Hawick Buskers Festival

[cessna152towser]

This year the traditional Hawick Jazz Festival weekend has been rebranded as Hawick Buskers' Festival and opened up to include other kinds of music than jazz.

The Saturday of the event always sees lots of street musicians out and about and the first piper I encountered was outside the entrance to Morrisons supermarket.

Can anyone identify which kind of pipes these are?

There were quite a few kilts to be seen in the High Street. As it was another scorcher of a day I wore my lightweight polycotton McKenzie, having taken advice from the forum and purchased a leather sporran belt as the sporran chain threatened to cut right through the very thin polycotton after only a few outings.

[cessna152towser]

With local musician Rob Nicholson

Many of the musicians wore these baseball caps with saltire motif, as seen on this young accordionist.

Young local drummers.

Pipes and Drums. The kilts in the foreground are Hawick tartan.

More traditional fare for this annual event - jazz musicians at the Trinity Gardens bandstand.

I had been asked by the organisers to participate by doing a half hour or so of piping at the event and had to tell them that I don't currently have bagpipes. However I made my first tentative steps back into piping by purchasing a practice chanter and Logan's pipe tutor from the local music shop.

I'll soon get the hang of this again - its been four or five years since I last played!

[GMan]

I love going to festivals whilst Kilted, especially Celtic oriented ones. These pictures show me why I like them. Oh and good luck on renewing your musical talents.

[Hamish]

I had been asked by the organisers to participate by doing a half hour or so of piping at the event and had to tell them that I don't currently have bagpipes. However I made my first tentative steps back into piping by purchasing a practice chanter and Logan's pipe tutor from the local music shop.

I'll soon get the hang of this again - its been four or five years since I last played!

Looks like a day of fun up there on the streets of Hawick, Alex. We never have anything like that down here - trouble with living in the country I guess!

I was amused by seeing your bagpipe tutor. It is precisely the one that I have, and have had for thirty-odd years - it must be a classic. Of course, you have played before and so I guess you'll find it easy. Unfortunately, I could get nowhere with it at all, but then I cannot read music and never could, not even in my choir days or piano lesson days!! Good luck with it - you and Porrick will be able to give us piping duets at next year's Ferintosh Burns weekend(s)!!

[PS: The Hawick tartan is absolutely gorgeous ....... must make a note!]

[walkerk]

Thanks for the pictures. Looks like you had a splendid day.

The pipes in question appear to be a type of Northumbrian Smallpipe. Here's a link: http://www.hotpipes.com/pipe0018.html

[Andrew Breecher]

The pipes in question appear to be a type of Northumbrian Smallpipe. Here's a link: http://www.hotpipes.com/pipe0018.html

The pipes are similar to - but simpler than - the Irish uilleann pipes, which also have additional regulators on which there are stops, and the knee is also used to play.

Andrew.

[BEEDEE]

Photo 1 & 2 pipes look like Northumbrian Small Pipes. The chanter looks like it is keyed, which is typical of them.

Brian

[ChromeScholar]

Good pics. I love jazz festivals.

[ccga3359]

Thanks for the pics Alex. i do hope you're able to get back into the pipes.

[McClef]

Nice to see some other kilts aboot in Hawick Alex

Best of luck with your new chanter - I must get down to some serious practice with mine.