Piping Live! celebrates the '˜moments that matter'

The festival headliners was unveiled by projection mapping a series of incredible images onto the National Piping Centre.

All images were crowdsourced via Piping Live!’s social media channels to celebrate the fact that Scotland’s national instrument has provided the soundtrack for so many of life’s big moments throughout history. From marching onto the battlefield to the mesmerising opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, to wedding ceremonies and funerals; bringing in the New Year, to celebrating Scottish heritage the world over – bagpipes are always at the heart of huge moments. Everyone has an emotional reaction when they hear the pipes begin to play – whether that be joy, sadness, nostalgia or hope – making the instrument like no other.

Festival organisers brought the images to life by having a lone piper perform a haunting medley of the best known tunes in front of the projection, before inviting the public to enjoy this year’s big moment – Piping Live!

Now in its 13th year, Piping Live! is the biggest festival of its kind. Attracting 40,000 people from around the globe each year to watch over 5000 international pipers perform at 150 events across the city.

Some of the hottest names in traditional music will perform this year, including RURA, Anxo Lorenzo, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton and the world famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

Band performances will take place in George Square and on the steps of The Royal Concert Hall. The annual Pipe Idol competition and fan favourite, the International Quartets competition will return to the festival, while the Pipers Market’ will be back in George Square, providing the best fresh and local food and drink from across Scotland.

Roddy MacLeod, Festival Director of Piping Live!, said: “Bagpipes strike an emotional chord with people all over the world. There’s no other instrument that can make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck quite like the pipes. From major historical events, to personal moments like weddings and graduations, to shared moments of triumph like the Commonwealth Games or a cup final – bagpipes have set the scene for so many powerful memories at home and throughout the world.

“This year’s line-up is all about celebrating the rich history and international diversity of the bagpipes while heralding the future with some of the most exciting new players in the traditional music scene.”