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Gary brings you the winning performances from this year's MacLean MacLeod Memorial Championships hosted by the United States Piping Foundation in Maryland in June 2026.

Playlist

Derek Midgely with Major Manson at Clachantrushal, Mrs. Donald MacPherson and Neil Angus MacDonaldfrom the MacLean Macleod Piping Championships, USA, 2026, private recording.

Bruce Gandy with P/M Karen MacLean, The Islay Ball and Stornoway Castle from the MacLean Macleod Piping Championships, USA, 2026, private recording.

Bruce Gandy with Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck from the MacLean Macleod Piping Championships, USA, 2026, private recording.

Andrew Carlisle with Mrs. John MacColl, John Roy Stewart and The Grey Bobfrom the MacLean Macleod Piping Championships, USA, 2026, private recording.

Alex Pavlovic with Verna Leith's Wedding March, Johnny Ross, Craigard and Murdo MacGillivray of Eoligarry from the MacLean Macleod Piping Championships, USA, 2026, private recording.

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Gary reports in from Oberlin College, Ohio, to bring you more great music, ancient and modern, from the bagpipes - and saxophone!

Playlist

Davy Spillane with Atlantic Bridge from Atlantic Bridge

Strathclyde Police Pipe Band with Selection: The Detroit Highlanders, Loch Loskin, Mac-an-Irish, Barney's Balmoral, Willie Roy's Loomhouse, Morag Duncan, The Gold Ring, The Humours of Cork, Cpt. Geddes' Turnabout from The World Pipe Band Championships 1986

Pipe Major William MacLean and his piping tuition, Pipe Major William MacLean, (contributor), Francis Collinson, Calum Maclean, (fieldworkers), ref: SA1953.005.A3, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, The University of Edinburgh

Patrick Molard and Manu Lannhuel with The prophecy of Gwenc'hlan

John D Burgess with Lord Alexander Kennedy, Delvinside and Pretty Marion from the Piping Centre Recital Series 1996

The Whistlebinkies with The Pipers’ Controversy and the Piping College Summerside from Inner Sound

Fraser Fifield with Benedictus from The Inchcolm Antiphoner

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Gary pays a visit to the Gaelic college on the Isle of Skye, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, to hear about its music degree course and to explore an amazing online archive.

Playlist

Back of the Moon with Mrs Maclean from Fortune’s Road

Decker Forrest with The Piper’s Controversy and John MacDonald’s Exercise from Binneas Ostaig

Staff and Students of Gaidhlig agus Ceol Traidiseanta at Sabhal Mor Ostaig (Eilidh NicPhaidein, Iain MacInnes and Decker Forrest) with Mrs MacDoald of Dunach and P/M John Burgess from Binneas Ostaig.

Staff and Students of Gaidhlig agus Ceol Traidiseanta at Sabhal Mor Ostaig (Ellen Nic Dhomhnaill, Aoife Ni Chathasaigh and Christine Primrose) with Mairead nan Cuiread from Binneas Ostaig.

Pipe Major Gavin Stoddart with Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament (ground) from the World’s Greatest Pipers Volume 3.

Ruidhle air a ghabhail ann an canntaireachd, Mary Morrison, (contributor), Donald Archie MacDonald, Thorkild Knudsen, (fieldworkers), ref: SA1965.062.5, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, The University of Edinburgh.

Rivalry between MacCrimmon and MacRobert, Pipe Major William MacLean, (contributor), Francis Collinson, (fieldworker), ref: SA1953.055.A2, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, The University of Edinburgh.

The Lochaber Gathering/Braes of Tullymet/Unknown/The Lads from Mull/Mason's Apron, Angus Lawrie, (contributor), Calum Maclean, (fieldworker), ref: SA1953.143.B7, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, The University of Edinburgh.

Links

Tobar an Dualchais (online archive)

Sabhal Mor Ostaig (Gaelic College)

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Gary brings you the final performance from the Maket Collective Recital and chats to Professor Hugh Cheape, one of the great historians of the bagpipe.

Playlist

Lorne MacDougall with Trip to Aviles, Atlantic Bridge, The Sound of Sleat, Atlantic Bridge from Hello World!

