More European travels for the band recently as we returned to a couple of our favorite gigs from the past. As we mentioned previously, Ljubjana, capital of Slovenia, was where the band first performed with the addition of a guitarist and drumkit player so it was with great pleasure that we returned there to perform again for the Chivas whisky group. Always a great night with Chivas and the hospitality is second to none (as long as you like whisky!).

From Slovenia, we travelled on to Luxembourg and a return to the Zeltik Festival. Last year, organizer John Rech made sure we were well looked after and had a great time so we were delighted to return this year to fill the headline slot. Carlos Nunez played a brilliant set before us and the packed Zeltik tent had a fantastic atmosphere when we came on. We were pleased to be joined onstage by some of the members of the Luxembourg Pipe Band, who we had met last year. Thanks to everyone involved who made this yet another memorable trip for the band.

Back home the following week, and we had a special performance at the Gleneagles hotel with opera singer Tony Henry. Black and red was the theme of the evening and the guests got a real treat. Alongside the sumptuous surroundings and lovely dinner at the hotel, they got to enjoy performances from both acts as well as ask questions, making a much more intimate experience. The evening culminated with us getting Tony up on stage with us to sing Auld Lang Syne and, of course We Will Rock You!

The 2009 tour is now well under way and began a couple of weeks in Pitlochry. This was one of the fastest selling gigs and we had two sell out evening performances and added a matinee on the Sunday. The crowds were all great and it was good for us to be able to start off the tour with three gigs in the same venue. The first night nerves were soon shaken off and we settled into some great performances that put us in good spirits for the rest of the tour.

The following weekend and we were clocking up the miles again. After a corporate gig at Stirling Castle on the Wednesday night, we rendezvoused with the Chillibago and travelled through the night down to Porthcawl, in the South of Wales. Derek Smith, organizer of the Cwlwm Celtaidd festival was there to meet us in the morning and we were able to get a few hours sleep before the soundcheck. The Pavillion in Porthcawl provided a lovely venue for us and a great debut in Wales. The Welsh are obviously one of our Celtic cousins and we could see a kinship with the reaction we got from the crowd. We must thank Derek and his team for looking after us, but unfortunately our visit had to be quite a short one.

After the gig finished on the Thursday night, we boarded the Chillibago again and travelled through the night to the next leg of our Scottish tour in Oban, quite a journey! Arriving in a windy Oban in the morning, we had some time to relax and enjoy some of the local mussels before setting up at the Corran halls for that evening. We’ve had some great times in Oban, including this same gig last year and a fantastic Hogmanay, and this trip was no exception. We’re having a great time involving the youth pipe bands as we travel around and support was provided this time by the Oban High School Pipe Band, who also returned to join us on stage later for Highland Cathedral and the Hills of Argyll. Following them was guitar and fiddle duo Stevie Lawrence and Fiona Cuthill who put on a great performance, before Stevie does a quick change to join us on stage!

The following night we were in Dunoon and were joined at the Queens Hall by the Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band. Yet another fantastic night as we played to the packed out hall.

We’d like to thank everyone that has attended the tour so far and we’ve still got more gigs to come and we look forward to seeing you in Inverness, Arbroath, Galashiels, Dunfermline and Glasgow, see you there!

Chillipiper x