Pipes and Trad Music Fest - Scottish Schools Pipes & Drums Trust

The Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust have hosted a brand new open-air music festival in taking place in June.

The event programme sees performances from pipe bands, ceilidh and traditional music groups with school age performers. Displays take place at The Mound Precinct in Edinburgh. This iconic venue gives young musicians the opportunity to entertain and demonstrate their playing skills next to one of the City’s busiest thoroughfares.

The festival is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain experience in performing to the public and showcase national and traditional instruments in an iconic surrounding, and is sure to delight and impress audiences passing by.

Members of the public are encouraged to make voluntary contributions during the performances, and the Trust commits to distribute all proceeds received to participating groups within a month of the festival ending.

The inaugural Festival took place from Wednesday 12th – Saturday 15th June 2024.

2024 programme

APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED

Entry Guidelines

Performing periods of up to 30-minutes each will be available in the morning and afternoons slots of each day.
Bands and groups are encouraged to consider more than one performance, to make best of your time in Edinburgh, though it is not necessary.
Bands and groups must set up, perform and depart within the 30 minute slot. We encourage as much of the slot to be entertainment and performance as possible.
The stage provided is covered, providing shelter from wind and rain.
Performances are expected to be acapella. There will be no mains or generator power on site, so if bands do wish to bring their own audio equipment they will require to be battery operated. Set up and take down of this equipment would need to be incorporated in your 30 minute slot.
Coach drops off are possible at location, parking nearby will be at band and group discretion.
There will be nearby dressing room space available if required. Each band / group will be given a timetabled slot to use the space on either side of your performance time.
Deadline for applications was 5pm on Friday 3rd May 2024.

Interested in taking part?

Please complete the application form below, which will then be considered by the committee. The deadline for this was Friday 3rd May 2024. The committee will then be in touch the week commencing the 6th May to confirm your place. Places are not guaranteed, but will be granted subject to programme availability and volume of applications.

Eligibility

Groups are to comprise a minimum of four and a maximum of thirty players.
Performers must be of school age but may be accompanied by a performing adult.
There will be no charge for the use of the venue or for event organisation but, for the most part, participating groups will be expected to fund their own expenses.

Travel Expenses Support

For groups based more than 100 miles from Edinburgh, the Trust will meet up to half of reasonable group accommodation, coach hire and ferry costs. Claimants are expected to use public transport concessions where available, and are advised to submit requests for financial help prior to booking any arrangements. Please indicate on your application form whether you expect to make a request for financial help. Please note this is not a deciding factor in whether your application is successful – SSPDT are dedicated to providing support where possible so that financial circumstances are not exclusionary for participation.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS YEAR.