The Red Hot Chilli Pipers
The connection with ‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ and the festival began back in 2006 when they raised the roof in the old shirt factory, that night there was no doubt that they would be back. Their return in 2008 created huge interest in the local media when immediately after they came off the stage at a gig in Scotland they jetted to Northern Ireland to perform at the festival on the same night and on arrival in Portglenone were interviewed by Ivan Little from UTV. A third visit in 2015 proved they were still as popular as ever with another exhilarating sell out show!! The twentieth anniversary could not pass without having this amazing band with us to celebrate and we are thrilled to have them with us for a fourth time!
From a cameo appearance at ‘T in the Park’ in 2004 with ‘The Darkness’ to opening the main stage in their own right in 2014, the past fourteen years have seen ‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ become the most famous bagpipe band on the planet - ever! Bagpipes with attitude and drums with a Scottish accent, the band’s achievements have reached incredible heights with their ground breaking fusion of traditional Scottish music and Rock/Pop Anthems which they proudly call ‘Bagrock’. They have achieved sell out tours, gigs and festivals in the UK, USA, China, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Ukraine, Barbados, Dubai, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India. They have regular performances for showbiz stars, sporting stars and Royalty such as Ewan McGregor, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Player, The Scottish Rugby Team, Her Majesty the Queen and Samuel L Jackson. The band have also made appearances at major national events such as BBC Proms in the Park, T in the Park, The Commonwealth Games, The Bahrain Grand Prix, The Rugby World Cup and a US TV documentary during NBC coverage of The Olympic Games.
Their first album, ‘Bagrock to the Masses’ was awarded a Gold disk for over 100,000 UK sales and their third album and DVD, ‘Blast Live’ achieved a Triple platinum album status. They have also been awarded twice for ‘Best Live Act in Scotland’ and also attained a ‘Big Hearted Scotland’ nomination for their incredible work for charity worldwide. In addition they were Winners of the BBC Prime Time talent show ‘When Will I Be Famous’.
They have made TV appearances worldwide; have over 3.5 million views on YouTube of their viral cover of the ‘Avicii’ track ‘Wake Me Up’ and they also have over 370,000 Facebook followers and a very active Twitter following of thousands.
The have never been more in demand for their infectious style of feel good music which appeals right across the age range to people all over the world. They have a pool of the very best musicians from Scotland and across the globe - many holding World Champion titles and all serious players with impressive credentials and qualifications.
There has never been anything quite like ‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers’, a show not to be missed!!
