Latest news with #WorldPipeBandChampionships
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
World Pipe Band Championships road closures as contest returns to Glasgow
The world's biggest pipe band event returns to Glasgow Green on August 15 and 16, where it's been held since 1986 Thousands of pipers and drummers from across the globe are set to descend on Glasgow Green this summer, as the World Pipe Band Championships return to the city in August. The internationally renowned event, the largest of its kind in the world, will take place on Friday August 15 and Saturday August 16. Glasgow has hosted the championships since 1946, and has been its permanent home since 1986, Glasgow Live reports. More than 7,000 musicians are expected to take part, with the opening day featuring performances from Grade One bands and the Juvenile Competition. The main championships will follow on Saturday, drawing spectators from around the world. Last year's event saw 204 bands from 13 countries compete, including groups from as far afield as Australia, Oman and Hong Kong. Of those, 119 bands hailed from Scotland. Northern Ireland had the second highest number of participants, followed by the United States. An estimated 35,000 people attended the event in 2023. Colin Mulhern, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said: 'The World Pipe Band Championships is an iconic event that is incredibly important to the global piping community. "Bringing together in Glasgow the very best bands in the world, it's always spectacular and an unforgettable experience for competitors and spectators alike. 'Last year's Worlds saw 204 bands from 13 countries taking part, and more than 7,000 pipers and drummers taking to the field at Glasgow Green to compete in the ultimate 'battle of the bands'. 'We can certainly expect another wonderful showcase of piping and drumming at this year's event on 15 and 16 August, with a hard-fought contest for all of the categories and of course, the title of this year's world champions. "As always, tickets will be in great demand, so we'd encourage everyone planning to come along to book their tickets as soon as possible.' Tickets are now on sale, with prices starting from £13.50 for adults on Friday and £25 on Saturday. Weekend tickets are also available, starting at £32 for adults and £72 for families. The World Pipe Band Championships form part of the wider Piping Live! Festival, which runs from August 11 to 17. Celebrating its 22nd year, the festival attracts around 30,000 people annually and features live performances, workshops and events. The National Piping Centre in Cowcaddens will serve as the main hub, with a new outdoor stage set up in front of the building. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Road closures are planned to accommodate the event, affecting parts of the London Road area from 4am on 15 August to 11.59pm on 16 August. Affected streets include Charlotte Street between Greendyke Street and London Road, the full length of both east and west carriageways, and Greendyke Street between Turnbull Street and London Road. The event is organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and delivered in partnership with Glasgow Life, the city council's cultural body. Further details and ticket bookings can be found via Glasgow Life.
Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Road closures as Scottish city hosts world's biggest pipe band battle
The battle of the bands attracts thousands each year Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The biggest pipe band competition in the world is returning to Glasgow next month, as performers from around the globe descend on the city to celebrate Scotland's national instrument. It will see the return of the Piping Live! festival from August 11-17, culminating with the World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green on Friday 15 and Saturday 16. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The festival is in its 22nd year and sees over 30,000 attendees annually. Events are held at venues across the city, with this year's edition featuring a new site at McPhater Street. The competition will see pipe bands from across the globe battle it out on Glasgow Green | PA Organisers say attendees can enjoy taster sessions, street performances and concerts, with an array of international talent on display. The World Pipe Band Championships, taking place at the end of the festival, has been hosted every year in Scotland since 1986 and is the highlight of the competitive pipe band calendar. Last year's battle of the bands saw 204 bands from 13 countries including Australia, Oman and Hong Kong, take over Glasgow Green. There were 119 bands from Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The event will kick off with the juvenile competition on the Friday, followed by the full championship competition on the Saturday. To support the running of the event, a number of road closures and parking restrictions have been announced by Glasgow City Council in and around Glasgow Green. They include road closures and restrictions on parking. The full list of restrictions are here: Prohibition of vehicle movements 4am on August 15 to 11:59pm on August 16 Charlotte Street, between Greendyke Street and London Road East Carriageway for its full length Greendyke Street, between Turnbull Street and London Road West Carriageway for its full length Prohibition of waiting, loading and unloading 3pm on August 14 to 11:59 pm on August 16 Arcadia Street, both sides, between London Road and The Green. Charlotte Street, both sides, between Greendyke Street and London Road. East Carriageway, both sides between Templeton Street and The Peoples Palace. Greendyke Street, both sides, between Turnbull Street and London Road. James Morrison Street between London Road and St Andrews Street Monteith Row, both sides, between Monteith Place and Greendyke St. Templeton Street, Both sides for its entire length The Green, both sides, between Arcadia Street and King's Drive. West Carriageway, both sides, between Greendyke Street and The Peoples Palace.
