The World Pipe Band Championships 2025

A fantastic day was had on Saturday last, at the World Pipe Band Championships, which is held annually on Glasgow Green (about 40 minutes from Appletree Cottage)

This two-day event featured 207 pipe bands from all over the country, including 53 from overseas, some travelling thousands of miles to compete from places including Australia, Oman, Zimbabwe, Canada and USA

Programme for the World Pipe Band Championships 2025

An estimated thirty-five thousand people gathered in the huge open grassy space between the famous People’s Palace and the Saltmarket to watch and hear some of the cream of the world's pipers and drummers.

Commencing with the Juvenile heats judging in the six arenas progressed over the two days, to finish with the very best bands competing for the prize. 

Boghall and Bathgate Pipe Band playing in the main arena with a supersized screen showing the bass drum

We attended the competition on day two, by which time fourteen grade 1 bands (the best) had been nominated to compete in the final, which was held in the main arena.  For the competition, the bands performed a medley of their choosing.

The event, which was televised by BBC Scotland, had a massive screen in the corner of the main arena showing what was being recorded.

The pipers and drummers rehearsing seperately

After listening to a few entries, we went for a wander around the site.

The fun thing about the World Pipe Band Championships is that when the bands are not in the arenas performing, they are practising all over the park.  The grounds are just full of bands rehearsing their routines.  During these rehearsals, sometimes the bands play as one unit, whilst at other times the drums and pipes may be split up and practice as separate units.

Drummers rehearsing on their own

The result is a cacophony of drumming and pipes filling the air. Different rhythms and harmonies complement and contrast.  A wander through the park lets you get right up close to the bands as they seek perfection in their performance.

Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band from the USA

All bands, apart from a couple from overseas, are in highland dress.  This comprises a kilt, long socks, black brogues, tweed jacket and Tam-o-Shanter or beret.  Some also wear plaid (a long swath of material worn over the shoulder.  Many sport a "sgian dubh" (pronounced ski-an doo), which is a sheathed dagger tucked into the top of the long sock with just the handle protruding. 

Most bands are dressed in matching tartan chosen from the many thousands on offer.  Some wear specially designed tartan, for example, Scottish Power and Simon Fraser University bands both sport tartan bearing their name.   

A few other bands wear assorted tartans.  Plain (one colour) kilts are worn by some of the overseas competitors.

Part of one of the catering areas

Our wanderings took us past many stalls selling band paraphernalia.  There were also two large food and drink areas catering for the huge crowds.  Fortunately, there were easily enough outlets to cater for the numbers, so queues were not very long.

In Arena 6, at the southern end of the park, we spent some time watching the Drum Major Championships.  The Drum Major usually marches in front of the band.  He or she carries a long ceremonial mace, which they throw high in the air as part of a skilled display known as a “flourish”.  The drum major does not give orders to the band, but is there to demonstrate his skill.

The Pipe Major Competition, where they march and throw their ceremonial maces

We returned to the main arena to watch the last couple of entries for the final.

After all fourteen bands had finished performing their pieces, the judges reviewed their notes whilst the crowd barriers around the main arena were re-configured to create a massive performance area.  This area would soon accommodate all of the pipe bands to march and play together in one massive body. 

Needless to say, this took some time to organise!  But once everything was set, the bands marched forward in one huge musical mass playing Scotland the Brave 

The grand march past at the end of the day

Finally, after a couple of speeches by the organisers and the Chieftain, the winners of the competition were announced. 

The results for the best band in the World Pipe Band Championships were as follows…

1^st Inverary and District (for the fourth time in the last seven years)

2^nd Field Marshall Montgomery

3^rd Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia

4^th Simon Fraser University

5^th Police Scotland Fife

6^th Peoples Ford Bathgate and Boghall Caledonia

For those staying at Appletree Cottage who would like to see a local pipe band, every Thursday evening during the summer, there is a pipe band scheduled to play in Drymen Square (a 5-minute drive) 

The bands this year (2025) include Helensburgh Pipe Band, Dumbarton and District Pipe Band, and Doune Pipe Band, which rotate week to week. So what better than to buy a beer in The Clachan (Scotland's Oldest Pub on Drymen Square) and sit out and listen to the band playing?

Pipe bands play in Drymen Square on Thursday evenings during the summer