Archive
Since the year 2000, Dr. William Donaldson has contributed his Set Tunes Series to pipes|drums, making available to all readers the authentic older manuscript and published sources of ceol mor. The series now runs to more than 170 tunes, and forms the largest online edition in the world of the […]
We conclude the pipes|drums Interview with Jim Sim, one of the most influential and important figures in United States pipe band history. As the leading-drummer of Chicago’s Midlothian Scottish for nearly four decades, president of the Midwest Pipe Band Association since 2010, and much sought-after judge and teacher, Sim’s impact on piping and drumming in […]
By Liam Kernaghan While most of the world takes a break during the Christmas and New Year period, there is no rest for Kiwis when it comes to piping and drumming. Our New Year period signals the ramping up of the domestic solo circuit. And for those making a trip […]
Inspired after the popular Highland bagpipe-playing metalhead Ally the Piper adapted one of their regular pipe band chanters, G1 Reeds of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, have introduced a pipe chanter pitched at true B with aim of accommodating the growing number of pipers who want to play with “other” instruments that have […]
The annual Celtic Connections winter festival of folk music in Glasgow is probably the major event for that scene, but it hasn’t always represented Highland piping and drumming to the extent it might deserve. As reported last October, the 2023 festival looks after Highland piping with a significant concert that […]
The Caledonian Piping Club of Saltcoats, Scotland, is kicking off the New Year with a fundraising campaign that they hope strikes at the hearts of others looking to begin 2023 in the spirit of giving. The Club, founded 23 years ago as a group that teaches quality piping and drumming […]
Twenty-twenty-two was a year of return, of getting back at it, of renewal and regrowth – evidenced by the nearly 400 articles that pipes|drums brought to you throughout the year. Many of these pieces had explosive readership with unique page-views numbering well into the five-figures. Our breaking-news reporting on competitions […]
Waipu, New Zealand – January 1, 2023 – Greg Wilson of Tai Tapu, New Zealand, won the overall in the Open/A Grade solo piping competitions, and his son Campbell took the aggregate in the Under 21 category, making for a solid family start to the New Year at the 150th […]
After most of the piping and drumming world lying dormant since March 2020, 2022 was a year of triumphant return. As we have each year since 2001, we bring you the pipes|drums New Year’s Honours, as we look back at the previous 12 months to recognize the greatest collective performances, […]
Piping royalty Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, Scotland, has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles III’s first-ever New Year’s Honours. The Grade 1 Inveraray & District pipe-major, elite solo piper and world renowned teacher was officially bestowed with the award “for services to piping and […]
It was a year of getting back at it. What was not to like? Not much, as we look back and hear from several prominent pipers and drummers for their thoughts on what was great and not-so-great in 2022. There were many great Crackers to celebrate, and a few Blooters […]
Auckland, New Zealand – December 30, 2022 – Stuart Easton of Palmerston North, New Zealand, was the overall winner of the annual Northcote Invitational Solo Piping Competition, held at the beer garden of the Northcote Tavern in hot and sunny conditions reaching 25°. With a Medley preference, Easton nudged out […]
It was all back at it in 2022, as most of the piping and drumming world emerged from a two-year dormancy and remembering what normal used to be all about. It was all strangely familiar, if a little or a lot smaller, with contests and events working pretty much like […]
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association chose Christmas Eve as the date to reveal that a deal had been secured with the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen to host the 2023 European Pipe Band Championships on June 24, 2023, at Duthie Park. Aberdeen takes over the contest from Inverness, which […]
Wherever you are, whatever your age, however you like to celebrate the holidays, only the best to you and yours from pipes|drums! We have enjoyed bringing you hundreds of stories and features over the year, and we thank you for reading, commenting, contributing, subscribing, watching and listening. Over the next […]
Grade 1 ScottishPower of Glasgow has moved to play drums from the British Drum Company in sync with Leading-Drummer Jake Jørgensen joining the company as its newest “marching artist.” The band had been playing Premier Percussion instruments for several years under an endorsement deal, and becomes an official British Drum […]