World’s Biggest Week of Piping Launches

Glasgow will play host to the world’s biggest week of traditional music over 8th – 14th August when tens of thousands traditional music fans and 8,000 pipers, drummers and performers descend on the city for Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival and The World Pipe Band Championships.

The events were launched today by new 2011 ambassador – Harry Potter star Natalia Tena alongside some of the newest, brightest faces in traditional music. As well as acting, Natalia is the accordion player in gyp-step band Molotov Jukebox and she jammed in George Square today alongside piper Jonathan Graham, Chris Armstrong – Pipe Major of ScottishPower Pipe Band and fiddle player Tricia Mullan. Together these young musicians represent the diverse elements of these two world-class events and they urged all spectators to ‘Pick Up The Pipes’.

“People have such misperceptions of traditional music which, like any genre, can take many forms and be interpreted by different musicians and bands in many ways” says Natalia Tena: “I play accordion in my band Molotov Jukebox. Our roots firmly lie in traditional music, but our sound is anything but traditional. I would encourage anyone to pick up traditional instruments and have a go. It has been brilliant having a go at the pipes, I thought Harry Potter fight scenes were tough but the pipes really take it out of you!

World Pipe Band Championships

The World Pipe Band Championships or ‘The Worlds’ have been held in Glasgow for almost 70 years while Piping Live! is entering its 8th year and has established itself as one of the world’s top celebrations of Scottish culture showcasing a diverse blend of traditional music.
The 2011 Piping Live! festival programme will include concerts at the Royal Concert Hall and the Fruitmarket by the likes of Fred Morrison, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Anxo Lorenzo Trio. Throughout the event, George Square will once again be an ideal family day out as it stages free daily highlights including a special Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance. The National Piping Centre will offer recitals, workshops and the popular Family Fun Day.
 
Ian Embelton of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association says “The Worlds are an iconic event and a must on any traditional music fan’s calendar. As well as being the pinnacle of competitions for the crème de la crème of pipe bands from as far and wide as Australia to Aberdeen, The Worlds is also an unmissable family day out. We have Highland Dancing, Highland Games, a massive kid’s zone and delicious local food and drink on offer.”

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “The World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live! draw thousands of people from across the UK and overseas to Glasgow to experience what is a truly spectacular week of superb traditional Scottish music and culture. In addition to attracting some of the world’s leading bands and pipers, both events can boast a strong local identity and provide great platforms for our home-grown pipers to showcase their talents on the global stage. Moreover, both events generate significant economic benefit for the city, as 2010 proved, and their continuing popularity reinforces the message that Glasgow in August is the visitor destination to experience world piping of the highest quality.”

Says Piping Live! Festival Director Roddy MacLeod: “Piping Live! hosts over 170 events across all forms of traditional music as well as the finest pipers and pipe bands from across the globe. We constantly challenge people’s perception of our national instrument and every year we have new fans coming to the festival surprised by the diversity of the music. This year we are also encouraging people to Pick up the Pipes themselves. We’ll be hosting special come and try sessions over the festival and you can look out for more special guests having a go themselves on our website”

The festival week will culminate with the incredible spectacle of The World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on Saturday 13th August. Organised by Glasgow Life on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), the Worlds is considered the single most important date in the calendar for pipe bands and is attended by audiences of thousands of people from all over the world.
 
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland added, “Together The World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live! generate significant economic for Glasgow and Scotland.

International visitors get to experience world class traditional and contemporary piping through these two iconic events – and give them a taste of the vibrancy of Scotland’s cultural events calendar.”