Chiff and Fipple Forums

There's a kind of intellectual snobbery going around that diminishes the contribution of the Chietains and Paddy. They've been so big that it was bound to happen. Yes. We have that here too, judging by the snorts of derision I hear when I tell people about the awards, never mind the hall of fame! A...

It's 3.13 am and I've just got in from the Scottish Traditional Music Awards in Edinburgh. One or two highlights for me, but the best was seeing Paddy Moloney inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. The show was big and flashy, so to see the man standing there on his own wi his we...

My dad and I worked out that my first whistle is between 35 and 40 years old. He thinks he inherited it from a bandmate of his who bought it back in the sixties, locked himself away for three weeks in order to learn to play it well enough to play in the band, and ended up with an ultimatum from his ...

The Footstompin forum is also a good place for information about traditional music events in Scotland.

Most of those sites are good, but check with the venue first - there can be out of date information on them.

And welcome from me too...!

The short answer would be "No", sadly. Scayles Music on West Crosscauseway used to carry some exotic (and expensive) whistles but last month, there was just a selection of Generations, Feadogs and Chieftains of all sizes. It's a while since I was in Blackfriars but I don't remember being o...

I've lived in Edinburgh since 1997 and if I was to move here now, I wouldn't be able to afford to buy anywhere to live. My wee flat has doubled in value since 1998 when I bought it. It was never cheap to buy here apparently and there's been a huge explosion in the price of property during the past f...

It's not so far from the truth. From my window at work I can see four cranes and can't walk down many streets without bumping into some kind of scaffolding or other. And as for the road works... don't get me started! It is however still the most beautiful place to live and I feel v lucky to be here....

Yes, I will be there, but only for the singing competition. And yes, from what I remember from a couple of years ago, there are loads of sessions.

Alex lives in Portknockie now, but I see him often at festivals during the summer. In fact, he was giving me a row last Saturday because I had not brought my whistle to Keith Festival and he was expecting me to be up to starting to join in sessions by now! He does a lot of work with youngsters and, ...

Because of Alex Green. Alex Green was (is) the best player of Scottish tunes on the whistle, bar none. He's getting on in years now as he will be the first to tell you, and he only has eight full fingers as the result of an accident in his youth, but his playing is still beautiful, simple and lyrica...

First check out http://www.gigguide.co.uk/ for gigs in and around Edinburgh. There is a lot on, but it seems to be getting less every year. Unfortunately the ceilidh house turned into a "It's A Scream" games pub years ago (c 2000?) and I wept. It depends whether you are looking to listen, ...

The last few times I've seen Alex play, he's used a Susato. And it looks like that's what he's playing on the cover of the CD. He's got loads of whistles mind you, and I think (but don't hold me to it) that most of them are Generations. He carries them around in an ancient, cylinder whisky tin. He's...

Thanks all for your responses. I've been offered a Bb by a piper pal of mine, so I shall give that a go. I hesitate to ask but, should my latent WhOA kick in, would any of you care to recommend a high end Bb or Bb/A set? PS: Colin - I go past that establishment every day - I'm sure I can make the ti...

Thank you for that Zubivka. I saw Claire Mann playing an F whistle at a concert last night and I was entranced by the sound, so that might be the way to start.

I have Ds (many, lurking in drawers and down the back of the settee) but I am really looking for an excuse to buy a new, lower and more mellow whistle that will add to the number of tunes I can play without transposing (I have very little knowledge of music theory and suchlike).