Piping Live! Launches Programme for 2007
Thousands of the world’s top international pipers are set to descend upon Glasgow from 6th – 12th August 2007 to perform alongside the crème de la crème of Scottish homegrown talent as part of Piping Live! Glasgow’s International Piping Festival.
Over the last four years, Piping Live! has established itself as one of the most exciting celebrations of Scottish culture, offering a refreshing twist on traditional piping events. Bigger than ever, this year’s festival will host a record number of homegrown acts including Wolfstone, Finlay MacDonald, Daimh, Bodego and the Peatbog Faeries to name a few alongside international names such as Luigi Lai (Italy) and Anxo Lorenso (Spain).
George Square will stage free highlights throughout the week from many of the main festival acts as well as top pipe bands such as the Scottish Power Pipe Band, Australian Highlanders and LA Scots. There will also be an extra special performance on 7th August from the Edinburgh Military Tattoo plus last year’s merchandise marquee will make a welcome return alongside Glenfiddich’s popular whisky exhibition.
The National Piping Centre will be the festival’s hub hosting daily come and try sessions and workshops as well as performances in the outdoor Street Café from some of the best piping folk combos, duos and groups including TNT, Chris Gibb and Lauren Maccoll. Pipe Idol will also return attracting gifted youngsters who will battle through daily competitions in the hope of being crowned Pipe Idol at the end of the week.
The festival’s evening concerts have grown from just four in 2006 to six this year with the introduction of two exciting new events. The Pipes & Strings evening at St Andrew’s in the Square will celebrate the close relationship between fiddling and piping while a huge festival finale and post-worlds shindig will take place on Saturday 11th August at the Old Fruitmarket after the last band has been judged at the World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green.
Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Glasgow: Scotland with style is delighted to be supporting Piping Live! once again this year. The festival’s diverse and exciting programme will not only appeal to local audiences, but is sure to attract visitors from throughout the UK and abroad and further enhance the city’s reputation as one of Europe’s premier cultural capitals.”
Festival Director Roddy MacLeod added: “Piping Live will ensure that Glasgow is at the very centre of global piping once again this summer.
“Last year’s event was a fantastic success with almost 30,000 people attending throughout the week. 2007 is already looking bigger and better and we hope that Piping Live! will enjoy its busiest year yet.” www.seeglasgow.com/piping
ENDS
Further information from:
Lee Beattie - Burt Greener Communications
T: 0141 248 6007 E: lee@burtgreener.co.uk
(or)
Caroline Gray - Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Tel: 0141 566 0832 E: caroline.gray@seeglasgow.com
Note to Editors:
1. The World Pipe Band Championships return to the city on Saturday 11 August. Pipe bands from across the globe will descend on to Glasgow Green in an attempt to become World Pipe Band Champions 2007.
'The Worlds' has been associated with Glasgow since 1948 and is a celebration of the very best of Scottish music, culture and dance. The event won the coveted Scottish Traditional Music Awards Event of Year in 2006.
This competition is truly global with over 200 bands and 8000 pipers and drummers traveling from as far afield as Eastern Europe, Australia, Canada, USA, Pakistan and New Zealand.
2. High resolution images of Piping Live! are available to download from www.seeglasgow.com/eventimages