Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band

Let's start at the very beginning.  Here are some of the troops getting ready to board the bus that will take us on the adventure of a lifetime!

Then we had the ferry journey to enjoy, with members of the band entertaining the passengers, joined by our favourite dancing group, Keltica.

Then came the rehearsals.  They were scary, as the newly designed stadium for the nightly open air extravaganza's posed several problems for the Scottish group's part of the show.  Still, the show must go on, and after hours of effort, P/M Jim Prentice and solo piper Andy Gibbs came up with a solution that worked.  

 

This was the end result.  Impressive eh?

Drummer, Jim King, was asked again to play for Keltica dancers, and can be seen here on the stage with piper Andy Gibbs and the girls

Then came the fireworks!!!

Impressive eh!

After the 5 performances in the Stadium, the Pipe Band formed up with others from the Vale of Clyde, New Ross and other Irish PB's, and lead a number of people into the town of Lorient, where the party continued into the morning - as the Stadium performances didn't finish until around 1am!  The place to be was Barnes Cafe, which used to be the Olympic Bar, where pipes, drums and guitar made music until 'chucking out' time.  Even then the crowds followed us down the street, and were delighted when the Band struck up again for a final tune or two!

 

No surprises about this Party Boy, eh Colin, but who's this??

Not to outdone by the boys, Grace and Hilary did their bit for the Chicks, and Calum looks like he played with one drum stick!  Whatever!

Calum:  "You know we've not had a row since we got engaged!"

Fiona:   "It was only 8 minutes 23 seconds ago, but who's counting?" 

Calum's sister, Mairi, was overcome with emotion over the engagement, but as the trip went on, we came to realise that this picture is a good account of Mairi most days at some point or other, and especially reflects her mood when we set off for home!

We also did a concert in a huge markee, once again accompanied by our friends Emmet and Des from New Ross.  Thanks a lot lads!  The crowd was fantastic, and huge - it was estimated by the organisers that there were around 800 people in attendance!  Not bad for a Friday afternoon on a sunny, clear day!

As well as these events, David Buchan and Sean Connolly both entered the Kitchen Piping competition, and while Sean's Moonwalking whilst piping earned him 4th place, David's imitation of a boxer entering the ring, and outrageous tune selection, including 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and 'Oh Susanna', earned him a very respectable 3rd place, behind Robert Watt from Ireland, who won and Herve LeFlock from Brittany who was second.  Good company lads! (Snippets of this event are on You Tube, for the well informed of you out there.)

Here's Moonwalker Sean...

And now David, just before he became 'Manic' - you can see the mist coming over his eyes if you look closely!

As well as these events, we took part in a couple of Parades, the main one offering us the opportunity to be lead Scottish Band, behind the local hero's  - the Navy band, who are very popular in Lorient, so this was a privilege and a half! We also did an exclusive interview live on French radio, which was an interesting experience, and gave us the opportunity to promote our town of Dunoon as an excellent holiday location!  Next, the Band competed in the Pipe Band competition and came a respectable 5th overall, but the day belonged to the drummers, who, with an excellent interpretation of a steam train, a 'mad percussionist' set, some body-popping, and a unique rendition of Queen's 'We will rock you', took the title of International Batterie Champions 2007. 

Believe it or not, we did find time for more usual things like eating, sleeping, watching other performers and events, and 'chilling out' at the beach, it's just that none of these things happened with any recognisable routine or pattern.  Lorient Interceltique Festival turns night into day, and day into night for a lot of people, but is a truly unbelievable event to be experienced at least once, but even better if twice, and we hope three times and more. 

Finally, before I expose the band members who succumbed to more normal activities during the trip, you may want to know why we nicknamed the trip 'The Ravioli Tour'.  In short, we have a young drummer in the band (Scott) who was hungry when he came home in the mornings (I know, it doesn't sound right, but it was morning by then), so he brought lots of tins of food with him, including tins of his favourite snack - Ravioli!  When this was discovered, the P/M felt he had no option but to confiscate this contraband, and did so every time Scott's supply was replenished!  Needless to say, some band members will not be able to wear their white band tee shirts any more, as they bear the evidence of their being accomplices to the P/M's dastardly deeds!  Hence THE RAVIOLI TOUR 2007.

Mick here gives new meaning to Gordon Duncan's Sleeping Tune!  (aka Emmet's party piece)

  Time to eat, or something, in the shade, after a good job done at the Cabaret!

Maybe it's a German thing, but Florian, our Drum Major, was often heard to say he needed 'real food', and that he was starving.  Glad he didn't fade away with hunger, although he does look like his head is too small now for that hat!

Every busy Pipe Band abroad needs a good interpreter and 'fixer'.  Thanks to Melanie for doing a great job for us again, for a second year.  Hope you had fun too!

Here's a happy Pipe Major (do you get them?), with troops to be proud of!

 I'll leave the last word to Mickey, our crazy Bass Drummer. 

Question:  "Did you have a good time?"       Answer:  "WHO ARE YA"......which I think means Yeah!......or something.....never did get that!!    Anyway, see for yourself

 

So, its goodbye from Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band to Festival Interceltique Lorient for The Year of Scotland 2007.  We had a ball, and want to say Merci beaucoup to all the people who gave us the opportunity, especially Les Sang, Scottish organiser.  We hope we pleased the audiences and promoters alike of this great event, and hope to get the chance to do it all again.  Au Revoir!  Bonsoir!  Merci  Merci  Merci.

p.s.  Is it daytime, or is it night??!   Neither - it's LORIENT TIME!