Welcome to yer auld Uncle Fergus' Highland Newsroom, where we bring ye the latest news and information from the Bagpipe Universe!
Our top bagpipe story:
The 21-time Grade One World Pipe Band Champion Glasgow Police Pipe Band has appointed Duncan Nicholson as their Pipe Major, returning him to the role he held from 2010 to 2015. He replaces young Alasdair MacLaren, who, according to pipes|drums Magazine, "left the post before he really began it, choosing to return to his native Australia, just 3 months after having accepted the Pipe Major post.
"MacLaren had in turn replaced Iain McPherson, who had served as Pipe Major for three seasons, only to leave the Band due to private family matters.
"The move is the latest in a multitude of changes that have affected the Band over the past 10 years," the pipes|drums story continues. "In addition to numerous leadership changes, the Band endured a major period of uncertainty when the Scottish Police Forces amalgamated to form Police Scotland. As a result, the Band underwent a series of name changes, eventually restoring its most well-known and straightforward name, the Glasgow Police Pipe Band."
It was the largest live audience for a single Massed Pipes and Drums display in recorded history. With an untold 2,000,000 spectators packing the streets of downtown Toronto, the combined Pipes and Drums of the Toronto Police and Fire Services led the Toronto Raptors and their friends, fans and families, as Canada celebrated its first-ever NBA Championship. pipes|drums Magazine reports that the group was assembled from available members from the various Police and Fire Pipe Bands in Grades 2, 3 and 5, leading a 4-hour cavalcade through the streets of North America's fourth-largest city. Local politicians, including Mayor John Tory and Police Chief Mark Saunders, plus members of the Raptors, including the team's owners, executives, members of the team's broadcast unit, and popular music star Drake, a Toronto native, were among the featured speakers.
"It was an amazing experience, and the crowd, although so massive and yet so close, was also very friendly to us along the way!" reported Brian Urkovsky, Pipe Major of the Grade 5 Ryan Russell Memorial Pipes and Drums, chosen by Toronto Police Pipers as the day's Pipe Major. Urkovsky along with others in the Band are active Toronto Police Officers. Traditionally, the Toronto Police Service Pipe Band are the resident Pipe Band for Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays.
But the day's festivities were marred by chaos, as The Washington Post later reported, when four people were wounded and three were arrested when an unknown gunman opened fire, resulting in a momentary stampede that was quickly taken care of by Toronto Police Officers. According to Chief Saunders, three individuals were later taken into custody; and the Chief requested footage from any witnesses to the shooting, or those who had captured the incident on video or other social media. Mayor Tory also hoped "for a quick recovery for those who were injured."
The Metropolitan Chapter of New York City's
Queen Victoria Society, with a big assist from the
American-Scottish Foundation, hosted a 2-hour Bicentennial Feast and Awards Presentation, cellybratin' Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who ruled Britain for exactly 63 years, seven months, two days: the second-longest reigning British Monarch, a reign long since surpassed, of course, by her now-93-year-old great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth II. Location:
Papillon Bistro & Bar, 22 East 54th Street. This was only one in a cluster of year-long events both within and beyond Britain, cellybratin' Queen Victoria's 200th Birthday. Please visit Google tae find local or regional Queen Victoria 200 events in yer area.
The
High Desert Pipe Band from Albuquerque, New Mexico was among 15 Pipe Bands representin' the United States last year at the World Bagpipe Band Championships in Glasgow, the largest U.S. Pipe Band contingent in recent memory. The lads an' lasses from High Desert were there t' commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Band's first Championship at the Worlds, in Grade 4, in 1999. Also representin' America's Four Corners Region was the
Mesa, Arizona Caledonian Pipe Band.
Well-prepar'd for their first American visit were the lads and lasses from the North Lanarkshire Schools' Pipe Band, who brought their Novice and Juvenile Pipe Bands to
Tartan Saturday Afternoon! Aye, there they were, almost 50 of Scotland's most talented young Pipers and Drummers! They were also joined by Jean Jones, Provost of North Lanarkshire, wearing her ceremonial chains.
The Band, with a roster from St. Ambrose, Calderhead, Caldervale, Chryston, Dalziel, Kilsyth, Cumbernauld, Our Lady's, Braidhurst, Clyde Valley and Taylor High Schools, plus the Airdrie and Belshill Academies, were 2016 World Champions in Junior categories at the Worlds in Glasgow, and in 2018 were Scottish, British and European Pipe Band Champions, as well as Champion of Champions! In addition, the Band performed with the Scottish National Youth Pipe Band, at the Commonwealth Games, and in the presence of members of the Royal Family. And for a big finish to their American adventure, the Band even brought
Grand Central Terminal to a standstill, playing two tunes before the Terminal's Station Manager ordered the youngsters to knock it off!
Big Burns Supper at Dumfries fill'd th' air wi' two weeks of some of the most incredible music, and also kids' activities, Highland seisiuns and all sorts o' stuff, in and aroond Southern Scotland's biggest city! Music legends like Ben Rowlands, Dirty Clap Trap, the Postcard Band, the Strumsum Trio, the Birds of Chicago, Redfish, Stoney Broke, Hazel O'Connor, KT Tunsall ---- and lots, lots more, performed in an 800-capacity Spiegeltent, with international talent encompassin' more than 800 area venues throughout the town!
Burly Angus MacFayden is Robert the Bruce (the role that he originated in Mel Gibson's Braveheart) in a new, original story, co-starrin' Jared Harris as the Bruce's nemesis John Comyn; Anna Hutchison as Lady Morag; Patrick Fugit, Zack McGowan, Gabriel Bateman, Talitha Eliana-Bateman, Sean Lessard, Emma Kenney, Diarmaid Murtagh, Seoras Wallace, Shane Coffey, Melora Walters, and Pirates of the Caribbean veteran Kevin R. McNally.
In this new story, directed by Australian-based Richard Gray of L.A.-based Yellow Brick Films, produced by Gray, MacFayden, and Hutchison, and written by MacFayden and Eric Belgau, Robert the Bruce, injured and exhausted, is pursued across the Highlands. 'Tis Lady Morag and her fearless youngsters who grant the Bruce shelter and nurse their King back to proper health. Inspired by the family's good deed, Robert the Bruce goes on to spearhead the fight for Scottish independence.
Says MacFayden: "Robert the Bruce rose from the ashes of his former self and became a hero who gave Scotland her independence. And yet he fought for the commonwealth of the land, held by none save her people. Not his own wealth, nor his own land. And what's more, he never slept in a castle again, choosin' instead tae bae one wi' the land and wi' Mother Nature. That's a lesson we need to learn today with the utmost urgency, and I can't wait to share that lesson with audiences around the world!"
Filmed largely in Montana, the Ponderosa Films/Emerald Way Entertainment Production of Robert the Bruce was the Opening Night Presentation at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and was screened as such at the Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre; and has since landed a 50% ratin' from Rotten Tomatoes.
The film will be released to DVD, Blu-ray and Digital DVD, on April 6th, the actual 700th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Arbroath. U.K. sales rights for Robert the Bruce are handled through Metro International. Robert the Bruce will also bae presented in a special, one-time-only U.S. screening, Thursday evenin', April 16th, in advance of a full-fledged screening in limited release on Friday, April 24th. As for Braveheart itself, the four-time Academy Award winner will observe its 25th Anniversary with selected screenings on Sunday and Monday, March 22nd and 23rd. Both screenings will feature sneak preview trailers for the Robert the Bruce film, t' be distributed across North America through Screen Media Entertainment.
Visit edfilmfest.org.uk tae learn more aboot how t' make yer plans fer the next Edinburgh International Film Festival!
