There are many groups of Pipers around the world, some meet regularly, some spontaneously, but all those listed below are pleased to welcome anyone, of any age, who wants to play, learn or just sit and listen. If you wish further details to be added, or information needs changing please contact us at webmaster@northumbrianpipers.org.uk
If you are interested in pipemakers’ groups, please see details for the Tyneside Pipemakers’ Forum on the pipemakers page.
In the U.K.
NPS Saturday Meeting
Regular playing session upstairs at the Chantry Morpeth NE61 1PD starting at 2.00pm. The group will be led by different experienced pipers each month.
Alnwick Pipers’ Society
Alnwick Pipers’ Society has a practice session at Newton on the Moor Village Hall NE65 9JY on the first Sunday of the month beginning at 1.45 for a 2.15 start.
Currently no other monthly meeting due to lack of venue. Contact George Prentice for updates.
Bedfordshire Northumbrian Session
A new session of mixed instruments, who are keen to welcome pipers, particularly those with G pipes – now at the Albion, Ampthill, Bedford MK45 2JT on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 8.00 pm. Contact: Rod Ward
Cambridge Group
We usually meet at 2pm on the third Sunday of each month at Mike Nelson’s house in Bar Hill, near Cambridge. For details contact David Somerville at dsomerv@aol.com or on 01223 290890
Cleveland & Co. Durham Branch
Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Ceddesfield Hall Community Centre, Sedgefield. TS21 2AE, which is behind the parish church. The main meeting starts at 8.00pm. If you are in the area do come along and join our friendly group to play or listen. If you would like more information please contact Dave Cook, phone 01325 310114, e-mail dcook0@talk21.com
Cleveland & Co. Durham Branch Playing Group Meets every 4th Wednesday of the month for practice upstairs at Ceddesfeld Hall from 7pm ‘til about 9pm. The playing group are a very active group with the aim of taking the Northumbrian Smallpipes and Northumbrian music out to the public. We usually have very busy year and have performed at many events such as festivals, National Garden scheme events, concerts, weddings, schools and fetes. Pipers are very welcome to join us and play, though tunes and discussions are restricted to the playing group repertoire.
Gateshead Pipers & Pipemakers’ Co-Op
Contact: Stan May or tel: 0191 4872232
Hyde Pipers
The Hyde Pipers meet in The Hyde Tavern, Hyde Street, Winchester on the second Saturday of each month, 2.00 – 4.00pm. The aim of this group is to practice a restricted repertoire to performance standard. Visitors welcome!
Facebook Page
Contact: Paul Tabbush
London Group
For details contact Francis Wood, 020 7791 0072, email franciswood@gmail.com or Graham Wells, 020 8943 3589, grahamwhwells@aol.com
Longframlington Pipers
Meet every Wednesday at 1.30pm except Christmas week, ad weather permitting, in the Memorial Hall, Rothbury Road, Longframlington. Northumberland NE65 8AH Contact Gill Sergeant, 0191 2591752, email gsat5jed@gmail.com or visit their website www.longframlingtonpipers.org Players of all abilities welcome, particularly beginners.
Manchester Pipers’ Group
Usually meet on first Saturday of the month from 2.00pm – 5.00pm at Grove Lane Baptist Church, Pingate Lane South (off Grove Lane), Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle SK8 7NP. For more details, or if you are travelling a distance please check with John Routledge or Neil Tavernor that the church have not asked us to move the date.
North Cumbria Pipers
Do not now meet regularly. Please contact Richard Evans for further details. 016974 73799 or richard@evansbagpipes.co.uk
North Shields Old Low Light Session
NOW BACK ON: 3rd Tuesday of the month at the The Old Low Light Heritage Centre, Clifford’s Fort, North Shields NE30 1JA from 7 – 9 pm. Richard Heard: richardrheard@gmail.com
Northants Group
We are a group who meet occasionally in Kettering. Please contact Peter Dunn, 01536 482475 or e-mail: p.dunn@uwclub.net for further details.
