By Rod Hutton
Dunnottar Pipes & Drums finished off 2024 in style by playing at the Stonehaven Fireballs on Hogmanay,
and this event capped off a hectic year for the band.
The full band, a mini-band or representatives from the band took part in at least 34 separate events.
These have included amongst other things: four highland games, four local fairs or galas, two appearances on the radio, one engagement proposal, two weddings and a funeral.
The summer season started in earnest in early May when the band was asked to perform at a 50th birthday party at a marquee overlooking Dunnottar Castle – an appropriate first engagement.
From late May onwards most weekends were busy with events mainly around the Stonehaven area;
playing at the opening of the Feein’ Market, the Stonehaven Open Air Pool, the Harbour Festival, and
various school fairs, village shows and parades.
During the Euro 2024 football fest a selection of members who can cope with an early start played on
Northsound 1’s Breakfast Show to crank up the atmosphere ahead of Scotland playing Germany in the
opening match.
The band also played prior to the game at the Stonehaven Midsummer Beer Happening in front of a fever
pitch crowd to bring some good luck to the boys in dark blue.
Result: Germany 5, Scotland 1. We are a pipeband, not miracle workers.
At the same beer festival younger members even serenaded a marriage proposal from an Italian visitor to
his sweetheart while they were on holiday in Stonehaven. She said “Si!” to everyone’s relief.
Summer also brought the Highland Games circuit and the band played at Drumtochty, Stonehaven and
Aboyne, culminating in performing at Braemar in front of King Charles III, Dame Judi Dench and Stephen
Fry and a few thousand others in tropical temperatures.
The band held a hugely successful fundraising ceilidh in November in Stonehaven Town Hall. And tickets
are also on general sale for another fundraiser on March 8th in the same venue – a concert by the
sensational Stonehaven covers band Voodoo Vibe. If you love hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s, get yourself
along…!
As the year closed, the band played at the Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Stonehaven, the
switch-on of the Aberdeen and Stonehaven Christmas lights…and of course the Hogmanay Fireballs
celebration.
The band is available to hire for events, and is always looking for new members, both beginners and more
experienced pipers and drummers so please get in touch if you are interested at:
dunnottarpipesanddrums@gmail.com