Glasgow Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Road closures for Glasgow World Pipe Band Championships
The World Pipe Band Championships will take over Glasgow Green on Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16, drawing thousands of spectators and competitors from across the globe. The two-day celebration of Scottish musical tradition begins with Grade One Day One Performances and the Juvenile Competition on Friday, followed by the full Championship event on Saturday. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Soap stars to host live event celebrating show's 30th anniversary Tickets for the event range from £13.50 to £92.00, with options for general admission and premium packages. Visitors can expect a vibrant day filled with music, pageantry, and Scottish culture at its finest. To support the safe running of the event, a number of road closures and parking restrictions will be enforced in and around Glasgow Green. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to plan ahead, follow diversion routes, and expect increased congestion in the area. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Shocking images show building engulfed by flames as fire crews fight blaze Full details on the roads that are closed and the times are here: Prohibition of vehicle movements From 4am on August 15 to 11.59pm on August 16. Charlotte Street, between Greendyke Street and London Road East Carriageway for its full length Greendyke Street, between Turnbull Street and London Road West Carriageway for its full length Prohibition of waiting, loading and unloading From 3pm on August 14 to 11.59pm on August 16.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fredericton pipe band goes international
A Fredericton-based pipe band is getting ready to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, this August. The Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band is sending its beginning-level band, which in the piping world is Grade 5. The Fredericton band hasn't competed at that level internationally since 2004. The World Pipe Band Championships bring together bands from around the world, including from the United States, Hong Kong, Australia, Spain and Oman. The pipe band from New Brunswick will be one of almost 200 registered competitors. Pipe major Eric Horncastle says the band is working hard to bring its best performance to the competition. "We practise at least once a week throughout the year, with an optional second rehearsal for pipers," Horncastle said. "It's really nice to go over and have some of the younger pipers exposed to that high level because you have bands from all over the world competing." To start the journey, Horncastle had the challenge of hand-selecting the set of music the band would be learning. "We have to pick the appropriate music first," he said. "They have what is called the map list of tunes, with the idea that they had a standard list of tunes that bands could choose from and that meant everybody was on the same footing." Pipe band music comes in many forms from uptempo jigs, bouncy dancing tunes called strathspeys, reflective slow airs, and the style the band will be competing in: marches. WATCH | 'We're a rain or shine crowd': How Fredericton pipe band prepares to compete: Horncastle said the band chose four marches from the list. "I try to balance the complexity of the tunes within the players abilities. Something a little bit challenging but something that's not too difficult." Horncastle has been playing with the band since the early 1970s — and the pipes for even longer. "New Brunswick has never been really noted as an area for piping," he said. "There's a few bands here, so it's good to go over and give us a chance to highlight what we can do." Officially, there are only five pipe bands from New Brunswick registered with the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association, which oversees the pipe band competitions at events throughout the region. There are nine from Nova Scotia and one on Prince Edward Island. This gives new members like piper Austin Chapman an extra reason to be proud of his first time competing in Scotland. "It's honestly a little nerve-racking, but the chance to get over to Scotland and show them what us New Brunswickers and the City of Fredericton can do is an awesome opportunity," Chapman said. The Fredericton Society of St. Andrew sent its Grade 3 band to Scotland in 2017, and it came in 12th out of 18 qualifying bands. The journey across the Atlantic Ocean is also serving as a grad trip for Chapman, a recent graduation of the University of New Brunswick whose learning, he said, isn't over. "When it comes to the grade of pipe band music, where we play, at Grade 5, the only opportunity to see Grade 1 is once and a while at local competitions," he said. "It's going to be an awesome opportunity to take away a lot of skill and good practices from other bands." Pipe