Oxford Group
Meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month except August 7.30 to 10.00 in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. We also meet on occasional Sundays through the year in St Margaret’s Institute, Polstead Road Oxford OX2 6TW from 1300 to 1600, with bring and share lunch from 1200. We welcome pipers of all abilities and usually have hire sets available for beginners. For more details, or to check that the venue hasn’t changed (it does occasionally) contact Mike Dobson on 01242 5209365 or email.
Pipers’ Fancy
The performing group of the Society was set up to fill the need for requests for pipers to attend various functions around Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. They meet twice a month to rehearse, keep an eye on the events pages for the next one. Pipers’ Fancy welcomes anybody who wishes to join them, and if you’re interested why not come along and see what they do. For details of the groups future performances, or rehearsals visit Pipers’ Fancy. For other details contact Susan Craven, phone: 01670 761872, email: susan@northumbriansandpipers.com
Salisbury Group
The Salisbury Group meets (usually) on the third Saturday of the month, usually at Ian Curr’s house in Salisbury. Sessions last 2-5pm (approx) and players of all abilities are welcome. Tuition is provided separately for beginners during the first half hour or so. Please confirm all venues and timings by emailing smallpiper3@gmail.com in advance.
South Cumbria/Lancashire Group
Usually meet third Friday of the month, from 7.30 pm at Ian & Liza Henderson’s house 53 Emesgate Lane, Silverdale LA5 0RN. Contacts: Philip Gruar 01524 781601 and Ian Henderson. If coming far, please confirm meetings beforehand!
South Devon Pipers
Meeting on the third Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm at 7 Southcote Orchard, Totnes TQ9 5PA, mainly playing with F pipes but sometimes G. Contact Myrna and Martin Luff 01803 840868 or martin.luff@gmx.com.
Spittal Northumbrian Piping Group
Berwick (Spittal) Pipers Meet at the Blenheim Hotel, Spittal TD15 1RD from 7.30 pm on the first Wednesday of the month.
This group has been set up by seven Alnwick and Longframlington Pipers, who wish to establish a more northerly outpost for pipers, and other instruments in F pitch, initially just to play but perhaps for local audiences and charities etc. For further details email Bobbie Prentice or tel: 018907 71230.
St Oswald’s
The St Oswald’s Pipers meet on Saturday mornings at various venues. Please email robsonschoice17@gmail.com for details.
All piping abilities and instruments in F pitch are welcome.
Yorkshire Group
We are an informal group who have been going since 1978 and who meet approximately every two months, usually on a Sunday afternoon between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm, with tea and biscuits. We meet in different members houses so no-one has to do all the travelling and between us we can offer help to beginners and a certain amount of pipe fettling, as well as a general play around, a chat and tune swap. We mainly play in F, but many of us also have G pipes too. The following meeting is usually arranged democratically at the end of the last one so any pipers out there who are interested should contact Nick Hopkinson, phone 01423 358673, email nickhopkinson100@yahoo.co.uk. As Yorkshire is quite big members often share lifts to meetings.
Outside the U.K
New England Pipers’ Group
We are a relatively new players group. We have been meeting since the fall of 2016. We meet in Sharon, Massachusetts (approximately every one to two months) on Sundays from 10:30am until 2:30pm at the house of one of our members. We also have lunch together. We generally have anywhere from 3 to 7 players show up who drive as much as a few hours. Contact: John Nelson at bagpiperjohn@gmail.com.
Pacific Northwest NSP Group
Meets on the third Sunday of every month from 12 noon – 5.00pm in Lakewood, Tacoma, Washington, (just south of Seattle). Contact Paul Hickey at plhickey@comcast.net
The Pipers Gathering
An annual meeting for bellows blown bagpipes held in Litchfield, CT, USA in the middle of August each year. Workshops, symposia, vendors, concerts and more. Web site: www.pipersgathering.org or email