Kilt ‘O the Falls 

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I just wanted to thank Bill, Dennis, Ron, and Iain for showing up, helping man the band’s tent, answer the numerous questions from the public, and playing in the massed band today. We got a lot of really great exposure, a bunch of people interested in playing with the band, and hopefully an annual event that we can stay active with while benefiting both of our groups. Being able to network with other pipers and drummers from around the state was also a side benefit.

Also, be sure to tell Tim thanks for coming up with the idea and chairing the games. He and the board did a great job of getting the word out, getting athletes and vendors to show up, and managing to pull off an event of a nature I never imagined we would see here in Great Falls.

So thanks again to everyone that helped, and let’s hope that all the people who said they were going to come to a practice actually show up!

Kilt ‘O the Falls Highland Games and Gathering August 27, 2016

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The Kilt ‘O the Falls Highland Games and Gathering will occur tomorrow from 9am – 5pm (see schedule below) in the field behind the Great Falls Scottish Rite.

The band will be participating in the opening ceremony at 1pm and the closing ceremony at 4:30pm. We will need to meet no later than 12:30pm to get ready for the opening ceremony.

The uniform for the day will be spats, diced hose, kilt, horse hair sporran, belt, white shirt and Glen Garry. If you don’t happen to have something, wear what you have.

This is going to be a fairly large event with clans, vendors, beer tent, live music, highland athletics, and of course the pipes and drums. We will have members from both the Billings Caledonia Pipe Band and the Celtic Dragon Pipe Band from Missoula attending, and my have others show up as well, so it will be a great chance to meet other players and do some in-state networking.

There will also be a solo piping competition that is occuring from about 9:30am, so if you are interested stop down and listen, or even better, compete!

The schedule of events:
9:00 – Gate opens, Games begin, Solo piping registration
9:30 – Solo Piping Competition Begins
11:00 – Piping Workshop
11:30 – Russell Country Cloggers
12:00 – Rare Ould Times
12:30 – Form up for Opening Ceremony
1:00 – Parade of the Clans
1:30 – Great Falls Pipeband Tent setup – Try the pipes!
2:00 – Cry of the Dear
3:00 – Thorns Among Roses
3:30 – Bonnie Knees Contest
4:00 – Thorns Among Roses
4:00 – Form up for Closing Ceremony
4:30 – Closing

This should be a good recruitment opportunity for new members, so please try and make it down to help man the tent from 1:30 – 4:00. I will have a set or two of pipes for the public to try, as well as a practice chanter and sticks and a pad for the drums.

See you tomorrow!

Bitterroot Highland Games

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This weekend saw the seventh annual Bitterroot Highland Games and Gathering held on the beautiful grounds of the Daly Mansion in Hamilton MT. Tim Stoddard and Jesse Callender competed in the solo piping competitions, played for 10-15 minutes every hour for entertainment at the event, and in the massed bands both days.

31 pipes and 11 drums at massed bands


It also saw the first public appearance of the new GFPB band tent. 

Tim talking to former GFPB associate member Mike Gillbert


There was a lot of interest in the Great Falls event, which will be occurring at the Scottish Rite this coming Saturday, and it sounds like a number of pipers from around the state will be making the trip.

(Please click the link in the email to view the pictures)