Washington, D.C.'s St. Patrick's Day Parade has now been postponed, say event organizers, in light of the ongoin' coronavirus stiuation. Per the Parade website, the march has been 'rescheduled' in favor of "an event and date still to be determined. Details for other 2020 events celebrating the mission of the Washington, D.C. St. Patrick's Day Parade will be announced at our website, on our Facebook page, and via e-mail, once all information has been finalized." The 2020 Parade Grand Marshal: Alice McDermott; her four Gaels of the Year: Manus Cooney (James Hoban Gael of the Year); Patrick Burke (John Barry Gael of the Year); Vinnie Burke III (Swampoodle Gael of the Year) and Maggie O'Neill (St. Brigid Gael of the Year). In addition, a contingent from the D.C. St. Patrick's Day Parade was also scheduled to join the line of march in Manhattan's St. Patrick's Day Parade; however, that event, for the first time in its more than 200-year history, has now been cancelled. A bus trip would have been co-organized by the Irish-American Club of Washington, D.C., the Washington, D.C. St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, and the Washington, D.C. Police Department Emerald Society, with members of each group uniting to carry the D.C. Parade's "HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY" Banner in the New York Parade's line of march. For further updated details, e-mail irishamericanclubdc@gmail.com.
To mark the 75th Anniversary of the
Signing of the Armistice, Pipe Bands and Individual Bagpipers throughout Scotland and around the world are invited to play one tune at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, May 8th, 2020: "When the Battle's O'er." Conceived and coordinated by the
College of Piping, "Battle's O'er: A Nation's Tribute," led by Pipe Major Bruno Peek, L.V.O., O.B.E., O.P.R., "Battle's O'er" will involve scores of Pipers from everywhere playing the same tune, in a whole new method. Already, Individual Pipers and Pipe Bands representing some 30 nations have signed up tae take part in this global piping event; visit
veday75.org/get-involved/battles-oer/ if ye wish tae register as well, and learn more about the full saga.
Scotland's National William Wallace Monument cellybrated its 150th Anniversary in 2019. Inaugurated on September 11th, 1869, the monument spent much o' the year undergoin' major renovation and upgradin', particularly on the stonework, as well as D.W. Stevenson's bronze statue of Sir William. There were a big lineup o' happenings in an' around the Monument, and nae doobt the biggest o' these was the
Wallace Wha Hae Festival, held on th' grounds o' Wallace High School, at Stirling. This day-long family-friendly event enchant'd fans wi' a fully licensed bar, the Red Hot Chili Pipers and the Royal Burgh o' Stirling Pipe Band among th' featured live musical acts, plus Jock the Box, Stevie McCrorie, Ted Christopher, The Clann Stunt Team, members of the Monument Dance Squad, the Scotsbard, along wi' nae less than King Robert the Bruce himself in person, and lots more! Wallace Wha Hae was funded in part by EventScotland. See more William Wallace-themed activities and
events at
nationalwallacemonument.com!
To cellybrate the milestone at the Monument proper, Christine Simpson, Provost of the Town of Stirling, launch'd the festival with a full line-up of festivities, stories, live bagpipe music and fully costumed re-enactors. The first 150 visitors were rewarded with a 'special' souvenir; and all visitors received a commemorative certificate celebrating the milestone. The night ended with a fantastic light-show display that dazzl'd spectators' eyes with striking patterns and colours; and fireworks lit up the dark skies over Stirling itself and the Abbey Craig. See how it all went doon
here!
They tried breakin' the Guinness World Record ® for Largest Massed Pipes and Drums, as part of the 2nd Annual Ceol Mor Bagpipe Competition, hosted by the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians at the Rockland County Gaelic Athletic Association Fields, Old Orangeburg Road in Orangeburg, New York, where 55 Individual Pipers and 13 Pipe Bands came together to play both "Minstrel Boy" and "Amazing Grace." But the final tally came nowhere near the previous World Record attempt, staged on May 16th, 2012, at the Bulgarian Culture Palace in Sofia, when 333 participants, playing "kaba gaida" bagpipes from the Rhodope region of Bulgaria, performed at an event organized by the Art of Living Foundation. Please visit the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe Band at
http://www.facebook.com/RCAOH/ for photos from the day.
The 53rd
Silver Chanter Solo Piping Competition return'd to Glasgow's
National Piping Centre, as the Opening Night event of
Piping Live! 2019. Masters Piobaireachd Champion, Jack Lee, emerg'd triumphant in a field that saw him come out on top against rivals Iain Spears; Dunvegan Medalist, Jamie Forrester; Winner of the Senior Piobaireachd Competition at the Argyllshire Gathering, Stuart Liddell; Northern Meeting CLASP Champion, Callum Beaumont; and Glenfiddich Champion, Finlay Johnston! They play'd MacCrimmon Piobaireachds, and this was Jack's second big prize in less than 8 days, as well as his first victory at this competition!
The event was supported by the William Grant Foundation. Learn more at
http://www.pipinglive.co.uk, and ha'e a peek at a few highlights from the previous competition held in Christchurch, New Zealand, with an all-female cast of adjudicators, at the Canterbury Pipers' Club's official Facebook presence, located at
facebook.com/PipersClubCanterbury/videos/284542562164515/, or visit
pipersclub.co.nz for the full results. Apparently, the whole idea was to raise awareness of the participation, or lack thereof, in top-flight solo piping. Female Pipers and Drummers comprise between 25% and 30% of all Pipe Bands, and compete more prevelantly in amateur solo piping events; yet there exists a marked drop-off in the number of women who compete at the Open or Professional levels.
The Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish version of America's Declaration of Independence, and primary inspiration for various Tartan Day events across the world, including New York City's Tartan Saturday Afternoon, will be
publicly displayed from Friday, March 27th to Sunday, April 26th, 2020 at the National Museum of Scotland. 2020 marks the 700th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, and 15 years since the document itself was last on public display. The Declaration is a simple letter, dated April 6th, 1320, and was written by the Barons and their free-holders of the Kingdom of Scotland, and addressed to His Holiness Pope John XXII, requestin' him t' recognize Scotland as an independent nation, and, by so doing, acknowledgin' Robert the Bruce as the undisputed King of all Scotland.
Quoth Alice Blackwell, Curator of Medieval Archaeology and History for National Museums Scotland: "We are pleased to have the opportunity to publicly display the Declaration of Arbroath here at the National Museum of Scotland. It is a hugely significant document, and a vital element of Scottish history. We look forward to welcoming many visitors to share with us the rare opportunity to discover the Declaration close-up."
Nae doobt tha' th' Arbroath 700th Anniversary is a verra big deal in terms o' Tartan Saturday Afternoon, April 4th, 2020. Alas, the New York Tartan Day Parade Committee has just decided to cancel Manhattan's shortest and fastest Parade. Here's the heart-breakin' statement from Kyle Dawson and the Tartan Day Parade Committee:
"We'd hoped we could go ahead with the Parade being three weeks away, but as a result of yesterday's news, New York City and New York State are banning large gatherings until further notice. We are so sorry. This is hugely disappointing news for us to share with you. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly-evolving situation, we will not reschedule this year's Parade. Instead, we'll focus on returning stronger than ever on Saturday, April 3rd, 2021."
Well, me Highland friends, all we can do now is recall Tartan Saturday Afternoon, 2019, when
Clan Scallagrimsson invaded New York City! John Nicolson, a/k/a
Lord Thorstein Egilsson, 2019 Lerwick
Up Helly Aa Centennial Guizer Jarl, follow'd the tradition of prior Guizer Jarls
Lord Thorvald Thorvaldssen (Stewart Jamieson),
Gamle Erickssen (Stevie Grant) and
Lord Solmund Sigurdsson of Tonsberg (Mark Evans), by marchin' along 6th Avenue for
Tartan Saturday Afternoon, as he led a 60-man-strong Guizer Jarl Squad featurin' John's own 13-year-old son Bobby, John's two older brothers, 2007 Guizer Jarl Graham Nicolson (Lord Gunnar Egilsson) and 2012 Guizer Jarl David Nicolson (
Lord Bothvar Egilsson), and their father, 1979 Guizer Jarl Jim Nicolson (Lord Egil Scallagrimsson)!
