Pipers called on to join Piping Live! Big Band procession – Bagpipe News

On Monday 10th August, around 200 pipers, drummers and drum majors will gather at Mansfield Park in Partick, ranging from young learners playing their chanters, to seasoned professionals playing the pipes and drums in their retirement.

The Piping Live! Big Band is open to anyone who plays a practice chanter, bagpipes, snare, bass or tenor drum, or is a drum major. All ages are welcome, with past events welcoming people aged 8-86. Players can sign up to be part of the Piping Live! Big Band at www.pipinglive.co.uk/pages/piping-live-big-band. There is a £15 registration fee which covers the Big Band t-shirt and a donation to the chosen charity.

Once again taking place in Glasgow's West End the procession will set off at 12 noon from Mansfield Park and make its way down Dumbarton Road and Argyle Street before spectacularly culminating at the concourse outside Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Leading the parade will be Finlay MacDonald, Piping Live! Artistic Director and the Director of Piping at the National Piping Centre, and Dr Andrew Bova, Hazel Whyte and Danny Hutcheson.

Since its inception in 2016, the Piping Live! Big Band has worked in partnership with a chosen charity with all registrants making a donation to the charity through the entry fee.

This year, the event is supporting My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Founded by Doddie Weir, My Name'5 Doddie Foundation have a clear vision: a world free of MND. To officially kick off the event this year, Big Band Pipe Major Dr Bova was joined today by international rugby player – and learner piper – Rhona Lloyd to launch the Big Band in support of the Foundation, by playing a tune together. 

Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director for Piping Live! said: “The Piping Live! Big Band parade is one of the highlights of the festival so we're delighted to bring the showcase back for the ninth time. It's heartwarming to see so many performers of all ages and abilities come together, united by their love of Scottish music and culture. It's always an honour to lead the parade and launch the festivities, while raising money for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Piping continues to go from strength to strength, with its timeless appeal being represented on some of the greatest stages across the world. Working with the Foundation, we are bringing music and the tartan that Doddie wore so well to Glasgow, highlighting the need to fund the smartest, most efficient MND research, that's why this year's charity partnership is so important to us. We would encourage pipers and drummers of all abilities to come and be part of this really special, welcoming event.â€

Paul Thomson, Director of Fundraising at My Name'5 Doddie Foundation said: “The Piping Live! Big Band is all about bringing people together and making some noise – and we're proud to be part of it.

MND doesn't wait, and neither can we. Every registration will help fund vital research to speed up the search for effective treatments and bring us closer to a world free of MND. A huge thank you to Piping Live! and everyone taking part for getting behind us.â€

Piping Live! 2026 takes place from Sunday 9th – Friday 14th August 2026. The world's biggest piping festival annually attracts over 23,000 attendees to Glasgow and the line-up includes world class performances, music sessions, recitals, workshops and more.

More information and tickets for all events taking place at Piping Live! 2026 are available at www.pipinglive.co.uk. Sign up to the Big Band, which takes place on Monday 10th August, at https://pipinglive.co.uk/pages/piping-live-big-band.