band grades, or competition levels, work opposite to school grades where 5 is considered entry level and 1 is professional. This exposure to Grade 1 bands is not only exciting for the pipe corps but also to the drum corps. Stewart Gibson plays snare drum in the band and has competed in Scotland once before. The experience was a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow in his craft, he said. "The Atlantic circuit is a great place to play in, but the World Championships are next level," Gibson said. "Playing for New Brunswick is a badge you wear on your shirt … or your cap, I'd say." He said that the band will be judged on its piping, drumming and overall ensemble, with a judge for each component. "It's a lot of practising both individually and as a band," Gilson said. "You want that cohesiveness as a band — it's one of the main things you're judged on. The biggest thing I like about playing with the band are the folks you get to play with and the great music." As the band prepares for its big trip, it will be competing around the Maritimes. The Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association has seen many bands compete at the worlds over the years. The Fredericton band has been a "pillar of the piping and drumming community" in the region for many years, said Tom Cuming, the association's president. "It's great to see a band at the Grade 5 level, where you have a bunch of new players who are saying that we want to go now and not wait until they're in Grade 3." Cuming said there is a long history of Gaelic music on the East Coast originating with highland settlers and adopted by Maritimers, who made it their own. "What often happens when bands from this area compete in the worlds is that judges will say that music will be culturally unique and have its own 'Easy Coast' flavour," Cuming said. "I think New Brunswick is well situated and well represented in terms of having a unique voice and unique contribution to the [pipe band] community."
The Courier
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Why a Stirling bagpipes shop attracts customers from all over the world
Tucked beneath the shadow of Stirling Castle, Alan Waldron lovingly creates and restores traditional bagpipes. Alan turned his passion for the pipes into a profession, opening Stirling Bagpipes in 2009. The shop's antique décor, global clientele, and commitment to time-honoured techniques is a living museum of Scotland's piping tradition. Originally from Edinburgh, Alan studied aquaculture and worked for a time as a trout farmer before following his passion of woodturning. A self-described 'late starter' on the pipes, he first began playing seriously while living in Gibraltar. The connection between woodworking and piping eventually led him to bagpipe making. Alan explained: 'In 1999, I began working under Nigel Richards of Garvie Bagpipes, who was a well-respected maker of small and border pipes. 'Nigel was incredibly knowledgeable. His understanding of pipe making and musical theory was immense. 'When he retired, I decided to open my own place and keep the tradition going.' In 2009, drawn by cleaner air and a desire to raise his young daughter in a quieter place, he opened Stirling Bagpipes on Broad Street. A twist of fate sealed the deal, after spotting the shop for rent, his car battery died right outside. 'The car told me to take the shop,' Alan laughs. Stirling Bagpipes builds and sells a range of pipes, including Highland sets, small pipes, and border pipes. The shop's interior is deliberately traditional. Brass, glass, and cast-iron fittings create a warm, vintage atmosphere. It's part workshop, part storefront. In one room, towering machines bore wood and shape chanters. In another, shelves are lined with vintage instruments – some more than 250 years old. Restorations are a significant part of his work, making up between a third and half of his annual workload. 'I love when someone brings in a set that's been in an attic for 30 years,' Alan said. 'You never know if it's a gem or a wall-hanger.' Alan's customers span the globe. 'Currently, I'm working on pipes that will go to New York, Mexico City, Dublin, and the Shetland Islands. 'I'm one of the few makers who still turns wood by hand. I don't use copy lathes or mass production techniques. 'I don't want to be a factory. Each set should have soul.' He believes the future of bagpiping is bright. He said the resurgence of folk music and the influence of pipers like Gordon Duncan have made bagpipes 'cool' again among younger generations. Alan explains: 'Youngsters today see it as a cool thing to do, not just a school obligation. They see it as an opportunity. 'Some of them busk and make more than their parents. 'There are events like the World Pipe Band Championships, which now run over two days and attract more than 45,000 visitors to Glasgow Green. 'It's a clear sign that bagpiping is still popular in today's culture.'
