Enjoy Your Piping! With Gary West

Gary West
  • 4.9 (59)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

The very best of bagpipe music from Scotland and beyond. With live sessions, news, reviews and chat.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 166 - End of BBC Coverage of the Worlds?

    Send us Fan Mail Gary brings you more great bagpipe music and discusses the future of the broadcasting of the world pipe band championships. Playlist Daimh with Locheil’s Awa tae France, MacIsaac’s Reel and De bha Sibh Ris, a Chaluim Mhoir? From The Hebridean Sessions   Ben Duncan with Rathven Market, Brae Riach, the Kitchen Maid and John Paterson’s Mare    from the Inverness Piping Society Recital February 2026   Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band with Axeman, Donald Cameron’s Powderhorn, The Cat and the Dog, Stew Piddidy’s Jig, Polyrythmically Challenged, Duncan Lamont, Blackley of Hillsdale, Sleepy Maggie and The Rejected Suitor from the World Pipe Band Championships 2006.   Gwir with Suite Bretonne from Liamm Keltiek  Willie McCallum with The Big Spree from The 25th Glenfiddich Piping Championships   Harta with Låt till Far from Harta    Links Find the Daimh Scandinavian tour and ticket details here Petition to the BBC to save their Worlds coverage  here Find information and tickets to the Ben Duncan Broughty Ferry Recital here Glenfiddich Piping Championships Info and Livestream Tickets here  Support the show

  2. Sep 30

    Episode 165 - Win a Practice Chanter!

    Send us Fan Mail Gary welcomes R G Hardie's Alistair and Isla to the bothy to catch up on news from the bagpipe factory, and look out for the chance to win a brand new Heritage Viking practice chanter. And there's more great music from the world of bagpipe, of course! Playlist Shotts and Dykehead with Carradale Bay, Arnish Light, Clueless, Philip Greer’s Big Week and Bessie McIntyre from Rise   Xavier Boderiou, Sylvain Barou and Antoine Lahay with Kernivingan Plinn from Liamm Duncan Johnstone with Pipe Major James MacGregor, Malcolm Johnstone and The Rakes of Kildare from Bows and Drones   Neil Johnstone with Fair Pat of the Bens, The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman, The Shepherd’s Crook and Put Me in the Great Chest from Bows and Drones   Colin Stetson and Brighde Chaimbeul with Dirt Dance from All the Light in the World   P/M Ian Duncan with The Highland Wedding, Tulloch Castle and John Morrison of Assynt House from The Piping Centre 1997 Recital Series Vol 4.  Links See the fantastic RG Hardie practice chanter you can win here Check out or buy All the Light in the World from Coliin Stetson and Brighde Chaimbeul here Support the show

  3. Sep 23

    Episode 164 - Last Ferry to Raasay

    Send us Fan Mail Gary completes his main coverage of this year's Raasay Restitution Competition 2026  with another full programme of highlights from Raasay House. Playlist Angus Nicolson with Nach Dannsa a’Mhinistear?, Jimmy Ward, Scare o Tatties and Nighean a Cailleach from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording Rachel Gray with Mairi Bhan a Bhanaroch (Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch), Aird Ranters, Dolina MacKay, Cota Mor Ealasaid and Brown Haired Maid from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Decker Forrest with 'S fhada mar seo a tha sinn, 's gun bhiadh 's gun deoch, a' feitheamh air droch phàigheadh (Too long in this condition) from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   James Duncan MacKenzie with Price of A Pig, Mrs Campbell of Shinness and Trad from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording    Ciar Milne with  Bha Mo Leannan Ann from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Fionnlagh Mac a’Phiocair with Tàladh Dhòmhnaill Ghuirm from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording    Fionnlagh Mac a’Phiocair with Siud Mar Chaidh An Càl A  Dholaidh (That's how the Kale was Burnt),  Craig A' Bhodaich, This is How The Ladies Dance, Loch An Duin, Thoir A-Nall Ailean Thugam, Bodaich Odhar Hoghaigearraidh – (Defies direct translation (to me, maybe consult the mafia) - just a cracking North Uist Puirt) from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Gary West with Mi Le M’uilinn Air Mo Ghluin from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording    Hazel Whyte with The Silent Performer, Rocking the Baby and Boys of Ballymote from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Finlay Cameron with The Campbells of Bohuntin, Glen Roy (Bruce Cameron, NZ), Bogan Lochan Strathspey, Bogan Lochan Reel, Malt on the Optic (Hamish Moore), Piper Chris McCartney's Wedding Reel (A.T. Cameron, NZ) and The Flowing Bowl from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Cameron MacNeil with I Would Have Preferred You First, but Now Now Sir, Ryan Lamey’s Jig, The Tripper’s Jig and Ceolas Craic from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Ailis Sutherland with A’Mhisg a Chuir an Nollaig Oirn, Steve and Diane’s, Seana Bhean a’Cheannaich, Bual Suas na Maidean, Tha Toll air a’Bhata and the Sisters’ Reel from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording         Support the show

  4. Sep 16

    Episode 163 - Raasay 2026 Revisited

    Send us Fan Mail Gary brings you more highlights from this year's Raasay Restitution contest, and bids farewell to two giants of the piping scenes of Scotland and Ireland. Playlist Ciar Milne with The Road to Callanish (Jonathan Corum), The Tailor’s Wedding and Piobaireachd Dhomhnaill Duibh from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording Ciar Milne with Margaret Mary Findlay’s (Ciar Milne), Munlochy Bridge, Maggie Cameron, Am Muileann Dubh, Kale and Pudding, ’n Cambealach Dubh [Roy’s Wife], Miss Girdleand Sonia and Peter’s Wedding Reel (Ciar Milne)from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording Ailis Sutherland with Oran an Roin from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording Cameron MacNeil with Glentilt Lodge, Editor’s Favourite, Traditional Reel, The Smith’s Burn, Miss Charlotte’s Reel, Angus the Winemaker’s Reel (Kinnon Beaton) and Cailleach Liath Ratharsaigh from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording British Caledonian Airways Pipe Band with the Clan MacRae Society, the Caledonian Society of London and Mrs MacPherson of Inveran from the World Pipe Band Championships 1988 Paddy Glackin and Paddy Keenan with the Mountain Road and the Congress Reel from Doublin’   James Duncan MacKenzie with Failte Dhruim Fionn from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording James Duncan MacKenzie with Rothiemurchus rant, Innse dhomhsa cail thu cadal, Mac an Irish, Sound of Sleat, Mackinnon’s and The Oban Ball from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Fionnlagh Mac a’Phiocair with Brose & Butter, G' oman Nan Gamhan 'S mi Muladach (Tending The Steer with A Heavy Heart) and Nach Danns A' Mhinistear? (Would The Minister Not Dance?) This is How The Ladies Dance from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Support the show

  5. Sep 9

    Episode 162 - the Raasay Restitution 2026

    Send us Fan Mail Join Gary as he invites you to the beautiful Isle of Raasay to take in the first instalment of highlights from this year's piobaireachd song and dance music contest which was held there on the 5th of September. Playlist Angus Nicolson with Togail a’Bhuntata, Keep the Country Bonnie Lass, Willie Macfarlane’s, Chuckie MacLennan’s and the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Welcome to Shetland from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording.   Rachel Gray with Cumha Iain Garbh Mhic Gille Chalum Rathasair from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording.   Gary West with the Steamboat, The Stool of Repentance, Calliope House and The Kitchen Maid from from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording.   Gary West with the Cameronian Rant (strathspey and 2 parts of the reel), Lexy MacAskill and Jenny Dang the Weaver from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording.   Angus MacColl with The Old wife of the Milldust and Skye from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Angus MacColl with Cherede Darievea from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Angus MacColl with trad strathspey, Lady Louden, Highland Harry, Braes o’ Mar, Moonshine, Room 35, The Road to Benderloch and Dr Neil Bennett’s Reel from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording       Hazel Whyte with Fhuair mi Pog air Lamh an Righ from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Hazel Whyte with Whistle O’er the Lave O’t, Castle Craig, Stumpie, The Reel of Tulloch, The Reel of Tulloch- Modulation, The Shetland Reel, Buntàta’s Sgadan and the Pitnacree Ferryman from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Decker Forrest with A' bhean a bh' aig an Tàilleir chaoil, Chan eil fonn air an nighean dubh, Am muillean dubh, An oidhche a bha nan gobhair again, Cabar feidh and Mòrag a bha san Rudha from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Finlay Cameron with Achadh nan Cnò from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording   Finlay Cameron with Up Leitrim, The price of a pig and PM Jimmy MacGregor from the Raasay Restitution Contest 2026, EYP Recording Support the show

