You’ll see from my report on the Fast News what a success the Lochaber Gathering was. Let’s hope they get better support from school’s teachers in the Highlands in 2013. There were a few youngsters there but these were private pupils rather than school sponsored attendees. Allan and Kirsteen MacColl have a difficult job keeping this contest going but get good support from Highland Council (circular to school’s tutors? – send your kids to this contest; your employers are sponsoring it), Moidart Foundation, Bord Na Gaidhlig, McCallum Bagpipes, Robin Fleming and the MacKintosh Foundation.
Good to see Colin MacLellan there supporting his wife Jenny and his colleagues from the Eagle Pipers.
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Boghall will be delighted with picking up the European Championship in FM’s backyard on Saturday. Runner-up Richard Parkes can console himself with the achievements so far this season and the many seasons before – and you can be sure we have not heard the last of FM in 2012. The victory is a great fillip for Boghall as they head towards their Glasgow concert. I see from the RSPBA summaries that they won the drumming again and with it the crucial ensemble vote of judge Malky MacKenzie. As I noted in my report on the British at Annan, it is the sound of the Boghall drums that attracts this listener. It seems to be a slightly lower pitch, more snarey than the rest, more mellow. It blends with the pipes better and maybe this is what gave the Boggies the ensemble edge on Saturday. Have a listen next time you hear them and see if you agree. To me the modern pipe band side drum has become almost metallic in sound so hard are the drum heads. The band are at the CoP on Aug 9 at 2pm.
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As was expected there was no show from Shotts & Dykehead at Belfast. Let’s hope they can get something together for the Worlds. This band is important to the world movement. We don’t want to see it go the same way as other great names of the past: Renfrew, Clan MacRae, Muirheads, Red Hackle, Invergordon, Polkemmet.
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During my stint in the B grades on Saturday I was able to hear snatches of some of the youngsters, Sandy Cameron playing the Red Speckled Bull for example! What a prospect this boy is and a credit to his parents and his tutor Iain MacFadyen. Many’s a professional would turn the page at the Bull, but young Sandy grabs it by the horns and makes a good job of its scant note content. The young boy with the Gaelic name, Seamus O’Bhaoighill, rattles out a brilliant hornpipe and jig. Gordon Walker look out! Brighde Chaimbeul is a sweet player too and did well at Fort William. The Highlands and Islands are fortunate to have these young stars in their firmament.
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We had a very good attendance for the Donald MacLeod Lecture and a pity Jeannie Campbell could not make it north due to illness. Speedy recovery Jeannie.
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There is a Donald MacLeod event at the Piping Live festival featuring John Wilson and Innes Smith. Innes plays Donald’s pipes. See the P Live programme for details.
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Getting near Worlds Week/ P Live and here is the list of events taking place at the CoP. We are grateful to the Piobaireachd Society for sponsoring our Piobaireachd of the Day:
Mon, Aug 6, 1pm Piobaireachd of the Day – Gordon McCready; 2pm Inveraray PB
Tues, Aug 7, 1pm Piobaireachd of the Day – Finlay Johnston;  2pm Dysart & Dundonald
Weds. Aug 8, 1pm Piobaireachd of the Day – Douglas Murray: 2pm soloist Sid Moore & Glasgow Skye PB
Thurs. Aug 9, 1pm Piobaireachd of the Day – Darach Urquhart;
2pm Boghall & Bathgate PB
7pm Coopers Bar, Great Western Rd., Open Pipe Night – pipes till 10pm
Fri. Aug 10, 1pm Piobaireachd of the Day – Brian Donaldson
2pm Reed Manipulation Workshop with Douglas Murray
Entry for all events at the door.
Classes and lessons all week in piping and drumming – don’t pay more than you have to; world class instruction at an affordable price.