Black Watch 2016 North American tour

**OC Richard** · 18th June 15, 03:51 AM

Just yesterday I got in the mail the programme for the 2016 season at The Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts and guess what I see?

http://www.cerritoscenter.com/ticket...nSeasonId=4968

I'm thrilled to be able to see The Black Watch again! (3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland as they now are titled.)

Their 1976 North American tour was the first time I had seen an actual British military pipe band, and produced in me an enthusiasm for that sort of thing which has never diminished.

In that photo The Black Watch are wearing mufti, which they wear when competing at Highland Games in Britain. During their last tour they wore their traditional Full Dress. It's an old photo because their former Pipe Major Scott Taylor wasn't leading the band yet, he's back in the 2nd rank. Is the PM still Keith Grisdale?

Makes me wonder when the various Pipes & Drums will be put into generic kit. When I ask British military pipers they say it's coming but they don't know when. But for now only the Pipes & Drums retain the traditional kit of their old units, with all the "tribal" oddities such as the square-toed spats of The Black Watch.

Here's the old thread about their last tour, in 2013

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...chedule-77611/

I've tried not to miss any of these tours, since the first one I attended in 1976, and I always get the programmes.

I have:
BW & Royal Marines 1976
Scots Guards & Grenadier Guards 1977
BW (pipe band and brass band) 1979
RSDG & Coldstream Guards 1981
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders & Royal Marines 1985
Gordon Highlanders & Grenadier Guards 1987
RSDG 1988
BW (pipe band) & Argylls (brass band) 1989
Queens Own Highlanders & Coldstream Guards 1991
Argylls & Princess of Wales & Royal Anglian 1993
BW, Life Guards, Blues & Royals 1995
RSDG (no date on programme, 2002?)
BW & Welsh Guards 2006
RSDG & Coldstream Guards 2008
5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argylls) & Irish Guards 2009
? (I know I went to one around 2011, can't find the programme)
3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (BW) 2013

**plaid preacher** · 18th June 15, 06:56 AM

Thank you, Richard. After an exceedingly frustrating search I was able to find that they will be at Massey Hall in Toronto on Jan 31 @ 7 pm. I'm afraid I could not find a list of concert dates, but did finally find their appearance here.

Perhaps we can get together some of the rabble for a night on the town. It would be great to get back into that venerable concert hall. Anyone else from Ontario looking to attend?

**OC Richard** · 18th June 15, 06:31 PM

You're welcome!

Perhaps we could get a few Orange County kilties to gather at a pub after the Cerritos concert

**seanachie** · 18th June 15, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

You're welcome!

Perhaps we could get a few Orange County kilties to gather at a pub after the Cerritos concert

While we have not formally met, I saw you at the last Tour you alluded to in 2013. You were speaking to one of the Pipers just prior to myself. I am tentatively planning on being there for the Cerritos date. If there is a venue within reasonable distance I am interested for sure.

**OC Richard** · 19th June 15, 04:20 AM

Cool!

I don't know the area- I'm down in Tustin- but Googling shows that around 4 miles away, in Los Alamitos, there's a place called Brew Kitchen Ale House, sort of a gastro-pub it seems.

Nine miles away there's Maggie's Pub in Santa Fe Springs. If it's the place I'm thinking of, it's been around a long time and I've been there a number of times over the years, playing there etc.

Closer back to my home, around ten miles from Cerritos, there's my usual stomping grounds The Old Ship (Fullerton) which is a true British Pub.

**AFS1970** · 19th June 15, 06:12 AM

So far not much on Google about this tour. It seems to be lot's of old links and of course this thread. Apparently you have to look at the venue and not the band.

**Michael Weatherhead** · 20th October 15, 01:33 AM

Years ago, while in college, I attended a performance by two British military bands. I wish I could remember which ones they were (it was almost 30 years ago). The first band to march into the gym, and play, was a marching band, from an English regiment. They were great to watch, all in step, with sharp uniforms, red coats, etc. But, for me, marching band music (horns, etc) is ho-hum. After they finished, in marched the Scottish pipe band (again, I don't remember which regiment they were from). But wow, their sound filled the gymnasium. There is nothing like it! My roommate and I stood up, waving my saltire and rampant lion flags (which I had bought in a souvenir shop in Glasgow). Makes your celtic blood stir within you, doesn't it?!

**argyle24** · 27th October 15, 07:14 AM

I'm looking forward to seeing them in Lansing, MI in January. Our dance group may also have the opportunity to perform in the lobby prior to the show as well (fingers crossed)

**plaid preacher** · 27th October 15, 10:01 AM

I have plans to see them at Massey Hall in Toronto at the end of January. A friend and I already have tickets in the front row of the balcony. I hope perhaps some of the other lads from here abouts may be in attendance.