As was the case with the previous Quests, those proud-hearted Hordesmen sailed into Manhattan with the help o' their honorary shipmates from Serco NorthLink Ferries, then they stow'd all their battlegear --- axes, helmets, swords, shields, boots, breastplates, battle-armour, banners, etc., and began their epic journey across ye Byg Appyl!
As Kyle commented regardin' Clan Scallagrimsson: "This group is keen to join us here in New York, and the intent is to supplement their presence with Jarl Squad members from 2007 (Lord Gunnar Egilsson) and 2012 (Lord Bothvar Egilsson), since in both those years, Gunnar and Bothvar were brothers to the 2019 Jarl, John Nicolson (Lord Thorstein Egilsson) --- the first time, and likely the ONLY time, this will occur in the Up Helly Aa's 100-year-long history.
"The distance alone from Shetland's principal town of Lerwick to London is some 768 miles, atop the additional 3459 miles required tae reach th' Byg Appyl. Given that this trip needs to be made along with heavy, intricate Viking costumes, including helmets, shields, boots, breastplate and armour, represents a major significant financial commitment, not just to personal travel, but also to an unprecedented logistic cargo requirement. A party of 100 has been proposed, but the final confirmation will occur during the next few months.
"What makes this invasion a verra special one is the fact that we'll be havin' three different Guizer Jarl Squads from three different years: 2007, 2012, 2019 --- led by three brothers: Graham Nicolson, 2007 Guizer Jarl (Lord Gunnar Egilsson), David Nicolson, 2012 Guizer Jarl (Lord Bothvar Egilsson), and John Nicolson, 2019 Guizer Jarl (Lord Thorstein Egilsson); their father, Jim Nicolson (Lord Egil Scallagrimsson), was Guizer Jarl in 1979, and now is out some 40 years later, in his youngest son's new Squad."
Lord Provost Barney Crockett had this to say when Lord Thorvald and his Hordesmen took part in December's Hogmanay marchin': "I used to live in Shetland, and I've taken part in this before, and I've had a great time! It's a fabulous, spectacular celebration. These volunteers do a fantastic job; there are people who've literally devoted years to becoming part of the Jarl Squad. We always get a great turnout from these lads, but this year will be certainly something truly memorable!" There was also a Santa Claus Fun Run, benefitin' the Charlie House charity. In this instance, the challenge involved racin' from Albyn Place in the heart of the City to the grounds of Castle Street within 30 minutes' time. Susan Crighton, Charlie House Director of Fundraising, was likewise thrilled aboot havin' Lord Thorvald and his lads joinin' in the merry marchin'. "Our Christmas Light Parade will attract even more people from across the region to see first-hand this incredible group marching down Union Street," she said."We could very likely convince one of the Vikings to don a Santa suit and join our Santa Fun Run ahead of the Parade!"
For Valentine's Day's Up Helly Aa in Uyeasound, presenter Kate Humble and crew film'd Andy Hunter, alias Halfdan the Black, 2020's Uyeasound Guizer Jarl and his Squad for an Up Helly Aa documentary, to air in 2021 (or thereabouts) on Channel 5, Unst. Please visit www.raisetheroofproductions.com or e-mail info@raisetheroofproductions.com for further infermation.
The Kirkwall City Pipe Band were wi' us, too, cellybratin' their 100th Anniversary. Ironically, there were only 10 members from the whole Band, makin' the Kirkwallers the smallest group in the whole Line o' March! In all, 27 Pipe Bands march'd on Tartan Saturday 2019, namely: the Atlantic Watch; the Glasgow Battalion Boys' Brigade; Jonathan Henken and his Mount Kisco Scots (who had barely made it into the Parade after playin' at Brick Presbyterian Church at 10 in th' mornin'!); the Massachusetts Correction Officers' Federal Union Pipe Band; the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums; the U.S. Corps of Cadets Pipe Band of West Point Military Academy; the Fairfield County, CT Gaelic Pipe Band; St. Brendan the Navigator's Pipes and Drums from Point Pleasant, NJ; the North Lanarkshire Schools' Pipes and Drums; the Jaffa Highlanders; the New York Caledonian Club's Pipe Band; the Shamrock & Thistle Pipe Band; the Middlesex County, NJ Police & Fire Pipe Band; the NYMetro Pipers; the NYU Pipe Band; the New York Peace Officers' American War Pipes and Drums; the West Milford, NJ Highlander Pipe Band; the Tri-County Pipers; the Oban High School Pipe Band; the New Hampshire Scottish Games Pipe Band; the Rob Roy Pipe Band and Highland Dancers; the Caledonian Highlanders from Chemung County, NY; London's Clan Gathering Pipers teaming up with the Bronx's Pipes and Drums of Tir na nOg; the Stephen P. Driscoll Memorial Pipers and the Tunes of Glory Massed Pipes and Drums!
Our 2019 Parade Grand Marshal was Sir Billy Connolly! The world's #1 Scottish singer-songwriter-comedian, best-known for his now-iconic roles as lovable, burly King Fergus from Disney-Pixar's BRAVE, and, of course, even more lovable, not tae mention even burlier, Dain Ironfoot in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, was recently knighted by the Duke o' Cambridge, "for services tae charity and entertainment." Sir Billy was joined by his bride, professional psychologist and former Superman III co-star, Pamela Stephenson (they've been together since 1989); who also judged the Parade's lineup o' wee Parade doggies, especially those lovable Scottish Terriers, specifically, those representin' the Greater New York Scottish Terrier Club; the Long Island Shetland Sheepdog Rescue Squad; Greater New York West Highland White Terrier Club; and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Group!
And o' course, there were loads o' opportunities for the folks tae say hello to both Sir Billy and Pamela! "I'm thrilled to be this year's Grand Marshal for the New York City Tartan Day Parade!" said Sir Billy. "I canna wait tae hear all those bagpipes echoin' off th' skyscrapers, and just seein' Sixth Avenue awash wi' thousands o' swayin' kilts! It's gonna be brilliant!" Kyle Dawson agreed, saying: "We're beyond delighted having Billy Connolly joining us as this year's Tartan Day Grand Marshal. For more than 50 years, Sir Billy has entertained us through his many works, and because of all this, he has become beloved on both sides o' th' pond. We look forward tae spendin' a big year wi' th' Big Yin!"
Three generations o' Nicolson Guizer Jarls, the world's biggest Scottish Caber, over 1500 participants, including representatives from 32 Scottish Clans, Nessie & Friends, the Highland Divas, the Long Island Curlin' Club, the Shot of Scotch Dancers, 96th Street's own Alexander Robertson School, the Knickerbocker Daughters of the American Revolution, the "Real Dunoon Hoosewives," the folks who work for our favorite beer, Belhaven --- and Sir Billy Connolly as Grand Marshal: aye, 'twas 'a fantastic Scottish day oot, tae say th' least!
Go t' http://www.nyctartanweek.org to see the 2019 Line o' March, and find out more about the 2018 Line o' March, and to learn where in ye Byg Appyl Lord Thorvald and his Horde carried out their Quest, an adventure that saw Grammy-winnin' Scottish-born singer-songwriter KT Tunstall becomin' the first woman to serve as Parade Grand Marshal, leading a 4000-strong lineup that included, among others, the Accrington Pipe Band, Britain's oldest active civilian Pipe Band; the young kids from the Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band from Benderloch, South Uist; the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band from Ottawa, Ontario; and the Forest Legion Pipe Band from Ontario!
Tartan Saturday Afternoon has three headquarters from whence to launch all the diversion, startin' with the Blooms Tavern, 208 East 58th Street. You can also visit
Highlands NYC, 150 West 10th Street, if ye wanna party after sundown; or the
Tailor Public House, 505 8th Avenue, between 35th and 36th Streets, in Midtown Manhattan's Garment District, the Official Restaurant for all NYC Tartan Week events!
