Why don’t more women play the bagpipes?

By Peter Ranscombe | April 18, 2023

THE National Piping Centre today launched a study to find out why more women don’t play the bagpipes. Its six-month “Women in Piping and Drumming: Equality, Inclusivity, and Diversity” project is being run in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The study includes an online survey, which runs until 2 June. Lady Oona Ivory,…

Read More

Hebrides soundtrack for hotel’s ‘wellness room’

By Peter Ranscombe | August 11, 2022

SOUNDS recorded in the Hebrides are helping guests to relax at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel in Edinburgh. Music producer Brian D’Souza travelled to locations including the Hebrides, Cape Verde, Lake Geneva, and Lofoten in the Article to make his recordings. He then mixed sounds from fields, the sea, and wildlife with noises from gongs,…

Read More

Trad powerhouse Hò-rò have new album on the way

By Kenny Smith | April 4, 2022

New Moon is the new album from traditional powerhouse Hò-rò. The contemporary trad album, which features delicate ballads and upbeat foot-stomping tunes, will be released on Friday 22 April. The seven-piece band from the Highlands, known for their spellbinding, energetic live performances, have become a force to be reckoned with on the Scottish traditional music…

Read More

New home sought for Scottish accordion collection

By Kenny Smith | February 2, 2022

A Scots accordion collector is looking to find a new home for her vast collection. Caroline Hunt, originally from Selkirk and now living in the Highlands, is the founder of the Antique Accordion Museum, but the closure of its previous home means she now needs to find a new home for the musical instruments. Her…

Read More

Scottish composer pays tribute to Islay in new work

By Kenny Smith | January 25, 2022

A new orchestral work, written by Perth-based composer Helen MacKinnon and performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, has opened a new album of contemporary orchestral music, released worldwide this week. The Rinns of Islay presents a musical journey around the Inner Hebridean island, which was home to the composer’s grandparents and generations before. Inspired…

Read More

Ten of the best pipers to compete at championship

By Kenny Smith | September 8, 2021

Ten of the world’s greatest solo pipers have been invited to compete in this year’s Glenfiddich Piping Championship. The renowned competition returns to Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire on Saturday October 30. This year’s competitors are defending champion Stuart Liddell, Dollar’s Callum Beaumont, British Columbia piper Jack Lee, five-time champion Roderick Macleod MBE, William McCallum…

Read More

A musical replacement for the Braemar Gathering

By Kenny Smith | August 13, 2021

An alternative event has been lined up as a replacement for this year’s cancelled Braemar Gathering. St Margaret’s Braemar will host a packed weekend of music, piping and highland dancing from 3-5 September as ‘Nae Games Weekend’ takes place in lieu of the world-famous Braemar Gathering. In normal years over 10,000 spectators, including Her Majesty…

Read More

Piping Live returns with a nine-day festival

By Kenny Smith | June 4, 2021

Glasgow’s Piping Live! is back for 2021 with a nine-day festival packed full of world-class performances, music sessions, recitals, competitions, book launches, workshops and so much more. Taking place between August 7-15, the annual festival has confirmed they will present their programme online, in response to current government guidelines. However, if restrictions allow the team…

Read More

Former Red Hot Chilli Piper gives free online chanter lessons

By Peter Ranscombe | January 8, 2021

FORMER Red Hot Chilli Piper Craig Muirhead is taking to YouTube to deliver chanter lessons to pipers in lockdown. Muirhead said: “The piping community is struggling right now and has been since the first lockdown last year. “There is no cost for the lessons, we just want to share our passion for piping with anyone…

Read More