2006: 7th - 13th August 2006
From 7th to 13th August 2006, Glasgow will once again be at the very centre of global piping as Piping Live! The Glasgow International Piping Festival returns for a triumphant third year.
In 2005, audiences of 25,000 people, a third of which came from overseas, watched more than 5000 pipers perform across Glasgow generating over £800,000 for the city.
Building upon the success of last year’s event, the programme for 2006 will welcome pipers from all over the world including Spain, Bulgaria, France, the U.S, Dublin and England alongside the best of Scotland’s homegrown talent. Showcasing a diverse variety of piping styles from the most traditional Piobaireachd to modern folk combos, Piping Live! will appeal to local fans of traditional music, as well as attracting thousands of visitors to the city.
Organised by the Glasgow International Piping Festival Ltd, the event is sponsored by Glenfiddich with core funding coming from Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, The Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and The European Regional Development Fund. EventScotland are once again a key partner, while support comes from The National Piping Centre and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Roddy MacLeod, Director of Piping Live! says: “We’ve now had two extremely successful years with Piping Live! and in 2006 we aim to really put a global spotlight on Glasgow as being at the centre of piping excellence.
“This year’s programme is bigger and better than ever and will really show that piping is a thriving form of traditional music with a constantly evolving repertoire and diverse range of performance styles that the city can be proud of.”
Piping Live! will once again kick off with Monday night’s Opening Concert, which will feature the leading lady of the Northumberland pipes Kathryn Tickell and her band, alongside one time BBC Young Musician of the year, Jarlath Henderson and Ross Ainslie with Daimh, described by the media as ‘one of the fiercest bands on the traditional scene today’ and Forzh Penaos, a Fest Noz group from Brittany.
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will play host to two of the biggest festival concerts, including Tuesday night’s performance from the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. Thursday will see the current grade one world champions, the Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band take to the stage with ‘King of the pipes’ Fred Morrison, Lyra from Bulgaria and Asturia’s Tejedor, one of the most successful contemporary pipe bands in the world.
On Wednesday evening, The National Piping Centre will be the venue for a new Gaelic Piping Concert that will feature performances from Allan MacDonald, Margaret Stewart and Calum Alex MacMillan alongside Daimh and with support from The Royal National Mod, Scotland's premier Gaelic festival of language, arts and culture.
George Square will stage free highlights throughout the week, with performances from many of the main festival acts alongside a Tattoo presentation on Tuesday and the culmination of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association parade on Friday in anticipation of the world championships which take place at Glasgow Green on Saturday.
The World Pipe band Championships 2006 (WPBC) is the premier competition in the global, traditional piping calendar. The competition, which has been associated with Glasgow since 1948 is organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. Some 250 bands and 8000 pipers from Europe, Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand are set to attend. The main competition takes place on Glasgow Green on Saturday, 12th August. For further information, please contact James Doherty on 0141 287 5742.
Last year, Piping Live! added a number of new events and venues which will make a welcome return in 2006. The Contemporary Piping Night at The Arches will this year feature internationally renowned uillean piper John McSherry and his band At First Light alongside Scottish favourites, the Finlay MacDonald Band. The highly successful piping fringe events across various bars in the city will also return as will the Street Café outside the National Piping Centre. The full programme for both will be unveiled over the next few weeks.
Barbara Absolon, International Events Programme Manager of EventScotland commented, "EventScotland is once again pleased to be investing in Piping Live! Building on the success of last year’s festival organisers have developed an even more exciting programme for 2006. I am delighted to see more and more world-class performers in the programme which will act as a catalyst to attract more international visitors and promote Scotland on the international stage.”
Peter Gordon, Director of sponsors Glenfiddich said: “Piping Live! has established itself as a firm favourite on the piping calendar of events and as keen supporters in this area we are delighted to continue our backing for the event in 2006.”
Councillor Alex Mosson, Chairman of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: “Both Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships have helped Glasgow to cement its reputation as a major European cultural destination and have proved to be an important fixture in the local calendar also. The success and attendance of the events have grown year on year and we are extremely pleased that both deliver a positive economic impact for the city. In looking forward to this summer, we are delighted to be the core funders of both events once again.”
