set based on time variations of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band proved the band has a concert future, a fact topped off by a delicate and sweetly played Sleeping Tune included in memory of Gordon Duncan. The bar was set high for Spirit of Scotland to follow. Pipe major Roddy MacLeod’s band are the piping equivalent of rugby’s Barbarians and like them, have a remit to entertain. This they did with a perfor- mance that included not just the obligatory MSR and the ‘blockbuster’ medley but a 3/4 set, a tag team solo and a folk band set with Matt MacIsaac, Finlay MacDonald, Ross Martin and David Foley doing the honours on an entertaining mix of Cape Breton and Irish tunes. Highlight of their set was undoubtedly the performance of the Pipe Major Donald MacLeod piobaireachd, Caber Feidh Gu Brath, in tribute to late Alasdair Gillies (one of the original Spirit of Scotland members). Accompanied by photos from Alasdair’s life on the screen above the stage, this was delicate and poignant and left many in the audience with a lump in their throat the size of Pittsburgh. A rousing set of puirt a beul with Catriona Watt on vocals brought the Spirit of Scotland set to an end before the encore brought both bands on stage. This was a terrific afternoon’s entertainment with both bands in good form. More from both please! l CHRIS MACKENZIE


PIPING TODAY • 27


All photos: John Slavin@Designfolk Ltd


FESTIVAL


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