Pipe Idol competitors announced

There are 16 exceptional participants from Scotland, Germany, Canada, USA and Australia all vying for the prestigious title.

Pipe Idol has grown to be one of the most popular events at Piping Live! (Glasgow, 8-14 August) and the grand finale on Thursday, August 11, has been moved to the Strathclyde Suite at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to cope with demand.

Tickets are on sale now from www.pipinglive.co.uk

The competition, sponsored by Fred Morrison Reelpipes, sees the best up-and-coming pipers, aged between 15 and 20, compete at four heats throughout the week, before the final four play to a secret panel of judges.

Last year’s crown was taken by 20 year-old Scott Barrie, of the Grade 1 Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band. Other notable winners over the last 10 years include Calum Ian Brown, who won in 2014 and Connor Sinclair, who took the title in 2012 when he was only 16 years old.

Roddy MacLeod, Festival Director of Piping Live!, said: “Each year we see the very best young pipers battle it out to be crowned the Pipe Idol winner and this year we’re thrilled to be able to welcome such a mix of international performers. There’s an incredible amount of talent on this line-up, so our judges definitely have their work cut out for them. It will be interesting to see who will walk away with the title at this year’s Piping Live! festival.”

Now in its 13th year, Piping Live! is the biggest festival of its kind in the world. Some of the hottest names in traditional music will perform at the 2016 festival, including RURA, Anxo Lorenzo, Ross Ainslie & 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. Fan favourites, the Masters Solo and the International Quartets competition, will return to the festival this year, while the Pipers Market will be back in George Square, providing the best fresh and local food and drink from across Scotland.

The weekend will also see the most important piping competition in the world take place in Glasgow for the 30th consecutive year, as The World Pipe Band Championships returns on 12th and 13th August. Each year 8,000 pipers from more than 200 countries travel to Glasgow Green to compete to be named best in the world for piping and this year will see Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band defend their title after becoming the first Scottish band to win the coveted title in more than a decade.

Heat 1 – Monday, August 8th (3:30 pm)

Callum Craib, Scotland, age 15

Connor Jardine, Scotland, age 18

Rebecca Tierney, Scotland, age 19

Jack Williamson, USA, age 19

Heat 2 – Tuesday, August 9th (3:30 pm)

Austin Diepenhorst, USA, age 18

Scott Figgins, Scotland, age 20

Danny Hutcheson, Scotland, age 18

Robbie MacIsaac, Scotland, age 15

Heat 3 – Wednesday, August 10th (3:30 pm)

John Campbell, Scotland, age 18

James Dyson, Canada, age 19

Kian Johnson, Germany, age 15

Douglas Mair, Scotland, age 17

Heat 4 – Thursday, August 11th (noon)

Craig Davidson, Scotland, age 18

Josh Fraser, Scotland, age 20

Harry McLachlan, Scotland, age 16

William Sincock, Australia, age 18