Registration for Tartan Saturday Afternoon, April 4th, 2020, continues apace, and here be Kyle Dawson's personal invitation to all who would be part o' it:
"Come and join us to march up 6th Avenue in New York City, to the swirl of the kilt, to the skirl of the bagpipes, and to the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators. We'll admit t' being a wee bit biased when we tell you that ours is the most FUN Parade in New York City! Come and join Pipe Bands from all across the Tri-State Area, as well as direct from Scotland itself, not to mention Scottish Country and Highland Dancers, Clansfolk, dogs, leading politicians and representatives from the finest cultural organizations in both New York and Scotland, and of course, the Loch Ness Monster --- in a joyous cellybration o' Scottish culture and pride. Our invitation's still out there: If ye're in New York City, gi' me a shout! I'd love t' grab a pint wi' ye!" And ye still can nab a pint wi' Kyle, as he joins the New York Caledonian Club Pipe Band,
Whisky Kiss, and the
Shot o' Scotch Dancers, for Tartan Saturday Afternoon's Pre-Parade Ceilidh, at the Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street, on Parade Eve, Friday, April 3rd, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m., with the music startin' at 7 p.m. Tickets: $80, general admission; $30, kids ages 5 to 16; children under 5, free.
And in case ye wanna ha'e fun after Tartan Saturday Afternoon, Sony Hall, 235 West 46th Street, is whar ye needs tae be. 2020's Post-Parade Party, running from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., features
Clann an Drumma,
Drums & Roses, and
Talisker ---- and lotsa drinks and promos from the Belhaven beer folks, along with Montauk Distilling Company. Tickets run 'twixt $60 and $75; go
here tae learn more.
Speakin' o' th' Tailor Public Hoose, that venue hosted two big parties fer the Caledonians. First, there was their Pub Night @ th' Tailor Hoose, where there were free drinks fer th' members, as well as them what dared join up with th' Caledonians on the night in question! The Club's 2019 St. Andrew's Day Feast ran until at least 2 inna mornin'! Other than the usual buffet and two drinks, the Club's Past Chieftains and Honourary Members were paid proper tribute. And, needless to say, the Club's favorite bagpipers, among them Kyle Dawson, Jerry Dixon, and Jonathan Henken and his Mount Kisco Scots, played a few tunes!
Shocking developments from the World Bagpipe Band Championships, as David Wilton and Steven Graham resigned their posts as Pipe Major and Lead Drummer of Grade 2's MacKenzie Caledonians of Dundee, after less than a year in their posts. The move comes after a disappointing finish where the Band failed to qualify in the final standings. Meanwhile, in Grade 1, 'twas party time in Inveraray, as the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, for only the second time in its history, and the second time in at least two years, nabbed the big trophies! And turning back to Grade 2, those terrific Texans, Houston's St. Thomas Episcopal School Alumni Pipe Band came out on top, in what reporters later called "the most tightly contested Grade 2 event in years." The win makes it back-to-back victories in Grade 2 for a U.S. Pipe Band, after the City of Dunedin, Florida Pipe Band took the 2019 top spot.
But the big Cinderella story belong'd to Malaysia's Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band! Their triumph in Grade 4B was the first-ever such Championship for an Asian-based Pipe Band! Shortly afterward, the RSPBA upgraded Sri Dasmesh's status from Grade 4B to Grade 4A, while the aforenoted City of Dunedin, Florida Pipe Band, at their own request, was upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1!
Here are the 2019 final standings, with the first-place finishers identified in bold text:
The Gordon Highlanders Museum battles on to fulfill its commitment to chronicling Gordon Highlander history, in its Quest tae raise £100,000 per year over the next several years. Learn more by goin' tae
http://www.gordonhighlanders.com/appeal2017.
Yer auld Uncle Fergus officially supports
National Night Out Against Crime, organized an' sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Every first Tuesday in August --- August 4th in this particular instance --- Police Pipe Bands in more than 2800 participatin' cities make their music for the kids and their families; while individual Police Pipers will also have a bit o' fun playin' fer the wee ones. Remember: so long as things're kid-friendly, safe, and honorable, a guid time is always bound tae bae had by all at National Night Out!
BBC 1 Scotland: The Television Network is on, at a budget of some £32 million! That be as much as the amount that had been previously spent on BBC4. Some 80 journalism jobs, with an additional 120, have been created for the network's centerpiece, the hour-long
Nine O'Clock News programme, airing every Monday through Friday, with bulletins and/or breaking news (if needed) during the weekend. The newscast gives ye the most accurate, updated stories from Scotland, England and the world,
seven nights a week. The network runs from 7 p.m. tae midnight, local time, spotlighting the finest in original drama and comedy, documentary, factual and news programming, with approximately 50% of the lineup being rerun material. At the same time, the new channel maintains the old BBC 1 Scotland's commitments to covering, among other events, the
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the
World Pipe Band Championships.
The Vienna Pipe Band, themselves in Glasgow fer the Worlds, did a 20th Anniversary live concert and ceilidh a while ago, where there were a guid amoont o' honkin' an' bangin' an' drinkin'! It happen'd at the Grand Hall o' das Volkshochschule Dobling at Gatterburggasse; log on to
http://www.viennapipes.com or see their photos from the party on Facebook!
All ye guid fiddlers oot thar are bound tae ha'e bonnie fun on
World Fiddle Day, Saturday, May 16th, 2020! Initiated in Dublin, Ireland some 15 years ago, and currently popular in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, World Fiddle Day is an all-inclusive, worldwide festival devoted to bowed string instruments --- specifically, violins, violas, cellos, double bass fiddles, a/k/a bull fiddles, violas da gamba, rebecs, erhus, and those who play them and love to play them. Every genre from classical violin to bluegrass, Celtic and Gaelic fiddling is explored on World Fiddle Day. From country hoedowns to string quartets, if ye plays 'em wi' bows, that bae wha' World Fiddle Day is all aboot!
And lots more fiddlin' fun will be in vogue at the 49th Annual
Smithville, Tennessee Fiddlers' Jamboree and Crafts Festival, on Friday and Saturday, July 3rd and 4th, 2020, outside the DeKalb County Courthouse, in the village's famous Town Square! As usual, Cumberland Valley's PBS affiliate,
WCTE-TV,
DeKalb County Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. (this be their 9th season o' livestreamin') and
WJLE Radio, 1480 AM and 101.7 FM, will be there with the best bonnie jolly coverage, keepin' it goin' until EVERY competition's well and truly decided! And if ye be needin' more bluegrass (and semi-Scottish) fiddlin', know that the 2020
Old Fiddlers' Convention at Felts Park in Galax, Virginia, Thursday, August 13th through Saturday, August 15th, with all spectators t' bae chased off o' their land aroond 11 a.m. Eastern time, Sunday mornin', August 16th, will have all the fiddlin', banjo-pickin', mandolin-an'-guitar-strummin' and jammin' ye can willingly take!
And if ye needs tae fiddle aroond s'more, fiddle.com, home o' Fiddler Magazine, is whar ye need tae be!
We'll now say a few words in defense o' th'
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, centerpiece of the Tattoo Week doin's at Halifax' Scotiabank Centre! For 2020, the Tattoo cellybrates two big 75th Anniversaries: one, of the Liberation of the Netherlands; the other, of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic. As the Nova Scotia Tattoo website explains, "An enduring relationship was forged on the battlefields when the First Canadian Army arrived in Holland in 1944 and helped to liberate the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and, through times both of prosperity and strife, Canada and the Netherlands have developed a unique bond that continues to withstand the test of time. Today, over 1.3 million Canadians can boast of havin' family ties to the realms of the Netherlands, and trade between our two countries keeps goin' strong every year." The Nova Scotia Tattoo returns tae its Halifax home, Saturday, June 27th, through America's Independence Day, Saturday, July 4th, 2020!
