Record-breaking parade of pipers gets Scotland’s biggest week of bagpipes underway
Glasgow's much-loved Piping Live! festival has burst into life for its 21st edition, bringing the sights and sounds of Scotland’s national instrument to streets and venues across the city until Sunday 18th August.
Welcoming over 30,000 attendees to Glasgow performance spaces and landmarks each year, Piping Live! showcases an eclectic programme of events for pipers, drummers and music lovers alike – and this year’s festival is set to be one of its most popular yet.
The sensational celebrations get formally underway today with the Piping Live! Big Band. A record number of pipers and drummers are set to line Glasgow’s west end streets, marching from Mansefield Park in Partick to the concourse of the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in a spectacular display.
The Big Band’s seventh showcase will see around 170 pipers, from young learners to seasoned professionals, perform a rousing repertoire of fan favourites with participants of all ages playing chanters, bagpipes, snare, bass and tenor drums during the festival’s joyful mass participation event.
Participants hail from all corners of the globe and come together in collective appreciation of Scottish music and culture. This year this includes a group of pipers from Hong Kong, as well as participants from Germany, Australia and towns and cities across Scotland.
This year, the event is in support of Glasgow-based charity Articulate Cultural Trust, which helps care experienced and marginalised groups of young people access the tools they need to build a robust and fulfilled life.
For one Big Band participant, the event allows her to take part in piping in an accessible and inclusive way. Leanne Richardson, 34 from Cumbernauld, has been playing the pipes for 14 years and joins the Big Band for the fourth time this year.
Leanne said: “I have epilepsy and other disabilities which have a big impact on my ability to play my pipes, but each year I focus really hard to be able to take part in the Big Band. It's a really rewarding experience as there is no pressure.
“Music has always been a massive part of my life and being able to play the pipes is my escape. I can sit for ages, play my chanter and forget all my struggles.
“My epilepsy has a massive effect on my memory, concentration and learning so there are only a few tunes I can remember without music in front of me. Taking part in the Piping Live! Big Band is a stress free way of being able to be part of something that was a dream as a child. I remember watching pipers marching as a child and always wanted to be able to do that, now here I am.”
Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director for Piping Live!, said: “One of the festival highlights, the Piping Live! Big Band showcase is such an exciting way to kickstart the festivities and celebrate Scottish culture and our national instrument.