Scottish Enterprise Glasgow’s Deputy Chief Executive, Gordon Kennedy said: “With the growing interest in piping as an art form from around the world the potential economic benefits of a festival of this size and quality for the city are substantial.”
“Combined with the annual World Pipe Band Championship this festival really cements Glasgow’s international reputation as the capital of piping.”
For details about the full Piping Live! programme and how to buy tickets please visit http://www.pipingfestival.co.uk or for information on Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships visit: http://www.seeglasgow.com/piping
For media information please contact Burt Greener Communications Ltd
Lee Beattie or Aarti Joshi on T: 0141 248 6007 or M: 07855 367 922
E: lee@burtgreener.co.uk; aarti@burtgreener.co.uk
EventScotland: http://www.eventscotland.org
2006 programme:
Piping Live 2006 Highlights
George Square
George Square will once again provide the perfect venue for the daily international showcases between 11am and 2.30pm each day. Piping fans, families, passers by and workers will all be able to enjoy performances from some of the best bands from around the world alongside homegrown talent. Performances will come from the likes of the City Of Regina Pipe Band, City Of Blacktown, Oran Mor Pipe Band, Forzh Penaos, Finlay MacDonald, Lyra, Fred Morrison and St Mary’s Band Club.
In time honoured tradition, a presentation from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo will take place at George Square on Tuesday 8th, while Beat The Retreat, the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association parade will delight fans on Friday 11th.
A new addition to the square this year will be a marquee which will offer merchandise for Piping Live, the World Pipe Band Championships and the National MOD, while Glenfiddich, the festival’s sponsor will also be showcasing a whisky exhibition.
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
This year, the Royal Concert Hall presents three concerts offering performances from a whole galaxy of piping stars alongside some of tomorrow’s future stars. The Opening Concert on Monday 7th will feature performances from the leading lady of the Northumberland pipes, Kathryn Tickell alongside Jarlath Henderson and Ross Ainslie while on Tuesday 8th, the National Youth Pipe Band Of Scotland will share the stage with the Armagh Pipers Club.
On Thursday 10th the Celtic Piping Night will present ‘king of the pipes’ Fred Morrison, Lyra and Asturian band Tejedor alongside one of the most successful bands of all time, The House Of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band.
The National Piping Centre
A brand new addition to the festival is this year’s Gaelic Piping Concert in association with the National MOD which will take place at The National Piping Centre on Wednesday 9th. The concert will feature Calum Alex MacMillan, a former Gold Medal and Traditional Medal winner at last year’s Royal National Mod, Kathleen MacInnes, Allan MacDonald and Dàimh.
The Contemporary Piping Night
The Contemporary Piping Night at The Arches on Friday 11th will present the edgiest, most alternative young pipers around today. The Finlay MacDonald Band who has become one of the best loved young contemporary piping bands in the country will perform alongside John McSherry’s At First Light, one of the finest, critically acclaimed exponents of uilleann piping ever.
Best Of The Rest
Many of the city’s favourite bars have pledged their support once again by offering sessions from the likes of Gordon Bruce, Band ‘Re and Danara throughout the week, while The Street Café will return to the front of the National Piping Centre allowing fans to stop for a spot of lunch and enjoy some afternoon sessions.
The ever popular workshops, recitals, lectures and come & try sessions will also return to the National Piping Centre and Strathclyde University’s Todd Hall, while the Glasgow Film Theatre and The Grosvener Cinema will once again be showing a selection of Scottish and traditional themed films including Call Of Dudy and The Wickerman.
Saturday 12th will of course see all of the pipers in the city gearing up for competition as the RSPBA World Pipe Band Championships once again delights and excites fans on Glasgow Green.
Says Festival Director, Roddy McLeod: “Now in its third year, we are extremely proud of how much the Piping Live! programme has grown and we look forward to welcoming all of the visitors to the city next week for yet another fantastic festival. Alongside the World Pipe Band Championships, Piping Live! has really helped to put Glasgow on the international map as the city of global piping excellence.’”
Tickets for the festival are available from The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Box
Office on 0141 353 8000 (all ticket prices s.t.b.f) or online at http://www.pipinglive.co.uk | 
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