RIP Alasdair

Saturday, August 27, 2011 marked a sad day in the piping community: the shocking announcement of the death of P/M Alasdair Gillies. A tremendous bagpiper, Alasdair won almost every major prize in both piobaireachd and light music throughout his piping career.
Listen to a short radio interview with Alasdair at KPLU during the Mastery of Scottish Arts School in Seattle, WA (2009).
Not only a legendary player with an extremely successful bagpiping career, he was well loved and admired and served as major inspiration to numerous pipers and drummers alike. He will be sorely missed.
JWT Reedmakers extends our deepest sympathies to Alasdair's family and friends.
Watch a snippet from John MacDonald's On The Day where Alasdair speaks about his career:



-JLT

Watch It! Part Deux

Another wee snippet from Maxville. (Good job to Oran Mor for making it through the Worlds Qualifier this year!)


Oran Mor

-JLT

Watch It!

Here are some snippets from the Glengarry Highland Games (Maxville) where Peel Police took the overall prize for Grade 1. It was a scorcher so I couldn't stand being in the grandstands in the blazing sun for too long...I found a friend with a lawn chair and fresh grapes...all I needed was a giant palm leaf for fanning....


Peel Police


City of Chicago


78th Frasers


-JLT

A very Happy Birthday to Louise Troy!

Piping Live!

The week before the Worlds has turned into a major deal over the past few years with many many venues with many many artists from around the world performing throughout the city of Glasgow. For someone who is not scheduled to the ears with practices, performances and contests, it become a serious lesson in time management.
Inveraray & District was one of the performances on Wednesday and James P. playing with them this season, it was a must see. Too bad the weather was so bad (rainy, rainy, rainy) but with such a well run event they are always prepared and there was a tent FULL of people for the band to play in despite the heavy downpour.
We managed to get into the tent that they were tuning in beforehand to have a sneak preview and caught the end of P/M Stuart Liddell's pep talk before the performance - the last thing he said was 'Enjoy the music'.
Enough said.



-JLT