less than two years.
Perhaps you know a largely unrecognized hero who’s dedicated much of their life to piping expecting nothing in return apart from contributing to the art. These people actually exist and are the true definition of the “giving back” cliché. The Balvenie Medal is an annual award that has been given […]
In the latest addition to her series, an examination of the difference between “nerves” and actual anxiety and possible methods to help competitors to play to their potential.
Citing “unforeseen circumstances,” a message to the secretaries of member bands from chief executive Colin Mulhern, the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association confirmed that its 2025 season will comprise only four major events, unable to secure a sponsor for the British Championships. “Despite our efforts to secure a fifth championship, […]
Founded in 2005, they’ve achieved more success in 20 years than any band in history, and Inveraray & District will hold a “black-tie” ball on August 11th in Glasgow that promises to include an “Argyll-style” ceilidh, a disco, and of course a performance by the three-time and reigning World Champions. […]
“This was possibly the best pipe band sound I have ever heard on stage,”
Greg Wilson of Tai Tapu, New Zealand, won the 2025 New Zealand Open Solo Piping Championship at the Turakina Highland Games, held for the 160th time, making it one of the piping and drumming world’s longest-running events. Wilson won the Piobaireachd and Hornpipe & Jig, while Auckland’s Liam Kernaghan won the March and Strathspey & Reel to finish overall runner-up.
The Sonerion Confederation, which governs bagads in Brittany, has cancelled all 2025 championship competitions, citing “major financial and organizational challenges.” “Sonerion has taken the difficult but necessary decision to pause the championship starting this summer,” the organization announced (translated from the French). “This step should allow us to adapt our […]
In Part 4, Hutcheon goes back to discuss her earliest days with Polkemmet Colliery under Pipe-Major Johnny Barnes and Pipe-Major Robert Mathieson in the 1980s, followed by one year (1987) under the legendary Ronnie Lawrie, and in 1988 as pipe-sergeant with Pipe-Major Davey Barnes. Polkemmet would win major championships and come second in the World’s before Hutcheon departed for, once again, Shotts & Dykehead, now led by Mathieson and Lead-Drummer Jim Kilpatrick.
We continue our conversation with recently-elected Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association President Liam Kernaghan, one of the youngest and most accomplished association leaders in history. In Part 1, Kernaghan discussed the RNZPBA’s legacy and the positive state and trajectory his predecessor, Iain Blakeley, created for the Kiwi scene in […]
Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe-Major Matt Wilson has appointed Ben Duncan the band’s pipe-sergeant, completing the leadership team with Lead-Drummer Willie Glenholmes. An Edinburgh native and resident, Duncan has been a member of Field Marshal Montgomery since 2022 and is one of the world’s top competitive solo pipers. “I am humbled […]