Piping festival sells twice as many tickets as last year

Saturday 11 August 2012

GLASGOW'S world famous Piping Live!

MASSED BAND: Pipers on parade filling the streets of Glasgow with the sound of music. DRUM MINOR: Sophie Houston from Gourock keeps time with piper Callum Smith, 15. Picture Jamie Simpson. MASSED BANDS: Pipers on parade fill the streets of Glasgow with the sound of music.

Custom byline text:

LALITA AUGUSTINE

festival has been declared a huge success, with sales of tickets almost double that of last year.

More than 30,000 people have been drawn to the annual event which attracts pipers and drummers from across the globe.

The annual festival, now in its ninth year, comes to a climax this weekend as The World Pipe Band Championships arrive at Glasgow Green.Expected to compete are more than 200 bands from 12 nations, with 8000 musicians battling it out for the top prize.The competition, known as The Worlds, has been associated with Glasgow for more than 60 years and about 50,000 spectators are expected to attend.Piping Live! runs until Sunday and thousands have visited Glasgow for the traditional sights and sounds of Scotland with more than 150 free and ticketed events taking place throughout the week – including concerts, recitals, competitions, ceilidhs, free pipe band tasters at George Square and come-and-try sessions.Studies show The Worlds generates £10 million for the Scottish economy and it is expected Piping Live! will pull in an additional £2.1m in tourism revenue.Around 75% of visitors have come from outside Glasgow and more than a quarter from overseas.Ian Embelton, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said: "We are looking forward to another amazing World Pipe Band Championships. "We have had some outstanding championships in recent years and I know the bands love coming to Glasgow Green every year to compete. "There is nothing to match the sights and sounds of The Worlds and there is something for everyone to enjoy."Roddy MacLeod, director of Piping Live! added: "Tickets for our evening concerts have almost doubled on 2011."The glorious sunshine has seen George Square and the Street Café at the National Piping Centre packed out every day, as people enjoy performances by some of the best pipers and bands from around the globe." Councillor Sadie Docherty, Lord Provost of Glasgow City Council, said the city had taken the event to its heart.She said: "It continues to put Glasgow at the very centre of the piping world and we've enjoyed welcoming tens of thousands of international visitors throughout the week."

Additional Images:

Contextual targeting label:

Arts and Entertainment

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Piping festival sells twice as many tickets as last year

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED