Mid Argyll Pipe Band at Golowan 2009, Penzance
In a glorious June heat wave and in one of the most stunning by-the-sea locations in the UK, Mid Argyll Pipe Band recently made its 6th visit to the Golowan Festival in Penzance, an event that must be one of the most vibrant and eclectic of summer celebrations. Celtic roots run deep between Cornwall and the west of Scotland, and nowhere could they have been more evident than in the heartfelt welcome offered to the Pipes and Drums of Mid Argyll over a spectacular weekend of stage and street performances. This is a flourishing friendship between like-minded organisations and every second year since 1998 the Pipe Band has been reinforcing its cultural links with Cornwall and the organisers of Golowan. The 2009 Festival was a resounding affirmation of this long-term collaboration.
For the first time at the Festival, Mid Argyll featured as main stage performers at The Ritz concert venue on the Saturday night. As support to London Irish folk-punk headliners Neck, Mid Argyll Pipe Band delivered a solid, assured concert set echoing the success of the acclaimed Blackwood & Hickory 80th anniversary show of 2007 back in Argyll. This is where Mid Argyll Pipe Band breaks out of march formation and showcases individual and collective talent, with traditional and new Argyll tunes taking the contemporary twist that is rapidly becoming the Bands signature. Wild Biscuit producer John Saich worked with the Band on the concert set over the weeks previous, and at The Ritz joined pipers and drummers on stage on guitar and drum loops for the 50 minute show, which included several pieces from the Blackwood & Hickory CD released last year. With jaws dropped and roof raised, the buzz continued around Penzance long into Sunday and, by all accounts, for days thereafter.
In addition to the Saturday concert the Band excelled with a number of marches and outdoor performances around Penzance over the whole weekend, leading the Mazey Day parade through the packed streets of Penzance. Now back at base, Mid Argyll has a number of profile engagements coming up including Morvern Highland Games. Go to our Events page for further information.
