Fife pipe band blasts out Elvis Presley classic for competition

Young musicians from Fife have beaten lockdown to form online bands for a national competition.

Pipers and drummers have teamed up with other instrumentalists in a bid to win £1,000 and the chance to play with the world famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

The event is being staged by a schools piping charity, and the Chillis to help keep kids focused on their music while schools are out.

Seventeen bands have got together to make socially distant music and their efforts will be broadcast over the weekend on Facebook with a final on Sunday night.

They include Burntisland and District Pipe Band playing a cover of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ by pupils from Inverkeithing High School, Balwearie High School and Burntisland Primary School; and Culla playing a composition called ‘Any Chance’ by pupils from Levenmouth Academy and Plockton High School.

Alexandra Duncan, head of the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust, said she had been knocked out by the standard of entries for the competition – called Wake up Scotland.

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She said: “We had no idea what to expect and have been amazed at the talent on show in these entries. It’s hard enough performing as a band but the kids have had to overcome huge technical challenges to get their efforts sounding so good.”

Craig Munro from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers said his band was looking forward to playing a gig with the winners.

“We have been off the road for weeks now and are desperate to get back performing – to have one of our first shows playing alongside the winning band will be something to look forward to.”

The final films will be played live on the Chilli’s Facebook page on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7.30 with a grand final on Sunday on the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust’s Facebook site.

An online people’s vote will decide who gets an additional £500 prize.

https://www.facebook.com/Piping4Pupils/posts/

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