From 10.30-11.45am, we'll be running a workshop 'Introducing the Bagpipes' at St Peter's Church, by the Cross, in the centre of Chester. We'll be playing tunes, revealing the history of the instrument and letting people have a try for themselves.
At 12.15pm we'll be setting off from the Cross for a 'Pipers Perambulation' through the city and along the walls. It should catch people's attention and hopefully raise the profile of the instrument. Here's some of the pipers and other musicians enjoying a similar procession last summer as part of the Minstrels' Court event.
At 3pm there will be piping in the pub at the Cross Keys on the corner of Lower Bridge Street and Duke Street. Other instruments are welcome too, we should have a friendly session there.
Then at 7.30, the main event will be a special concert at the Grosvenor Museum, entitled Bagpipolorum!, featuring bagpipes from across Europe and tunes from medieval to modern. We're very excited to be joined by the wonderful Blast from the Past, with their lively, upbeat versions of traditional tunes. Chester's own Time Bandits will present Renaissance dance tunes and Anglo-European Folk. Mike Billington of Corvus, will be showcasing the Spanish gaita, Hungarian duda and Bulgarian gaida, and there will be performance from the Chester Dudey Quartet on their sweet sounding Renaissance smallpipes made by Sean Jones. There will also be folk tales of pipers.
If you'd like to join us for the concert, then do come along, doors open 7pm and piping starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5. Take your chance on the door, or email pilgrimandposies@aol.com to reserve a ticket.
If you can't get to Chester then there are also exciting happenings at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford and across the world too. Happy bagpiping!