Sarah Muir with John Campbell, Captain H B H E Munro and Farewell to Halkirk from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Sarah Muir with Duncan Johnstone & Donella Beaton from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Sarah Muir with Duncan MacColl, Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch and Fiona MacLeod from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Gordon Mooney with Mount Your Baggage and Go to Berwick Johnny from O’er the Border

Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band with Brigadier General Ronald Cheape of Tiroran, Dora MacLeod and the Smith of Chilliechassie from the World Pipe Band Championships 2013

Sarah Muir with Hi-Ri Ho-Ro Mo Nighneag, Tomnahurich, The Racoon, Dr. Alasdair MacKenzie, Clueless, Wing Commander Donald MacKenzie from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

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Join Gary as he pays another visit to the Maket Collective Recital from the National Piping Centre.

Playlist

The Nexus Project (Bede Patterson) with Prelude from Glaisvair

Eala McElhinney with The Festival March from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eala McElhinney with Out of the Ocean, John Mackenzie’s Fancy & Battangorm House from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eala McElhinney with Older, Brian o ’Lynn, Hartigan ’ s Fancy & Bìmid Ag Òl from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eala McElhinney with Bog an Lochan, Murdo took the Stoup, The Crooked Bridge & Captain McKay from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eireann Ianetta-MacKay with Gardens of Skye, Bob Martin and Lord Lovats Lament from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eireann Ianetta-MacKay with Lament for the Iolaire (ground and variation 1) from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eireann Ianetta-MacKay with Lady Mackenzie, Shepherds Crook, Willie Murray ’ s Reel, Lt Col DJS Murray from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Eireann Ianetta-MacKay with The Sleeping Tune, The Millstead, Rory Gallagher and I Have it Somewhere from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

With grateful thanks to Tradtv and Inner Ear for permission to share these recordings.

Links

Bede Patterson's Nexus Project

The Maket Collective

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Highlights from the first Maket Collective Recital held at the National Piping Centre in April 2026, featuring sets from Anna Kummerlow and Hazel Whyte.

Playlist

The Tannahill Weavers with Orach from Orach

Anna Kummerlow with Alan Dodd's Farewell to Scotland, Monymusk and Fiona MacLeod from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Anna Kummerlow with Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

St Lawrence O’Toole Pipe Band with Boolavogue from Dawning of the Day

Anna Kummerlow with Sharon’s Cat and Skye from the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Hazel Whyte with Pipe Major John Barclay the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Hazel Whyte with Major Mason at Clachantrushal, The Shepherd’ s Crook & Alick C. MacGregor the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Hazel Whyte with The Kings Taxes (ground, and V1) the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

Hazel Whyte with Ella’s Crunchie, Henningham Reunion and Isla MacLeod the Maket Collective Recital, National Piping Centre, April 2026, recordings courtesy of Tradtv (an Inner Ear Brand)

With grateful thanks to Tradtv and Inner Ear for permission to share these recordings.

Links

Tradtv

The Maket Collective

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More great music from the bagpipe traditions of Scotland and beyond.

Playlist

Calum Stewart with Frost and Snow from True North

Sarah Muir – Medley from Wheel of Fortune 2026 Duncan Johnstone, Thunderhead, Richard’s Cup of Tea, Hiri Horo Mo Nighneag, Tomnavuirich, the Racoon, Dr Alasdair MacKenzie, Clueless and Wing Commander Donald MacKenzie.

Dick Gaughan with Freedom Come All Ye feat Fred Morrison from Sail On

Dougie Murray with Isobel MacKay from the MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band Recital Series, April 2026.

Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson with Eavesdropper from Airfix

Links

Trad TV

The Maket Collective

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Gary returns from a wee break with some excellent sets from Dougie Murray in recital in Broughty Ferry hosted by the MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band. There's also a visit to chat with Alastair and Isla from our sponsors, RG Hardie Bagpipes.

Playlist

Assynt with Assynt House from Where from Here?

Dougie Murray with The Garb of Old Gaul, Battle of Waterloo and Wee Highland Laddie from MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band Recital Series, April 2026.

Dougie Murray with The Highland Wedding, Lady Louden and Alick C MacGregor from MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band Recital Series, April 2026.

Dougie Murray with Eileen Mary Connolly, The Train Journey North, Jig, The Curlew, Troy’s Wedding, Going to the Well for Water from MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band Recital Series, April 2026.

Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band with the B52, the Galtee Rangers and the Double F Dilemma from Re-Charged: Live at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Breabach with the Ramparts from Astar

Links

RG Hardie - Peter Henderson Heritage Viking Bagpipes

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