"Cookie Cutter" Pipe Band Dress

**Andrew M. Stewart** · 16th June 10, 11:33 AM

The thing with the Argyll vest and short sleeve shirts is that it's more comfortable to play in. Full dress (spats, full plaids, doublets etc) is totally uncomfortable to play in and very hot as well. You've got to remember that playing the pipes is quite a workout. The tartans that a lot of bands play are quite common tartans as well but it cost a lot of money to outfit a band and to use rare select tartan is an extra cost. As far as most bands are concerned it is the music that you are playing that is on show not the uniform that you are wearing. Some solo competitors are pretty elaborate like Gordon Walker and the Late John D. Burgess but I think most pipers would agree that if you want to stick out like them you'd better be able to play like them too!

**Macman** · 16th June 10, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew M. Stewart

What band are you in Macman??

Andrew, I'm in the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band (along with your teacher and his dad!).

**Andrew M. Stewart** · 16th June 10, 01:31 PM

Great!! is Jim Maxwell still in the band? He and I started piping around the same time and both took lessons from Steve Kelly. I take lessons from Jamie now once a week on Skype. I also bought my pipes from Mr. Troy sr.

**Macman** · 16th June 10, 01:56 PM

Yes, Jim is still with the band. I think he's still taking lessons from Steve Kelly. Jim is also the Chairman of the Victoria Highland Games Association. He's a great guy. It's a small world.

**BoldHighlander** · 16th June 10, 02:09 PM

I posted these in my photo thread of the Bellingham Games, but thought I'd add them here, just for comparison/conversation sake

I'm not sure exactly who was whom (or if all the bands were represented), but the following pipe bands attended this year:

Bellingham Pipe Band
Chilliwack & District Pipe Band
Dowco Triumph Street
Fraser Valley Youth Pipe Band
Greighlan Crossing Pipe Band
Keith Highlanders
New Westminster Police Pipe Band
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade - IV
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade - V
Portland Metro Pipe Band
Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band - III
Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band - IV
Simon Fraser University Pipe Band
Washington Scottish Pipe Band
White Spot Pipe Band - IV
White Spot Pipe Band - V

Portland Metro:

Not sure, but I think this is the Bellingham Pipe Band
(**if not please let me know so I can correct the caption in my B'ham Games thread. Thanks):

Simon Fraser U's pipers:

**BoldHighlander** · 16th June 10, 02:10 PM

SFU's drummers:

another view of SFU's drummers:

**Semiomniscient** · 16th June 10, 02:23 PM

I've enjoyed this thread. I'm not in a band, but our Caledonian society sponsors one. They have a uniform much like everyone else except right now they wear their own tartan kilts. They've started discussion about getting all matching kilts (possibly Fergusson tartan). I'm not a big fan of the idea, how much of a factor is this type of thing in competition?

**OC Richard** · 18th June 10, 05:46 AM

Thanks Terry for those photos!

What struck me is how many bands have red tartans in ancient or weathered or muted colours. That seems to be the trend, I think.

I see few bands anymore in tartans in modern colours.

Back 20 or 30 years ago most bands were wearing Royal Stewart or MacLean of Duart or MacPherson or Drummond of Perth or other red tartans in modern colours, or one of the blue/green tartans like Gordon or MacKenzie likewise in modern colours.

**Trey** · 26th October 10, 06:44 PM

Ha! well at least nobody will be seen wearing my tartan! if you do however see anyone draped in the West Point Tartan please say hi for me!

**wildrover** · 27th October 10, 08:12 AM

I know this is an older thread, but...

Originally Posted by Semiomniscient

I've enjoyed this thread. I'm not in a band, but our Caledonian society sponsors one. They have a uniform much like everyone else except right now they wear their own tartan kilts. They've started discussion about getting all matching kilts (possibly Fergusson tartan). I'm not a big fan of the idea, how much of a factor is this type of thing in competition?

It really isn't. There is no "dress" category on the judge's sheet, and while it's been griped about, it would detract from the real focus, which is the music. D&D (local to me) doesn't have a matching kilt among them, unless two people pulled from the same rack...but they are consistently #1 or #2 in the area, and sound quite good.