  6. Sep 2

    Episode 161 - the Captain John MacLellan Recital Challenge 2026

    Send us Fan Mail It's piobaireachd all the way this week as Gary brings you the four full performances from this year's Captain John gathering at the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh. Playlist Craig Sutherland with For My Lass, Fair, Pretty and Highand from Capt John A MacLellan MBE Piobaireachd Recital and Dinner, EYP Recording, August 2026.   Callum Beaumont with Salute to the Succession from Capt John A MacLellan MBE Piobaireachd Recital and Dinner, EYP Recording, August 2026.   Cameron Drummond with A Lullaby for Iain, from Capt John A MacLellan MBE Piobaireachd Recital and Dinner, EYP Recording, August 2026.   Derek Midgely with a Welcome for Patrick Struan Capt John A MacLellan MBE Piobaireachd Recital and Dinner, EYP Recording, August 2026. Links The Raasay Restitution Contest 2026 Ticket Link Support the show

  7. Aug 26

    Episode 160 - The Raven

    Send us Fan Mail More great music from the world of bagpipes, hosted by Gary West. Playlist The Angus Nicholson Trio with The Primrose Lass from Sealladh Ard Billy Pigg with Archie’s Fancy and Holy Ha’penny from Northumberland Rant   Cillian Vallely with the Bull’s March set from the Raven’s Rock   The Scottish Power Pipe Band with P/S John Barclay and Rab’s Wedding from Cathcart   The Old Blind Dogs with  the Harris Dance Set from Four on the Floor   Captain John A MacLellan with Cabar Feidh (strathspey), The Piper’s Bonnet, Cabar Feidh (reel)  and the Smith of Chilliechassie from Scottish Bagpipe Music    Malin Lewis with You are Not Alone from Halocline   Robert Watt with Leaving Barra, Soraidh Leis an Aite, Teann a’Nall, Crossing the Minch and the Mason’s Apron from Live in Uist and Barra   Support the show

  8. Aug 19

    Episode 159 - The Melody Lab

    Send us Fan Mail Gary reflects on this year's Piping Live and the World Pipe Band Championships, while bringing you more great music from the world of bagpipes. Playlist Fras with Jonny O’Sullivan’s, the Youngest Daughter and West Mabou Reel from Dile   Simon Fraser University Pipe Band with Tom Wilson, Miss Sharon Duthart, The Hag at the Churn, Scatter the Mud, Oor Ain Fireside, MacBeth’s Strathspey, T Bowen’s Reel, the Periwig and the Back of the Moon from World Pipe Band Championships 1995   Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies with Mrs John MacColl, Tulloch Castle and Dr MacPhail’s Reel from the Glenfiddich Piping Championship 1998   James Harper with Mabou (single release)    Donald MacPherson with MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart from Donald MacPherson: a Living Legend Tune Book with Billy and Carmel’s 25th Wedding Anniversary, Alex Ferguson’s Welcome to Ceolas and Last Night in Rodden’s from Melody Lab   Support the show

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4.9
out of 5
59 Ratings

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The very best of bagpipe music from Scotland and beyond. With live sessions, news, reviews and chat.

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