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History Competitions in piping, fiddling and playing the clàrsach or Gaelic harp have a long history with the clans. For example, the MacLeods on the Isle-of-Skye held piping contests in the Great Hall of Dunvegan Castle. The first piping contests to be held in the Scottish Lowlands were not seen until the year 1781. These took place at a huge cattle fair known as the Falkirk Tryst, where all the pipers were Highland drovers who had brought their cattle down from the North. The Act of Proscription, in 1746, forbade Highlanders to bear arms, to play the bagpipe, to speak their ancient, classical language of Gaelic, to wear tartan, or even to gather in groups. Almost 40 years elapsed before the Act of Proscription was repealed. During that time, much of Scotland's predominantly Gaelic culture was lost.  The Emerald Coast Pipes and Drums The Emerald Coast Pipes and Drums is the bagpipe band for the Fort Walton Beach area and much of Northwest Florida. Her kilt-clad bagpipers will serenade you and yours with traditional Celtic tunes at your office, business or private party location. You can "Pay the piper" or get Pipe and drum ensembles that are louder, and somewhat costlier. Emerald Coast Pipes and Drums' Pipe Major is Les Matheson. Website: http://members.cox.net/ecpipesanddrums  McGuire's Pipe Band - “The Bagpipe Show Band of the South” McGuire's Pipes and Drums was formed in 1988 under the sponsorship of McGuire's Irish Pub and Restaurant. This group of dedicated pipers and drummers is known throughout the Southeast for their crisp military appearance, their precision marching and their wide repertoire of music, ranging from traditional Scottish/Irish tunes to classic show tunes and everything in between. The band has performed at every major Highland game and Celtic festival in the southeast and has won top band honors in their category at games in Alabama, Stone Mountain, Orlando, and Sarasota. The band proudly wears the tartan of McDonald, Lord of the Isle, selected for its unique design and Emerald Isle color. http://www.mcguirespipeband.net.  Panama City Pipes and Drums performs at many community events in the Panama City area. Founded in 1998, Panama City Pipes and Drums was the first pipe band to be formed in this part of Florida. The band started with a group of 5 and has grown to a corps of 21 playing members and a further 7 students in training. Marching in uniforms of Prince Charles Edward Stewart Kilts and Plaids, the band has been well received by the thousands of people attending such events as the P C Jaycees Christmas Parade, the City of Lynn Haven 4th of July Parade, the Veterans Day Parade, the Port St. Joe Scallop Festival and the Apalachicola Seafood Festival to name but a few. They have performed for many local schools both as a band and as individual musicians. They support local law enforcement & fire departments by providing pipers for memorials and other occasions. The band travels to various Scottish festivals and Highland Games held throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Website: http://www.PC-Pipes.com 
Duel Christian Duel Christian is a singer, multi-instrumentalist- folklorist who has been entertaining at festivals and in pubs from Raleigh, NC to West Palm Beach, FL, and points in between for some years. His sense of humor shines through as he sings songs and spins yarns from his childhood in Western Australia, through his adulthood in the Southern US. Duel collects song from Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and the Canadian Maritimes as well. Audiences always leave his shows having laughed, sighed, and take away a bit of knowledge of the lands of which he sings.  Smithfield Fair Now in its 20th year, Smithfield Fair has become recognized as one of the foremost presenters of traditionally-based Scottish music in North America. Their original songs have contributed to the rich heritage of songwriting in both North American and Scotland. This family quartet of husband-and-wife Dudley-Brian and Jan Smith, brother Bob Smith and nephew Frang Bladen perform across North America. Smithfield Fair performs extensively and utilizes history and stories of the Highlands in presentation with the music to give audiences a better understanding of the culture behind the music. Their website is http://www.SmithfieldFair.com.  The Tinkers A passion for music and life. The love of lyric and melody that’s born in the blood. The blood of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. That’s The Tinkers! Celebrate the heritage of the Celtic soul. From ancient battle songs to heartfelt ballads. From beautiful lyrics to pagan drums, original and traditional, it all fits in a Tinkers show. “Our Celtic Roots” ,The Tinkers CD is available at our shows!  The Wyndbreakers Ennis Pruitt, Amy Pruitt, Craig Thomas, and Steve Brewer have been playing Celtic music in Florida since 1986. Traditional Scottish and Irish tunes are played on acoustic guitar, fiddle, bouzouki, bodhran, flute, low high whistles. Kilts and tams abound! Florida's high-tech, low brow, pub rockin', neo-traditional, mandolin wranglin, blatantly harmonizin', underpriced, nearly acoustic, sorta not, modern retro, flute envying, family oriented yet vaguely bawdy, born on the wrong continent, string plucking, frozen snottered, fiddle bowing, audience interactive, good and I mean it buddy, incessantly rambling, Scottish/Irish/Ceilidh band! At the highland games they play Scottish music in a fun, happy, and exciting way...the Wyndbreaker's versions of traditional tunes. And between songs it's jokes, historical anecdotes, and just plain fun. Website: http://www.Wyndbreakers.com |