And because it's such a big birthday deal, this friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, this year's line-up reflects those two milestones: the
Conscript Band of the Finnish Defense Forces; The
Queen Juliana Bicycle Squad from the Netherlands; Ethiopia's Kiriku Brothers Athletic Duo; Germany's City of Hamburg Police Motorcycle Display Unit; and the Men and Women o' the
Pipes and Drums of the Royal Caledonian Society of South Australia; and, to represent the host nation, Yves Gagnon, Christine Bedard and Marco Dieckmann --- the
Russian Bar Trio! Also scheduled to return: the Tattoo's house band, the Stadconas of the Royal Canadian Navy, along with Pipe Major Wayne Moug, Drum Major Angela Corscadden, Lead Drummer Robin Reid and the
RCMP Pipe Band leadin' a Massed Pipes and Drums with the lads an' lasses o' th' Canadian Cadets, nae tae mention a few more o' the best military an' civilian Pipers an' Drummers what North America can bring ye!
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo's cast lineup has always been international in nature, with performers from literally every continent on the Planet! Click here to learn more about the accompanying Tattoo Parade Festival, but, as you do, remember that at least seven PBS stations consider the Nova Scotia Tattoo cool enough to share wi' their viewers, three o' 'em bein' in New York: Buffalo's own Channel 17, WNED, they who, in days o' yore, hosted the famous Mark Russell Comedy Specials; WCNY in Syracuse; Plattsburgh's WCFE and the Mountain Lake PBS; Washington State's Northwest Public Broadcasting; Penn State University's WPSU, Clearfield, Pennsylvania; KNPB/5, Reno, Nevada; and finally, WNIT/34, South Bend, Indiana!
But alas, me Highland friends, Canada's largest live indoor event
ain't cool enough to be seen on those three PBS icons:
Thirteen/WNET in ye Byg Appyl itself, Garden City, Long Island's
WLIW/21 --- and not even mighty
WGBH Boston, in which case a hearty grunt o'
"Unacceptable!" from yer auld Uncle Fergus is verra much in order! We'll nae bae standin' fer tha', sez I; and if there be any among ye who'd be dainin' t' agree wi' me, visit the Facebook presence at
http://www.facebook.com/RoyalNSTattoo and leave yer grumbles thar, say I!
Also during the 4th of July holiday weekend, there were solemn doin's in France, in the form of
"United Pipers for Peace." For two whole days, the streets of downtown Amiens, on the banks of the Somme, were flooded with the tartan kilts of over 20 Pipe Bands and Individual Pipers, all gathered to help mark the Centennial of the start of World War I. The event was organized and led by the
Samarobriva Pipe Band, which had originated the overall idea for the project in 2016.
Of course, the Highland Newsroom is always proud o' Her Majesty the Queen, the longest and oldest reigning Monarch in British history! And this beloved icon of royalty has nae plans tae stop, as ye learn'd if ye saw the HBO Documentary Films/Oxford Films/ITV News co-production, Queen of the World!
This unprecedented chronicle, hosted and narrated by Sarah Lancashire, provided viewers wi' a unique insight into Her Majesty's role as one of the most iconic figures on the world stage: a stage she may yet prepare to depart.
Speaking with Canada's CTV News, Royal expert Richard Bethelson commented: "I myself felt that, after the Duke of Edinburgh's retirement at the age of 95, it set the way, and was a bit of a trial balloon for the Queen to follow suit within the next few years. She's a few years away from that now, as Prince Philip is now 98. I think that the Queen would, if she could not perform her duties to the full extent that she would like to do, she would probably consider it appropriate for her to either make way for a Regency, or, flat out-and-out abdicate." Mr. Bethelson went on to suggest that the current scandal involving Prince Andrew could likely precipitate such an abdication.
Previously, the Queen had declared that Charles, the Prince of Wales, would be recognized as Head of the Commonwealth of Nations. Meanwhile, Prince Philip made his last official solo public appearance with a visit to a platoon of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, who had just completed a charity athletic challenge, including a 1664-mile march! (Och, that'll ruin yer toes lots, eh what?) Said the Buckingham Palace lads, the decision was entirely the Prince's own, and was made with the full support o' the Queen.
Yet another PBS/BBC documentary runnin' in all formats is Royal Wives @ War: Elizabeth vs. Mrs. Simpson, the story of the abdication of Edward VIII, as seen through the eyes of the two women at its core: Wallis Simpson, played by Gina McKee; and Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, played by Emma Davies. Set against the backdrop of 1967 London, with Mrs. Simpson and Elizabeth about to meet up for the first time in over 30 years, the documentary, hosted and narrated by Richard Harrington, also stars Nick Waring as David; John Sackville as Bertie, King George VI; and Emma Campbell-Jones as Thelma Furness; and includes commentary from three top Royal Biographers: Lady Colin Campbell, Andrew Morton, and Anne Sebba.
In other news from ye auld Hoose o' Windsor, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the birth o' their third child, Louis, which added to 4-year-old Prince George and 2-year-old Princess Charlotte! Congratulations, Yer Graces! And the even bigger story o' th' moment was the engagement of Prince Harry to the beautiful American actress Meghan Markle! They tyed ye auld knot at St. George's Cathedral in Windsor Castle! Only a week afore, a pack o' Corgi puppies assembled in front of Macy*s Herald Square, in support of the Lifetime Movie of the Week, Harry and Meghan: A Royal Romance, starring Murray Fraser and Parisa Fitz-Henley. Click here for photos from the promotional happening; and watch the full coverage on http://www.bbc.co.uk!
Marking the 65th Anniversary of Her Majesty's Coronation, the BBC was granted full access to the Queen for an hour-long exploration of The Coronation.
It streams in the U.S. on the Smithsonian Channel, where ye can also find The Private Lives of the Windsors, the untold saga of Mary, Henry, George and John: the first Young Windsors from the era of George VI and Edward VIII, and their adventures across the 1920's through the 1950's, as revealed through never-before-seen excerpts from their diaries and journals, presented in their own words. The three episodes are: "Rebellion," "Family First" and "War & Peace." Also streamin' on the Smithsonian Channel is The Private Lives of the Monarchs, where the untold adventures of Queen Victoria, Henry VIII, Louis XIV, George III and the Prince Regent and Charles II are likewise uncovered.
Two documentaries updated some o' the more controversial happenings in Windsor World. In the first, Harry and Meghan: The Royals in Crisis, Harvey Levin and his team from TMZ explored the couple's plans t' "become financially independent" ---- a desire that not only caused further controversy amongst the Windsors, but sparked several major international incidents. In the second documentary, ABC News' Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan and the Crown, anchored by Deborah Roberts, polo star Nacho Figueras reveal'd: "I spoke with Harry a few days ago .... He has suffered a lot from all the things that have happened to him. He suffers a lot from people judging him. He's being a father, a guy who just wants to protect his 'cub' and his 'lioness' from whatever it takes ..... He has become an incredible man, a man that his mother would be incredibly proud of."
Learn more about
ALL the Windsors, check oot the State Opening o' Parliament, and meet Her Majesty's Piper, Pipe Major Scott Methven, 1st Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (whose own story ye'll see at th' Hoose o' Windsor's Instagram presence), at the Royal Homepage,
http://www.royal.uk! Listen, too, to four o' th' Queen's Christmas Greetin's:
2019,
2018,
2017 and
2016!
Huzzah!, sez I, to
Chris Skaife, a/k/a the Ravenmaster, Pigeonmaster at the Tower of London! "Traditionally, my job has been about caring for the ravens who live with us Yeoman Warders here," says Chris, "but a 'Raven Swap' initiative has been introduced by the Tower to try to 'broaden their horizons'. So, I've said goodbye to all the ravens for now, and now I'll be taking charge of over 200 pigeons over at Trafalgar Square." Chris also reminds pigeon lovers who would dare feed that lot at Trafalgar to "bring some food for them --- mostly mice, rats, chicks, maybe even one or two biscuits soaked in blood." Och aye, that might be a bit disgustin', but that's tradition fer ye!
