Massed pipes and drums return to Bideford
PIPES and drums will be returning to reverberate around Bideford as part of its regatta week and carnival events. Since the first massed pipes and drums event after Bideford Carnival in 2004 the spectacle has now grown into a three-day festival of piping
PIPES and drums will be returning to reverberate around Bideford as part of its regatta week and carnival events.
Since the first massed pipes and drums event after Bideford Carnival in 2004 the spectacle has now grown into a three-day festival of piping and drumming activities.
Pipe bands from all over the South West and further afield will be in town this year for the whole weekend.
On each day of the three day festival - from September 4th to 6th - a lone piper will play on Bideford Quay at 11am. Pipe Major Gaylena Humphries of the Bideford Youth Pipe Band will be the first piper to take on the roll, opening the festival on the Friday.
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That evening there will be a concert by the Celtic rockers Jiggerypipery at the Pollyfield Centre, East-the-Water.
All the pipe bands will be taking part in the first and last parts of Bideford carnival on the Saturday night and afterwards in the spectacular massed pipes and drums performance, building to a finale of more than 100 pipers and drummers playing the popular Highland Cathedral.
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The massed pipes and drums will be led this year by Drum Major Alistair Pether, a former English Champion Drum Major, who leads the massed pipes and drums of the Royal Air Force at the Edinburgh Tattoo.
The festival will conclude on the Sunday morning with an informal performance by pipers and drummers on the Quay at 11am, including requests from the public for their favourite tunes.
Advance tickets for Jiggerpipery from Mike Harper (01237) 422477 or mike@rockbymail.co.uk and more details about the weekend's events at www.bidefordmassedbands.co.uk
