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RSPBANI To Remake Historic ‘Live in Ireland’...

25 February 2017

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland is delighted to announce the remake of the landmark 1987 ‘Live in Ireland’ pipe band concert at the Belfast Waterfront at 8pm on Saturday, 25th February.

This celebratory concert will see many of the original members of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band of Toronto, Canada take to the stage with piping and drumming guest stars from around the globe. The show’s programme will recreate all of the beloved cutting-edge music that first made its public debut on the 1987 Ballymena County Hall Stage.

Guest stars will include Northern Ireland’s Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE, of the World Champion Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, and Ireland’s Terry Tully and Stephen Creighton, of the top-ranked St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band of Dublin.

“We could not refuse the opportunity to hold the concert in Northern Ireland,” says RSPBANI Chairman Ray Hall. “This is the rightful home of this celebration of the landmark concert that took place in Ballymena in 1987.”

“There is no doubt that ‘Live in Ireland’ was ahead of its time,” says Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE, one of the many guest stars of the upcoming concert. “There was an explosion of Irish music in the  piping scene in the 80’s, played mainly in the round style, due to what bands like the 78th Frasers were playing. We as musician’s thought it was brilliant that Irish music was being used, as it added a new, exciting dimension to what was recognised as established bagpipe music.”

In August 1987, the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe band of Toronto, Canada, became the first non-UK pipe band to headline a concert in Northern Ireland. Recorded live in front of an audience of over 800 at Ballymena County Hall, the ‘Live in Ireland’ concert recording soon became the best-selling pipe band album of all time, with the 78th Frasers going on to win the World Championships in Glasgow three days later. The concert at Belfast Waterfront on 25th February will mark the first time the band members return to Northern Ireland since 1987.

Tickets are available now from the Belfast Waterfront box office online or on 028 9033 4455. Follow the show on Facebook @livebackinireland87 for all the latest news and updates.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Meaghan Lyons

Marketing and Public Relations
m.  +44 (0)7564 206589
e. meaghlyons@gmail.com