Well, anyway, on tae saner tidings, me lads an' lasses:
As we stated above, for the first time in its 200-plus year history, New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade has been cancelled; the event's Grand Marshal was Jim Callahan, General President of the International Union o' Operatin' Engineers, who would have led over 500,000 marchers and 60 Pipe Bands durin' a full 6-hour day! Printed, digital and social media may have updates and cancellation announcements regardin' other St. Patrick's Day Parades across the Planet; sadly, Dublin's big St. Patrick's Day Parade was cancelled some two weeks before. Please Google or visit any Facebook presences for additional information and/or updates. You can also see the full Line o' March in PDF on the Parade website proper, and see the livestream of last year's Parade via the event's YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/NYCStPatricksParade, where yer hosts were NBC4 New York's Weekend Today in New York co-anchors Pat Battle and Gus Rosendale, alongside Tommy and Treasa Smyth from the weekly radio show Ireland Calls.
Flint, Michigan's Scottish Pipe Band's 104th Birthday Ceilidh return'd to th' Knights of Columbus Headquarters, on Davison Road in Davison, Michigan, where the major highlight, as usual, was the Massed Pipes and Drums, as Flint Scottish shared the stage with Pipe Band playmates the Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band; the Michigan Scottish Pipe Band of Troy; Windsor, Ontario, Canada's Border Cities Caledonians, and the Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums! Haggis, meat pies, bridles and Scottish eggs were among the munchies; there was also a cash bar, Celtic vendors, and everythin' else in between! The evenin's special guests were popular Celtic band Roane!
To learn more aboot upcomin' Flint Scottish Pipe Band events, call Tom Dillard at 1-989/928-4697, or Rob Tripp at 1-313/550-3652.
Next, Flint Scottish headlined the Band's 5th Annual Highland Celtic Festival at the Church of the Holy Spirit Community Hall, 3700 Harvey Lake Road, Highland Charter Township, with guests The Moxie String Band, who perform'd selections from their album "Breathe," a 2019 Billboard Magazine Top 10 Classical Crossover Album; Pat and the Pub People; and members of the Michigan Irish Dance Academy and the Miller-Mittig Scottish Highland Dance Company. Before then, Flint Scottish would have hit the streets for the Town of Pinckney's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Unfortunately, that event was cancelled, too.
After that, Flint's finest honkers will do their bonnie awesome Massed Pipe Band happenin', with Senior Drum Major Kerry Monzo, the Purcell Irish Pipers, the Motor City Pipes and Drums, the Cabar Feidh Pipes and Drums, the Glen Erin Pipe Band and the Grand Rapids and District Pipe Band --- all at the Silver Jubilee Saline Celtic Festival at Mill Pond Park, Saturday and Sunday, July 11th and 12th, 2020; follow'd by a return engagement at th' 66th Annual Munger Potato Festival, Thursday through Sunday, July 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th, 2020; later on, Flint Scottish does th' 171st Annual St. Andrew's Society Highland Games at Greenmead Historical Park in Livonia, Saturday, July 31st and Sunday, August 1st, 2020; follow'd by th' 49th Annual Montrose Blueberry Festival (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 14th, 15th and 16th, 2020); the Band's residency at the Michigan Renaissance Festival; and the group wraps up their year with their Christmas appearance in the Town of Grosse Pointe Santa Claus Parade (Friday, November 27th, 2020) and Linden's Holiday Happenin' Lighted Frosty Parade (Saturday, December 5th, 2020)!
For additional info on further Flint Scottish events, phone 1-989/928-4687 or 1-313/550-3652; or e-mail dillardmd@hotmail.com or robetripp@gmail.com. And look for more details on further Flint Scottish events as soon we can git word o' 'em!
Yer auld Uncle Fergus be prood as punch tae support Make Music Day UK, where Britain joined over 1000 major cities in some 120 countries in staging completely free musical performances tae cellybrate the Summer Solstice. And no doobt there was lotsa bagpipe-blowin' fer free all across Scotland, as musicians from Edinburgh tae Glasgow, from Aberdeen tae Dundee not only huff'd, puff'd and honk'd, they also fiddled, tootled, and even blew a bonnie blort or four on ye auld tuba, too! If there bae music t' be made, Make Music Day UK had tha', and lots more! And fer ye wha' couldnae make it all the way tae Scotland, know that there's still over 100 Pipe Bands from all over the Tri-State Metro Region that can play ye a tune that can gi' ye a reason tae toast yer fellow Scots. See it all at New York City's Summer Solstice music place, www.makemusicny.org.
The Embro Highland Games at Woodstock's Outdoor Park, in the Town of Zorra, Ontario, on the southeast corner of Oxford Road 17 and the 11th Line, is set fer Wednesday, July 1st, as it hosts exhibitions linked to Canada's Outdoor Farm Show. The Embro Games, considered by many to be th' oldest Scottish Games of its kind in Ontario, now has the full run o' the parking lot, along with two existin' buildings. Visit the Embro Games' Facebook presence, facebook.com/embrohighlandgames/, for Photo Galleries, posts from the fans, and more.
Another o' our favorite Scottish Games from Canada is the Cambridge Scottish Festival at Churchill Park on Christopher Drive. Scheduled fer Friday and Saturday, July 17th and 18th, the Festival promises a heavy dose o' loudness, as favorites like Tom Keefer, the Mudmen and the American Rogues share the Main Stage. Check back soon, as we link to their new website!
Westchester County's Schoolhouse Theatre and Arts Center at Croton Falls presents their 5th Annual Scottish Tattoo, with music, comedy, country dancing, food ---- and naturally, bagpipes! The 4-hour fundraiser benefits the Schoolhouse Theatre in their key objective of bringing you the best in music, theatre, and the performing arts. For additional information, e-mail Joan Gilbert at gilbertjs@aol.com or phone 914/923-7533.
2011's Grade Two World Pipe Band Champions, the NYMetro Pipe Band, whom we mention'd earlier, spent their Tartan Saturday Morning at Connolly's Pub, 121 West 45th Street, 3rd Floor. New official NYMetro Pipe Band T-shirts and hats were sold, and Danny Hamilton thrilled listeners with his recitations from some of Robert Burns' best poetry. The Metros came to Tartan Saturday after a brief visit to the Bronx for Throggs Neck's St. Patrick's Day Parade; that adventure happens this Sunday afternoon.
The Amerscot Highland Pipe Band's annual fundraiser return'd to Mahoney's Irish Pub and Steakhouse, 35 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, where "baskets of cheer" were given away, along with other fantastic stuff. Proceeds from this year's event were donated to the Hudson River Housing Community and their partnership with the VetZero Project, as well as the Band's ongoing efforts to maintain outfits, instruments, and Band-related accessories. And needless tae say, th' Amerscots play'd lotsa Bagpipes tunes all afternoon long, sez I!
The 2020 St. Pat's for All Parade had two Grand Marshals: traditional Celtic recording artist, author, broadcaster and historian Mick Moloney; and the nonprofit group Hour Children, which helps current and previously incarcerated women and their children successfully rejoin their local communties. In addition to all the usual surprises and bagpipin' fun (wi' over 3000 marchers and spectators on hand), the Irish Arts Center, 553 West 53rd Street, hosted the Pre-Parade Ceilidh. Photos from previous parades and concerts at http://www.facebook.com/stpatsforall/!
If ye fiddlers wanted tae hone yer fiddlin' skills, the Irish Arts Center had ye fiddlers cover'd, so they secured the services o' award-winnin' fiddle champion Manus McGuire. Manus had a bonnie night teachin' "Irish Fiddling in the County Sligo Style" at Michiko Rehearsal Studios, 149 West 46th Street. For more info on upcomin' Irish Arts Center events, call 1-866-811-4111; log onto irishartscenter.org or e-mail info@irishartscenter.org.
Lorna McNessie, 14-year-old daughter of the Loch Ness Monster, is a core member of Mattel's Monster High line. An exchange student from Rotland, the Monster world's equivalent o' Scotland, Lorna has starred in her own original DVD movie, and joined us fer our 17th Annual Tartan Saturday Afternoon Parade and Bagpipers' Block Party, where she greeted the kids, posed with all the Pipers and Pipe Bands, and just had a ghoulish time in ye Auld Rottyn Appyl! That, and fer all ye Hobbit fans, the sight o' Dwalin himself, actor Graham McTavish, officially representin' his role on Starz' Original Series Outlander, led the line o' march on the big Afternoon, alongside Miss Tricia Marwick, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament!
Brace yourselves, Robertsons worldwide! Yer country cousins from West Monroe, Louisiana, that blarsted bearded bunch from A&E's Duck Dynasty, took oe'r bonnie Scotland in the hour-long "Glory is the Reward of Mallard," from November 19th, 2014! Willie, Phil, Jase, Si, Korie, Miss Kay, Jessica and the Duck Commander lairds an' lasses ran amok in the Highlands, learn'd the origins o' golf, made a total mess of the Highland Games, and even hunted fer the Loch Ness Monster! Tae yerselves t' th' Duck Commander pages NOW, ye toulamarons! And be verra afraid, too, because the entire Duck Dynasty series is oot on DVD, Blu-ray an' Digital DVD. Ye hast been warned.
The 70th Anniversary Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo begins its party August 7th through 29th, 2020. Their commemorative theme, "Makin' Our Mark," should give ye an idea as to how they'll go about doin' so. Begin the journey on edintattoo.co.uk/history, so's ye maight learn more! Indeed, ye lot should've been thar last year, when they chose "Kaleidoscope!" as their theme, boastin' performances bold with color, light and sound! See the full who's who an' wha's wha' here!
Ye lot should've been there, too, as Lance Bombadier Megan Beveridge, 19th Regimental Royal Artillery, The Scottish Gunners, made Tattoo history as the first regular Army female Lone Piper to perform on the Castle Esplanade. She was also the youngest person, and only woman, to pass the full Army Pipe Major's Course. As over 8800 spectators watched her, Megan thrilled her listeners with her rendition of the Tattoo Finale's usual tune, "Sleep Dearie Sleep," long heralded by many Tattoo fans as the most deeply moving and uplifting part of every show.
Megan's been playin' the pipes since she was a wee bairn o' 9 years old, an' joined up with the Army by age 16 ere she made it tae th' Royal Artillery.
Here be somethin' ye prob'ly dinna know: Before each show, the Lone Piper must be on hand tae welcome the Salute Taker. Together, they perform the Ceremony of th' Gaelic Toast, where Piper and Salute Taker share a Quaich or two o' whisky, and the Piper reads th' Gaelic Toast, which welcomes the Salute Taker to the Castle, and wishes them, Her Majesty the Queen, and all in attendance across the world the very best o' health. At that point, the Piper salutes, and the Salute Taker takes his/her seat. Megan thus became the first woman from a Regular Army Pipes and Drums tae assume this important role, which is usually reserved fer those in the Infantry and Royal Armoured Corps, two key branches of the British Army that, by year's end, accepted women for the verra first time.
Pictures and video of Megan Beveridge's night in th' spotlight, plus info about how t' be there at http://edintattoo.co.uk! Make sure, too, ye go to #EdinTattoo or just tweet @EdinburghTattoo! Ta'e a peek here t' meet the man who has serv'd faithfully as the Tattoo's writer and commentator (tae say naught of the sole survivin' voice of BBC Scotland Television's hour-long highlights package), Alasdair Hutton, O.B.E.! And look ye here, as what Tattoo executives called "the LARGEST-ever Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo ever staged," came exclusively to ANZ Stadium, in Sydney, Australia, wi' its biggest Grand Finale in livin' memory! Built on the theme "At All Points of the Compass," the show boasted an unprecedented all-star cast o' precisely 1521 performers, the LARGEST international cast in the Tattoo's near-eight-decade history, with musicians hailin' from not just Australia and New Zealand, but also England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, India, the Kingdom of Tonga, Fiji, the Cook Islands, and, for the first time, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, American Samoa and Vanuatu! We bae speakin' o' more'n 320 Pipers and Drummers, 100 Highland Dancers, 13 major military bands encompassin' 865 top-notch military musicians, a 40-piece fiddlers' ensemble, a 100-person-strong Australian Federation Guard ---- in all, some 33 musical, cultural and military groups to astound the eye an' thrill th' ear!
For them what wanted tae boogie doon on Valentine's Day by trippin' ye lyghte fantastyk, Kendra Monroe from th' Shot o' Scotch Highland Dancers taught her pupils a thing er four at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Avenue, Room 16-L.
Ye'll nae see it in U.S. bookstores, but yer auld Uncle Fergus sez it bae a varra interestin' story fer the wee bairns. 'Tis Bagpipes, Beasties & Bogles, written and illustrated by Tim Archbold, where we meet Charlie McCandlewick, a nighttime chimney sweep whose job it is tae look after all those bogie creatures of the night who hide under children's beds! But what does Charlie do with all those wee beasties once he's done capturin' 'em in his thistle-cloth bag? One hint: Look at the varra front cover for the answer tae that question, sez I! Tim Archbold's Bagpipes, Beasties & Bogles is available on http://www.scotsusa.com/shop/bagpipes-beasties-and-bogles-picture-kelpies/! The livestream of Lerwick's awesome Fire Festival, the
Up Helly Aa, stream'd across the Planet through:
It all began wi' Liam Summers, in the role of Odin, Lord o' th' Gallows, All-father, Master of all Valhalla, as he and his Hordesfolk were granted the Freedom of the Village by Council Convener Malcolm Bell, followed by a drenchy but jolly Mornin' Procession, and then the Announcement o' th' Guizer Jarl's Bill, and later, the big photo op wi' the 2020 Jarl Squad's Longship Yggdrasil (the Tree of all Life). But the main event per se happen'd later that afternoon: the Burnin' o' the Yggdrasil!
In spite o' frosty snow showers, and temperatures as low as -2 degrees, the 2019 show went on as scheduled, as FIVE generations of Nicolson Lerwick Guizers ---- 2019 Centennial Guizer Jarl, John Nicolson (Lord Thorstein Egilssen), his 85-year-old father, Jim (Lord Egil Scallagrimsson, 1979 Guizer Jarl), his two older brothers, Graham (Lord Gunnar Egilsson, 2007 Guizer Jarl) and David (Lord Bothvar Egilsson, 2012 Guizer Jarl), and Lord Thorstein's own 13-year-old son, Bobby, led both the day and the fiery night in Lerwick's Up Helly Aa Festival Parade!
2019 was the 100th Anniversary of the modern Up Helly Aa era, along wi' th' 70th Anniversary of the Guizer Jarl dynasty of the Slantigarth, of which Lord Thorstein is a currently active member. Of the original Slantigarth Squad members who ruled on that day in 1949, five are living today; and they were honored during the evening's civic reception at Lerwick Town Hall, when Lord Thorstein was granted the Freedom o' th' Town.
Meanwhile, let's ha'e a wee dram fer 2017's Guizer Jarl, His Majesty, King Sveyn Forkbeard Haraldssen, a/k/a Lyall Gair, who led his own bearded burly bunch o' nice Viking Warriors (58 adults, 15 kids and an 8-piece band, with two fiddlers, two guitarists, one bass guitar, one double bass, one banjo picker, and a clarinetist) through Lerwick's downtown streets!
Later in July, King Sveyn and his Guizer Jarl Squad invaded Alberta, Canada, where their biggest adventure EVER found the Hordesmen in the town o' Cochrane, tae coincide wi' th' legendary Calgary Stampede!
King Sveyn also headlin'd Lerwick's Follow the Vikings Unst Festival and Activity Day. The week began with the annual Unst Viking Festival, where a few merry Hordesmen visited the event from Ardglass in Northern Ireland, and a few Squadron men from Valhalla came out all the way from Poland, at which point they set up their camp at Haroldswick, with the mighty longship Skidbladner towerin' over th' spectators! Throughout the day, there were storytellin' seisuns, combat demonstrations, vendors sellin' original and one-of-a-kind Viking crafts, and visitors even had a shot at actually rowin' a Viking longship!
By the end o' the day, the guests were treated to an actual Viking feast ceremony, along with tours of local excavation sites, plus workshops, seminars and live re-enactments with several Viking performers on hand for the diversion.
That same mornin', Viking Activity Day took over the Shetland Museum & Archives, where excavations, conversations, trading sessions, lectures, workshops and even an afternoon of drumming with Joy Duncan comprised th' order o' the day. Brian Smith ("Violent Vikings and Squeamish Scholars"), Jenny Murray ("Scandinavian Style: Viking Jewelery and Clothing"), Dr. Val Turner (" 'Soapstone': Why Incoming Vikings Felt at Home Here") and Dr. Ian Tait ("At Home with the Vikings: Domestic Life 1000 Years Ago") each lectured in the Gallery, bringing with them their own distinctive take on how Vikings accomplished their own way o' livin'!
The day ended at Hay's Dock Cafe and Restaurant, with King Sveyn as th' guest o' honor at a live, Viking-themed feast, complete with mutton soup, fish chowder, bread, root vegetable soup, roasted lamb, pork belly, baked cod and salmon, mashed parsnips, mixed root vegetables, cheese and Unst oatcakes, barley, honey, berries, mead, wine, apple juice --- and a full session o' storytellin', sagas and singin'!
T' put a further twist into the cellybration, His Majesty greeted a few o' his longtime and future subjects, strutted his stuff in his full-dress outfit, along with th' rest of the 2017 Guizer Jarl Squad, all of whom also took a moment to pose for photos (and a few selfies), and King Sveyn even shared some o' his favorite Star Wars/Chewbacca memories, too!
Follow the Vikings was co-sponsored by Shetland Amenity Trust, and was also in residence at the Jorvik Viking Centre in York's Coppergate Shopping Centre, where their 37th Annual Viking Festival, managed by the York Archaeological Trust, is scheduled for February 12th through 21st, 2021. This past February's Viking Festival featured, among other things, Horrible Histories creator Terry Deary greetin' his fans at Barley Hall in York fer a cellybration o' "25 Years of Those Vicious Vikings!" The festival theme was the world of Viking Women, particularly "the women who fought, schemed, and led their people through the most turbulent times." Across the Festival, a wide variety of happenings dazzled everyone, from the Banquet of th' Voyagers @ Adventurers' Hall, from living history to talks and tours, from the March t' th' Village of Coppergate to a live Viking Encampment complete with combat demonstration, from the Best Beard Competition @ St. Sampson's Square to the climactic Battle Spectacular in the Land of Darkness, plus all th' mead ye can guzzle doon over at Odin and Freya's Feast at the National Centre for Early Music --- and much, much more!
Follow the Vikings ended in Norway, wi' the last day of the Borg Viking Festival at the Lofotr Viking Museum!
Turnin' now to other Lerwick Up Helly Aa developments:
Some 800 people came together to mourn the loss of Lord Johannes Sanderrevet of Valsgarde, alias John Hunter, 2011 Lerwick Guizer Jarl, who passed away from a brain hemorrhage on February 11th. At the funeral, 5550 lbs. was raised to support the MRI Scanner Appeal, one of the largest donations ever to be granted to a British-based medical charity. The funeral was held at Whiteness, where John and his brother Robert and older sister Kaye were raised by their late parents, Ronnie and Kathleen. After leaving school, John began working at the Clickimin Centre, where he was serving in an administrative position at the time of his death. While John had had varied interests, Up Helly Aa was very special to him and his family indeed; and his proudest day, of course, came on January 25th, 2011, when, as Lord Johannes, he led that lovable but not-so-fierce bunch o' warriors from Lerwick. According to Kaye Hunter, the decision to support the MRI Scanner Appeal was linked to her brother's sudden death, as well as her own problems with a blood clot on her brain. "Maybe if John had had the opportunity for a scan, we could have picked up that there was a problem," said Kaye, who herself has had a catscan that identified a blood clot on her brain, and allowed her to be treated with life-saving medication before her doctors transferred her to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Robert Hunter added that an MRI scan could directly benefit Shetlanders and that, given current advances in medically-related technology, was now an important piece of medical equipment.
'Tweren't enuf fer Liam Summers tae bae servin' as yer 2020 Lerwick Up Helly Aa Guizer Jarl. So early last year, before assumin' the role o' Odin, he set an ambitious goal fer himself: runnin' in the annual Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run Half-Marathon at Glasgow City Centre, which was broadcast LIVE on BBC Scotland Television! Liam's mission: tae support Mind Your Head, a charity that provides support and services to those who are struggling with mental health issues across the Shetland Islands region. Liam certainly fulfilled his Quest a'right, that bae fer certain, raisin' some 1841 lbs. in support o' Mind Your Head. As the Big O explain'd in his online commentary, suicide is the leading killer of male adults under the age of 45.
Sandwick's own Gary Smith takes over the Lerwick firefest come 2032; he'll follow the lead of his Dad, Willie, who, as 1997's Lerwick Guizer Jarl, ruled as King Sigurd Magnusson. Meanwhile, turning back to King Sveyn, His Majesty started his big day by deliverin' a delicious speech at the Guizers' temporary Meeting Hall and Daytime Feastin' Hall, at Mareel, used by the Up Helly Aa Committee tae fill in fer the regular meetin' place at Town Hall, then undergoin' extended renovation. (The Jarl Squad even treated their audience to a rawther silly riff on Elvis' "Burnin' Love," too!) Afterwards, the Squad lads posed with their mighty longship, the Falcon (as in Millennium, given that Lyall fancies himself a fan of Star Wars in general and Chewbacca specifically).
Up Helly Aa 2020 followed its usual formula, wi' 35 cameras scatter'd across Lerwick to capture the action! Yer returnin' presenters were Davie Gardner, Tom Morton and 1997 Guizer Jarl Peter Malcolmson (King Eirik Bloodaxe Haraldsen), who broadcast from the Promote Shetland studios, No. 2 Market Street, Downtown Lerwick! Promote Shetland estimates that the programme was seen by 1.7 million viewers, aboot half that number watchin' through shetlandwebcams.com/uphellyaa website alone. And in the same way that the All-father Odin had successful plans for the Yggdrasil, as Lord Thorvald had before for his own burly bunch and their vessel, the Good Ship Blaze Away, nae doubt Lord Thorstein's Viking Invasion of Manhattan was similarly successful! See all yer favorite adventures from previous Up Helly Aa festivals at me Up Helly Aa Archive!
So ye say ye wouldn't be livin' without those Vikings? Well, the mighty Captain Bjorn Ahlanders and the crew of the Great Longship Draken Harald Harfagre, saved the day with its epic East Coast Voyage, spanning from Maine to South Carolina. They began their epic 14-stopover Quest at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT; then stopped at Fore Points Marina in Portland, Maine, where the Captain and his mates, along with the Villagers of the Draken, greeted the visitors, held their own mead tasting at Shipyard Brewing Co. on Newbury Street. Afterwards, at Mechanics' Hall on Congress Street, they screened their documentary, Expedition America: A Modern Viking Adventure.
Following the film, Captain Bjorn and the crew joined a live panel discussion! They then spent the remainder o' th' night at the Salem, Massachusetts Regional Visitors Center, before they sailed off for Newport, Rhode Island, and the Seamen's Church Institute. Further stops took 'em tae Greenport, Long Island, New York; Ocean City, Maryland; Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum; and then Baltimore, Norfolk, VA; Annapolis and St. Michaels, MD (Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum); and lastly, onward tae D.C., before returning tae Mystic Seaport for a farewell stopover.