The Big Rab Show Podcast. Episode 447. Piping Live Preview 2025

·1 hr 30 min·5 clips

The biggest week in piping, Piping Live 2025, is finally upon us with a special preview.

The episode opens with sponsor mentions and an introduction to the Piping Live 2025 preview. Rab reads listener mail addressing tenor drumming debates sparked by a previous episode, with emails from Billy and Jackie sharing opinions and competition details. Weekly drone submissions cover topics like JD's quiet recordings, tenor drumming criticism, the need for a mid-section judge, blind judging versus visual performance, temporary players in bands, and RSPBA registration numbers. After a break with ads for Musolink and Dojo University, Rab briefly mentions news like the Ulster Championships and Bridge of Allen competition. The core segment features an interview with Piping Live organizers Helen Urquhart and John Mulhern. They explain the new outdoor festival site with two stages and bars, ticketing structure (£10 day pass with extra tickets for events), and live streaming options. Mulhern discusses his book on Glasgow's piping history. They highlight emerging talent, the Maket Collective events for women in piping, and headliners like Ascent and Ali Levac. Rab then shares his daily picks for Piping Live, starting with the McGregor's Gathering on August 8th. For August 11th, he notes the Masters competition and CLASP events, plus Buchanan Street bands like Ballarat Grammar. Main stage acts include Kula and Ascent. August 12th features the International Quartet Competition, Buchanan Street bands like the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums, and main stage acts like The Force and Ben Lee. August 13th includes Big Rab Show Live with Anna Smart and Ross Miller, Buchanan Street bands like Catamount Pipe Band, and main stage events like Malin Lewis and a Learn It Live workshop with Richard Parks MBE. August 14th has another Big Rab Show Live with John Doe and Cameron Barnes, plus a book launch by Richard McLaughlin. Rab also mentions periphery events like come-and-try bagpiping and museum tours throughout the festival.

As heard by us

A warm Piping Live preview that balances practical festival entry details with the pipes' widening musical reach.

The Big Rab Show uses its annual Piping Live 2025 preview to sketch how the festival is settling into its new home at the National Piping Centre.

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Why you'd press play

Want Piping Live 2025 bearings at the National Piping Centre and a straight answer on the festival-site ticket?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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