Piping Live! will return this summer with a calendar of in-person and virtual events from 6 - 14 August.

The world’s biggest piping festival celebrates its return to the full in-person programme for the first time since 2019, offering a blended showcase of in-person gigs and online events, so both local and international audiences can enjoy the array of world-class performances.

Now in its 19^th year, the festival annually attracts over 30,000 attendees to Glasgow. The Piping Live! team, with thanks to their funding supporters Glasgow Life and EventScotland, have put together an eclectic and varied programme, including world-class performances, music sessions, recitals, talks, competitions, book launches, workshops and so much more.

Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director for Piping Live!, said: “We are delighted to be returning to our full programme of in-person events for 2022. We are looking forward to welcoming back pipers and drummers from across the globe with a line up of new events and festival favourites. We are also really pleased to be able to offer a livestream of so many events as we know there are still many who can’t make it to Glasgow for this incredible week of music.”

The headline event of this year’s Piping Live! will take place at the Old Fruitmarket with the multi award-winning folk band RURA, alongside the hugely talented multi-instrumentalist Ross Ainslie and winner of the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award and 2016 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. 

Highlights events include; The Silver Chanter 2022, The Masters Solo Piping Competition and of course the home to Piping Live! The Street Cafe at The National Piping Centre.  

Pipe bands from across the globe will perform on Buchanan Street from 12 noon each day of the festival, including artists from Canada, USA and Argentina.

Virtual audiences from around the world can enjoy around 40 hours of live stream content which is all included in one Livestream Festival Pass. 

More information on where and when each performance is happening, as well as, tickets for both in-person and virtual events can be found on The Piping Live website. 

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life said: “Anyone who has attended Piping Live! in the past or who knows what it’s like to be in Glasgow in August when the city comes alive with the skirl of the pipes, will be keenly anticipating this year’s festival. Piping Live! is a truly international festival, bringing performers and audiences to Glasgow from around the world with the majority attending coming from outside the city, boosting Glasgow’s tourism economy. The performances, concerts and events offer unmissable experiences of being part of a live audience enjoying some of the finest musicians in the world. If you love live music, you will love Piping Live!”.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting Piping Live!, a key part of Scotland’s annual portfolio of events. Events play a key role in our communities and this year’s programme offers a wonderful opportunity to for audiences to connect, enjoy and share memorable moments across a range of performances, competitions, recitals and workshops whether it’s in person or online.