After a summer of cancelled events, Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival have announced they’ll be live-streaming a mini-programme of this year’s event between 8 – 14 August.

In April, festival organisers had to cancel this year’s event due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  But after months of careful planning, the festival board decided that if audiences couldn’t come to Glasgow, then they’d bring Piping Live! to millions of pipers and trad music fans across the world.

Today they revealed a series of competitions, performances, and panel talks - both free and ticketed – set to take place during Piping Live!’s festival week. 

The events will showcase the same world-class musical talent, with an international flavour, that audiences have come to expect from the festival - and re-affirm the National Piping Centre’s commitment to supporting and promoting piping excellence around the world.

On Saturday 8th August, The 54th Annual Silver Chanter competition will take place - featuring Sarah Muir, Fred Morrison, Callum Beaumont, Stuart Liddell, Connor Sinclair, and Iain Speirs – as well as the CLASP World Amateur Solo Piping Competition.

On Monday 10th, Tuesday 11th, and Wednesday 12thPipes of The World discussions will be live-streamed - engaging panel discussions with an international piping focus, chaired by Finlay McDonald and featuring Louise Mulcahy (Ireland), Hervé Le Floc'h (France) and Ivan Simeonov Georgiev (Bulgaria).

The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge will air on Thursday 13th August - featuring Roddy MacLeod MBE, Stuart Liddell, Angus MacColl, Callum Beaumont and Connor Sinclair - and, on Friday 14th August, popular Scottish folk group, Old Blind Dogs, will play a blistering set to close the week.

Headline concerts are priced at £10 each, or £25 to access all three events, while the panel discussions will be free to view. For more information, please visit the Piping Live! website.

People wishing to donate above and beyond the Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Centre ticket price can do so online at www.pipinglive.co.uk or by texting BAGPIPES (chosen donation amount) to 70085 e.g. BAGPIPES 10 to 70085 to donate £10. Up to a maximum of £20, UK mobiles only.

Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director of Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival, said: “To say we’re thrilled to be streaming some of the best events from this year’s Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival programme is an understatement.

“Since we made the heart-breaking announcement that this year’s event couldn’t take place, we’ve been working hard to find a way to celebrate the amazing piping and traditional talent across the world.

“We wanted to lift the spirits of our fans after an incredibly difficult few months, while also giving a platform to all of our brilliant trad musicians at a time when they need it most, and these events do just that.

“To be able to bring back our beloved festival in any way is a true honour, and we can’t wait to see you all, virtually, in August.”

Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council said: “The decision to cancel festivals has had real consequences for artists and performers around the world so live streaming Piping Live! is an opportunity for us all to support people whose livelihoods depend on playing live.

“Glasgow is always bursting with energy and music when Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships are held so I have no doubt audiences will be ready to enjoy the programme.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Digital and online events are playing an integral role during this time by allowing event organisers to stay connected and engaged with their audience, while offering an outlet for musicians and artists to perform.

“The live streaming of a mini programme of Piping Live! following the cancellation of this year’s event will provide real excitement both for competitors and performers as well as fans of piping until they can return to Scotland for next year’s festival.”

The festival, which was due to take place August 8th – 16th, was expected to welcome 40,000 visitors to Glasgow, with 5,000 performers set to put on over 150 events throughout the city.

Planning for 2021’s festival has already begun, with dates set for Saturday 7th – Sunday 15th August 2021.

Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival receives support from public bodies including Glasgow Life and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate - each playing an essential role in the continuing strength of traditional music in Scotland’s cultural scene.

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For press enquiries, please contact Wire | Hamish Maclean | [email protected] | telephone number 07806 637 138


For more information on the festival, visit www.pipinglive.co.uk