MORE than 150 pipers and drummers of all ages marched through Glasgow’s city centre to mark the launch of Piping Live! 2022.
It’s the first time musicians have been able to take part in the annual celebration of the piping tradition since 2019.
Musicians aged between eight and 86 joined the pack of Big Band performers heading down West George Street, with thrilled supporters following them along.
The Piping Live! festival, which is the biggest of its kind in the world, has been going on for 19 years – and brings around 30,000 attendees to Glasgow each summer.
Finlay MacDonald led the Big Band parade from Blythswood Square to George Square, as the group played Scotland the Brave on their instruments.
The director of piping at the National Piping Centre, who is also the festival's artistic director, said it was a “proud moment”.
“The collaboration of people of all ages, and the eagerness of those less experienced to get involved, is truly heart-warming to see and such a fitting start to the festival,” he said.
“The Big Band parade is always a highlight of the festival, and I’ve missed it greatly these last two years. As a player and a teacher, it’s fantastic to be back amongst the music and the rhythm.
“Performing with a 150-strong pipe band in one of Scotland’s most famous and celebrated cities is an experience unlike any other, and it’s made all the better knowing we are raising money for an amazing charity like Beatson Cancer Charity too.”
This year Piping Live’s Big Band parade helped to raise more than £1000 for the cancer charity, with those taking part in the performance each donating cash.
The festival is going on in the city until August 14, with the World Pipe Band Championships – featuring nearly 150 bands – taking place over the weekend.
Artists from 10 countries will participate, while the general festival schedule has pipers from as far afield as Iran, Estonia and Hungary performing.
READ MORE: Thousands to come to Glasgow for World Pipe Band Championships
Audiences will also be able to tune into many of the events online.
Bailie Annette Christie, chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships have been the cornerstone of Glasgow’s cultural calendar for many years. We have missed the wonderful sights, sounds and thousands of UK and overseas visitors that these events bring to the city every August, as Glasgow becomes the global home of piping.
“So it’s exciting to see them return with full in-person programmes that will ensure piping fans experience a truly spectacular week of traditional Scottish music and culture.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel