Record breaking year for biggest bagpipe festival in the world

Scotland's annual celebration of bagpipes, Piping Live!, that had over 30,000 attendances last week, ended on Friday with an impressive evening of folk held in one of the city's most notable venues.

Article Source: Piping Live!
Last Updated: 19 August 2025 14:52

Piping Live! – Glasgow’s international piping festival that draws performers and spectators from across the globe, had the city buzzing with bagpipes at a variety of events including captivating concerts, informative workshops and fiercely-fought competitions across its nine-day run.

People of all ages and nationalities attended the festival, participated in events and enjoyed the festivals’ brand-new, re-imagined outdoor site at the National Piping Centre.

Crowds were treated to a daily headliner on the newly created Centre Stage. Artists like Uist band Beinn Lee, the modern folk group Assynt, Inverness-based Cala, and the acclaimed piper and composer Malin Lewis took the top spots on the festival’s 22nd run.

The festival came to a fitting crescendo as Ali Levack Big Band and Falasgair performed to a 500-strong crowd at Saint Luke’s.

The Friday evening of fun saw Ali, a globally known whistle player who was previously named BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year, join Skye based band Falasgair, the 2020 winner of Up-and-Coming Artist of The Year at The Trad Awards, for rousing recitals to close out proceedings.

Ali, who previously came through the festival’s emerging talent programme, said: “The gig was great, Saint Luke’s is such an impressive venue, and we were absolutely delighted to be playing to such a full crowd. It also meant a lot to have Finlay MacDonald and the team from the National Piping Centre in the audience, they have looked after me so well and nurtured my career, so it was great to see them. Piping Live! is an amazing festival, they are to be commended with how many opportunities they offer to younger musicians. They have made such a difference to my own experience over the years.”

Piping Live! officially commenced on Monday 11th with a record-breaking Big Band showcase which saw over 200 pipers and drummers march in Glasgow’s west end in aid of this year’s chosen charity partner, Eilidh’s Trust. Founded in memory of late young piper Eilidh Macleod who tragically died in the Manchester Arena attacks in 2017, participants’ efforts will go towards the charity’s work funding creative arts activities, in particular music.

Across the week, the festival – this year supported by around 50 volunteers - enjoyed a host of sell-out and free to enter shows held in venues throughout the city, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and outdoor showcases on Buchanan Street.

Musicians from as far as Ukraine and Australia delighted audiences with their performances. Many of the pipe bands that took part in the festival also competed in the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on Friday and Saturday.
With proceedings wrapped up for another year, Artistic Director for Piping Live!, Finlay MacDonald, has extended his thanks to everyone who made it such a ‘roaring success’.

Finlay said: “There aren’t enough words to describe this year’s Piping Live!, so I’ll start with just one – thank you. A huge thanks to each person who made it such a successful year – from the hugely talented performers who travelled far and wide to be here, our dedicated organisers and volunteers, our funders and sponsors, and everyone who attended any of our events – we are beyond grateful to everyone for the support.

“The festival is now in its 22nd year and it continues to offer new and exciting things: seeing our reimagined space at our home on McPhater Street come to life and welcome so many across the week has been fantastic.

“Our record-breaking Big Band showcase was a real highlight as always. Seeing over 200 pipers and drummers play with such enthusiasm and passion for Scotland’s national instrument is, for us, truly what it is all about. Being able to welcome around 30,000 people across the festival, travelling from across the globe, is why we continue to do what we do – there’s no greater feeling than filling Glasgow’s venues and streets with the unrivalled sound of the pipes.

“We’re already beginning to plan for 2026 and look forward to building upon our mission to enrich lives through piping, highlight Scotland’s cultural impact on a national level and to show that piping and drumming is open to people of all ages and abilities.”

Further highlights of the festival included the prestigious Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge which brought together five of the world's top solo pipers to battle it out for the top title, this year won by Finlay Johnston. The G1 Reeds International Quartet Competition welcomed six of the world's top pipe bands to compete for glory just days before the World Pipe Band Championships and Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band claimed victory in the fiercely fought competition. Meanwhile Pipe Major of Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, Alan Bevan, retained the R. G. Hardie & Co. Masters Solo Piping Competition title.

The hugely popular Pipe Idol – a competition for young, up-and-coming pipers aged 21 and under – also returned with heats taking place throughout the week before 15-year-old Alex Pavlovic from America was crowned the winner in a spectacular finale.

At the festival’s new Bothy area, it was standing-room only for a live recording of The Big Rab Show which featured John Dew, Cammy Barnes and a Big Rab Show Big Band.

The festival also presented an exciting new commission celebrating incredible professional female piping talent, with performers BANN and Ceòlas selling out their Tuesday evening gig.

Other high points across the week included non-stop action at the festival’s exciting new site such as new and emerging talent performances sponsored by Belhaven Brewery, fun Come and Try piping sessions, the Learn@Live! workshop series, international sessions and more.

Elsewhere in the city, Buchanan Street and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum hosted local and international talent for free performances open to all passers-by. Stand-out moments included the Kyiv Ethno Trio from Ukraine and the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band who performed outside Australia for the first time in their over 100-year history.

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of charity Glasgow Life, which supports the festival with funding, said: “The 22nd edition of Piping Live! has been an outstanding success. Celebrating traditional and contemporary bagpipes music, this year’s dynamic programme demonstrated the great versatility and popularity of the pipes, as well as the fantastic talent and skills of pipers of all ages from near and far. The festival’s diverse range of entertainments and activities really offered something for everyone – and that was certainly evident from attendances.

“Our city has been privileged and proud to host Piping Live! and the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships. Both provided a wonderful showcase of piping, and the huge interest and enthusiasm there is internationally for the bagpipes and the stirring sounds of our national instrument. These outstanding cultural events attract thousands of visitors to our UNESCO City of Music every summer, and they have been particularly special highlights this year, as we celebrate Glasgow’s 850th anniversary.”

Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said: “Piping Live! has been a wonderful celebration of Scotland’s musical heritage, bringing together performers and visitors from around the world. The event not only showcases the global reach and appeal of our piping tradition but also plays an important role in helping drive Scotland’s visitor economy. From sold-out shows to record-breaking performances, the energy and excitement generated throughout the week reinforces Scotland’s reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.”

Piping Live! will return next year on 10th – 17th August. Further information on upcoming events can be found at www.pipinglive.co.uk

Piping Live! is a charity, donations to support its world-class programming into the future can be made at www.pipinglive.co.uk

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