The award-winning Islay Pipe Band, from the famous whisky island, has secured a new supporter in its hour of need, Bruichladdich Islay Single Malt.

The band, crowned champions of champions in 2008 after winning their class at Scottish, British, European and World Championships, were hoping to compete in grade 3B in 2009.

When the main sponsors pulled out a frantic appeal was made to find a new supporter, in addition to other emergency fund-raising measures, to keep the dream alive.

via allmediascotland : New Spirit of Islay’s Pipe Band.

A REBELLION has broken out among members of a police pipe band after senior officers decided it could no longer perform at community galas and other events.

At least ten members of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band have lodged an official complaint against senior management over moves they say will bring about the end of the 126-year-old institution.

The bands 15 police members are angry at a decision taken by Chief Constable Steve House to require the permission of a divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Anne McGuire, to take part in charity fundraisers, village fêtes and other events.

That has resulted in the band missing a number of events in the past few weeks, including an annual taxi outing for disabled children and the Govan Fair. The band, which numbers about 40 in total and is made up of its 15 police members and civilian staff and guests, is world-renowned in piping circles. Last year it performed at about 20 events, but is struggling to cope with changes to the police members shifts that make it much harder to practise.

via Police officers pipe up for rebellion - Scotsman.com News .

CONVERGING on Ipswich in a flurry of tartan, the Queensland Pipe Band Championships made its presence known at Limestone Park at the weekend.

Hosted by the Ipswich Thistle Pipe Band, bands from throughout Queensland and Northern New South Wales were drawn to the city to compete in the championships.

The two-day Scottish extravaganza included highland stalls, the Queensland solo piping and solo drumming championships and a mini band concert.

via Park alive with the sounds of Scotland | Music | Local Gig Guides for Qld and NSW | Ipswich Queensland Times.

An Irvinestown-based band has plenty to ‘blow about’ this year! Drumharvey Pipe Band celebrated its 75th anniversary at its annual barbecue and dance on Friday evening last.

Current and former band members, family, friends and supporters gathered at the Woodhill Hunting Lodge to mark the historic milestone.

After an enjoyable meal, guests were treated to a musical interlude by the younger members of the band.

Band secretary Bryan Gray thanked those in attendance for joining in the night of celebration and nostalgia, before officially launching a commemorative booklet, charting Drumharvey’s three quarters of a century in existence.

via © The Fermanagh Herald - In Focus.

World Pipe Band Championships 2009

The showpiece event of the Glasgow International Piping Festival (10–16 Aug, around Glasgow, www.pipingfestival.co.uk), is the World Pipe Band Championships. There are those who find the sound of the bagpipes an acquired taste to say the least, but many with a Scottish connection also find the massed sound of pipers and drummers in a pipe band particularly stirring - not surprising, considered these bands were historically first formed within military regiments.

Sat 15 Aug, Glasgow Green (H6), 0141 221 5414,

The New Westminster Police Pipe Band and other well known performers are holding a Celtic evening at Massey Theatre June 25.

Entitled Pipe Up, the program includes selections by the New Westminster Pipe Band—current Grade 2 Pacific Northwest champions—as well as the reigning world champion SFU Pipe Band.

The concert will also mark the North American debut of The Shee, an all-female band from Scotland, which combines powerful vocals and instrumental prowess. The group performs Scottish folk, Gaelic and Bluegrass music.

via New Westminster News Leader - Police, SFU pipe band performs.

The UC Riverside Pipe Band continued its winning season with first-place finishes at competitions in Costa Mesa and Sacramento. Several band members also won individual honors at the spring events.

At the United Scottish Society Highland Gathering in Costa Mesa, the band was third overall in Grade 4 competition on May 23 and first on May 24.

The UCR Pipe Band was first overall in timed medley and quick march medley events for Grade 4 bands at the Sacramento Valley Scottish Games and Gathering in Woodland April 25-26. The band was first in piping, ensemble and drumming on both days.

Bands and soloists compete in Grade levels 1 through 4, with 1 high and 4 entry level. Soloists may compete in levels that are different from their bands.

“The UCR Pipe Band, now feared and referred to by its competition as the ‘Big Blue Machine,’ is an outstanding representative of our campus, of our competitive spirit and collective commitment to excellence,” said Walter Clark, professor and chair of the UCR Department of Music. “It is a source of pride as well as entertainment, and we should all rejoice in the band’s magnificent achievements.”

via Newsroom: UCR Pipe Band.

A BAG PIPE band are preparing to travel to Normandy to lead war veterans in their 65th D-Day commemorations.

Bromley-based Schiehallion Pipes and Drums band, will be travelling to Gold Beach in Arromanches in Normandy to lead Second World War veterans on June 6.

The band, which is made up of around 20 members has been together for six years and is led by drum major Jim Gibb of Croydon Road in Hayes.

The trip is of particular importance to Mr Gibb, who is an ex servicemen of the first Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

Not only will Mr Gibb be wearing his own service medals earned during his years in the army, but he will get the opportunity to pay respect to his uncle, William Moran, who was killed during battle in 1944 at the age of 19.

The 58-year-old said: “I think I will have a lot of mixed feelings on the day.

via BROMLEY: Pipe band to lead D-Day commemorations (From This Is Local London).

An army pipe band may be the closest Scotland gets to winning a classical music award this year.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are tipped to land a Classical Brit Award tonight for Best Album for their Spirit of the Glen: Journey CD, half of which was recorded in a war zone. It was top of the classical music charts for 14 weeks earlier in the year.

The awards come just days after the Royal Philharmonic Society music awards where the Hebrides Ensemble was nominated for chamber music award but ultimately lost out to the Britten Sinfonia.

via Royal Scots Dragoon Guards favourites to win Classical Brit Award | Music | STV Entertainment.

The World Pipe Band Championships is heading out on tour for the first time this year as part of Scotland’s Homecoming celebrations, paying a visit to some of the summer’s top events.

The Homecoming Scotland Road to the Worlds will see various pipe bands appearing at events across the UK in the build up to the championships - the world’s biggest pipe band competition - which return to Glasgow Green this August.

via World Pipe Band Championships on Homecoming road this summer | Music | STV Entertainment.