Piping Live! Big Band Blasts Off with Biggest Band Yet

Marching to the beat of their own drum, quite literally, the Piping Live! Big Band in Glasgow today (Monday 11th August) marked the start of the popular international festival which every year sees thousands of piping enthusiasts descend on the city for a week of lively events and performances.

Bringing together over 200 talented pipers and drummers of all ages and abilities from diverse backgrounds, this year’s Piping Live! Big Band was the largest in the event’s history.

As the musicians set off from Mansfield Park in Partick towards the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, they performed a range of well-known tunes to entertain onlookers.

Friends, family and spectators lined the streets to applaud the passing parade, which this year welcomed pipers and drummers aged from eight to 86 years old. Many of those who assembled for today’s Big Band event will be joining their own bands to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th August at Glasgow Green.

First time attendee of Piping Live and Worlds!, Drum Sergeant Alexander Manfield from Warwick Thistle Pipe Band, travelled from Australia to be a part of this unforgettable experience. This is the first time in the band’s history of over 100 years that it has ventured outside of Australia, bringing with them performers aged 11 to 74-years-old.

He said: “I’ve been with the band 20 years and it’s amazing to finally come to Scotland to perform in this beautiful part of the world. Many of the band have Scottish roots, so it means a lot to us to come here – some of us have travelled with family as there are multiple generations in the band, so it’s special. It’s also great to meet people from other bands we speak to virtually – we’ve been snapping selfies already! We’re so excited for the week ahead, we’ve put a lot of work in to prepare.”

Every year the Piping Live! Big Band partners with a charitable cause, with the 2025 chosen recipient being Scotland-based charity, the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust. The Trust was established in honour of the talented piper, Eilidh MacLeod, to support music education for children and young people.

Eilidh’s family travelled from Barra to lead this year’s parade, with Roddy MacLeod, the late teen’s father, saying it ‘means a lot’ to see the event support the good cause: “We didn’t expect there to be such an amazing turnout, it’s so impressive, you can’t beat seeing so many people take to the streets of Glasgow. It means a lot to us to be thought of.”

Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director of Piping Live! helped lead the procession of musical talent through the city. He said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see today’s wonderful parade officially marking the beginning of what promises to be a hugely exciting edition of the Piping Live! festival.

“This year is a particularly special one for us, as attendees can experience our brand-new reimagined outdoor space at the home of the festival, the National Piping Centre.

“We’ve got a fantastic week of events planned, with something on offer for all ages. We’d love to see as many people as possible join us for this dynamic and wide-ranging programme of global talent right here in Glasgow.”

This year sees a re-designed Festival Site at the festival’s home, the National Piping Centre on McPhater Street, a two-minute walk from Cowcaddens Subway station.

The newly created Centre Stage will feature a headline act each day, including performances from Uist band Beinn Lee, the modern folk group Assynt, Inverness-based, Cala, and the acclaimed piper and composer Malin Lewis.

Other festival highlights include the prestigious Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge which brings together five of the world’s top solo pipers to battle it out for the top title, while the G1 Reeds International Quartet Competition welcomes six of the world’s top pipe bands to compete for glory just days before the World Pipe Band Championships. The hugely popular Pipe Idol – a competition for young, up-and-coming pipers aged 21 and under – also returns, with heats taking place throughout the week.

The Bothy, an acoustic tent which provides a more intimate setting, offers fun for the whole family with live music, book launches, talks, and ‘Ceilidh Tots’ sessions for younger attendees planned.

Events extend beyond the festival site too. Free, open-air performances by international pipe bands, including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums and the Brisbane Boys College, will take place daily on Buchanan Street, offering a chance for local people and visitors to experience world-class piping in the heart of the city.

The festival’s evening events culminate with ‘Friday Night Folk’ at Saint Luke’s, featuring performances by the Ali Levack Big Band and Falasgair.

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of charity Glasgow Life, which supports the festival with funding, said: “Celebrating the contemporary and traditional music of the bagpipes, and the great diversity of our national instrument, this year’s dynamic Piping Live! programme boasts a wealth of exciting entertainment and activities that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.

“Now in its 22nd year, the festival has grown to become a fantastic showcase of homegrown and international piping talent, and the incredible skills of well-established and emerging musicians. We’re therefore delighted to continue to support it, and to once again be welcoming everyone taking part in Piping Live! and the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships. Both events are wonderful highlights of Glasgow’s cultural calendar that we can take great pride in.”

As the world’s biggest piping festival, Piping Live! puts Scotland, its culture and its music on the global stage every year.

Rob Dickson, VisitScotland Director of Industry and Events, said: “Glasgow and Scotland is truly the heart and soul of piping, and nowhere is that more evident than at Piping Live!, a dynamic celebration of our rich musical heritage. As part of our vibrant portfolio of events and festivals helping support our visitor economy, Piping Live! showcases the very best of traditional and contemporary bagpipe music, drawing performers and audiences from around the world.”

“Alongside the World Pipe Band Championships, Piping Live! ensures Glasgow and Scotland continues to shine as a world-class destination for tourism and events.”

Piping Live! 2025 programme highlights – from Monday 11th to Sunday 17th August – are provided below and at https://pipinglive.co.uk/.

More information on the World Pipe Band Championships 2025 – on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th August – is available from www.theworlds.co.uk.