Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival and The World Pipe Band Championships are set to be bigger and more international than ever with over 16,000 pipers and performers along with 25,000 visitors from sixteen different countries descending upon Glasgow during the week of 10th – 16th August.
Now in its sixth year, Piping Live! is a week-long festival packed with events taking place at venues across the city, as well as free concerts and displays in George Square daily – including a special Homecoming Scotland “Music of the Clans” presentation. It will open with a bang with the platinum selling Red Hot Chilli Pipers performing at the opening night concert along with Bodega. This is guaranteed to be a fun packed concert from the original rock ‘n’ roll pipers who have taken their unique take on piping across the globe , this is the perfect choice for those new to the pipes.
A real highlight of the festival will take place on Wednesday 12th August at X. ‘From Battle lines to Barlines – the Musical Pulse of Scottish History’ is supported by Homecoming Scotland and will look at events from a ‘Clan’ perspective. Each event will be introduced in Gaelic and English and will be a fabulous take on Scottish history through music. Allan MacDonald and Gaelic singer Margaret Stewart will feature alongside other renowned musicians. Instruments that will be played include Cello, Violin, Flute, Small Pipes, Medium Bellow Pipes and Large Bagpipes.
The climax of the week will be the amazing spectacle that is the World Pipe Band Championships, organised by Culture and Sport Glasgow on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), at Glasgow Green on Saturday 15th August. ‘The Worlds’ have been associated with Glasgow since 1948 and this year’s event will see more than 8,000 pipers and drummers from as far afield as Australia, Eastern Europe, New Zealand, Pakistan and the USA competing for the coveted title of World Champions 2009.
The now legendary After Worlds Shindig on Saturday 15th August will take place at the Old Fruitmarket and is the perfect after-show party following the World Pipe Band Championships. Prepare to dance your socks off to the Peatbog Faeries, Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson, The Finlay MacDonald Band and Skerryvore.
Says Roddy McLeod, Director of Piping Live! “Glasgow is a hub of musical talent and Piping Live! is a great opportunity to experience the best names in traditional music and everything from the pipes to fiddles to a bit of rock ‘n’ roll and dancing. I would encourage people from across the UK to come and enjoy a couple of days at both events and to take advantage of the free events in George Square daily which make a great day out during the summer holidays”.
For all the latest about these two events and to get tickets online please go to www.seeglasgow.com/piping for a portal to both sites.