The Piping Live! Big Band will return for its 7th showcase at this year’s festival. Pipers of all ages and abilities are invited to take part. In 2024, the Big Band will parade from Mansefield Park in Partick to the concourse at the iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It will step off on this 05.mile route at 12noon, arriving at the museum around 12.20pm.

The Piping Live! Big Band is a mass participation event that opens our festival. 150 pipers will gather, ranging from young learners playing their chanters, to seasoned professionals playing the pipes in their retirement.

The Big Band will walk the streets of Glasgow performing a repertoire of tunes that everyone can play. 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. Past events welcomed musicians aged 8-86.

This year, the event is supporting Glasgow-based charity Articulate Cultural Trust, which helps care experienced and marginalised groups of young people access the tools they need to build a robust and fulfilled life. Articulate aims to provide equal opportunities by removing barriers which could prevent some people from participating in the arts. Working with skilled teaching artists in Scotland, Articulate delivers creative programmes for vulnerable young people, providing them with a safe space to make connections and gain confidence.

THE BIG BAND IS NOW FULL FOR 2024! We can't wait to see you all on Monday 12th August!

Once you register, we will be in touch to send on a welcome pack and the tunes for the band for 2024.

Big Band Stewards
To help make sure the Piping Live! Big Band all happens without a hitch, we are looking for stewards to help marshall at the parade. You dont need any prior expereince, and will be given a hi-vis vest and on the day instructions. You will march with the parade, making sure our participants stay safe while playing.

If you would like to be a Big Band Steward, please email contact@pipinglive.co.uk

#STARTSWITHARTS 

Articulate’s Creative Changemakers have launched their latest youth-led public awareness campaign, aimed at empowering care experienced children and young people to live creative and cultural lives.  The campaign aims simply to embed arts access in every Scottish Child’s Plan.  With a vision for equity, this imaginative approach seeks to break down participation barriers, challenge stereotypes, and foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging within the Glasgow arts community. Find out more about this campaign here