Bagpiper

Ed Arnold

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About Ed

Bring the sounds of Scotland to your special event with a professional Highland bagpiper in full Scottish attire.
Bagpiper
Leeds
Public liability insurance of £2 million
Verified profile

Coming from a Scottish family (on my mother’s side!) and being brought up with Scottish music and holidays in Scotland I always loved the bagpipes as a child. Nobody in the family played and I was encouraged to learn them at the age of ten. It was seeing a bagpiper player at our hotel in Aberfeldy whilst on holiday that did it. My mother saw how interested I was and in no time bought me a practice chanter and asked her friend Alec Maclean (ex Pipe Major of The Seaforth Highlands and Nottingham Police Pipe Band) to teach me. Within a year I was playing with the Seaforth Higlanders in Mansfield and eventually I went on to compete in Grade 4 with Ashbourne Pipes and Drums at competitions all over England and Scotland. I played the bagpipes for many years with Ashbourne and eventually took a break from the pipe band world and went on to promote myself as a solo bagpipe player. I’ve since played at 1000’s of weddings, parties, corporate dinners, Burns Nights, Hogmanays and funerals, etc. I have appeared playing the bagpipes on TV in ITV’s ‘The Dales’ and ‘The Lakes’ for weddings featured on the shows. I have also appeared in newspapers such as The Sheffield Star, The Derby Telegraph, and The Yorkshire Telegraph. I have been interviewed on Radio Sheffield several times and most recently Sheffield Live. I have played at weddings internationally including Lake Bled, Slovenia and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Major events I’ve played at include the IIFA (Bollywood) Awards at Sheffield Arena where I played on stage in front of 12,500 people. I’ve piped at various football games including Derby vs Hearts and Derby vs Crystal Palace. I featured in a promotional video for the Rugby League’s Magic Weekend. I played Flower of Scotland for Neil Abel on the icerink before his Sheffield Scimitar’s testimonial match. For three years running I piped amateur karate competitors into the awards ceremony at the AMA International Karate Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. I have also played at several bike races including the 2013 Hit The North Bike Race in Whitefield, Manchester. Most recently I had the honour of leading the Hull Kingston Rovers onto the pitch in tribute to the late Frank Milward. I also piped at the National Railway Museum in York as part of the fund raising events for the renovation of the Flying Scotsman. Once the project was completed I was asked back to play at the Launch events. I offer a first class professional piping service and my testimonials reflect this. Thus clients use my services time and time again and I get no end of bookings through word of mouth. I’ve been the official New Years Eve bagpipe player at The Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds, and Napoleon’s Casino in Hillsborough, Sheffield and I’m booked by the Loch Fyne Restaurant in Sheffield every year for Burns Night as well as Loxley Park Residential Home in Sheffield and Valley Lodge in Matlock. I am also the first choice bagpipe player for a large number of funeral directors in Sheffield, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham.

Encore badges
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
8th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years
10 gigs
Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Folk, Military, Scottish music
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Funeral / Memorial service, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Instrumental teaching, Fluent sight-reader, Composer
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Ed's Song list

A Man's A Man
Abide With Me
Amazing Grace
Auld Lang Syne
Barney's Balmoral
Battle Of The Somme
Because He Was A Bonnie Lad
Black Bear
Bonnie Galloway
Bonnie Galloway
Bonnie Lass of Fyvie
Caber Feidh
Campbell's Farewell To Red Castle
Castle Dangerous
Cock O The North
Colin's Cattle
Crags of Tumbledown Mountain
Crossing The Minch
Danny Boy
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Donald MacLean's Farewll to Oban
Duncan johnstone
Fields of Athenry
Flee the Glen
Flower of Scotland
Flowers of The Forest
For All Love's Endearing Young Charms
Gary Owen
Gillian's Reel
Glenfinnan Highland Gathering
Going Home
Good King Wenceslas
Green Hills of Tyrol
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
Hector the Hero
Hector The Hero
Highland Cathedral
Highland Harry
Highland Laddie
Highland Wedding
I Can't Help Falling In Love With You
Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Itchy Fingers
JF MacKenzie Esq of Garrynahine
Jingle Bells
Kalabakan
Kelly the Boy From Killane
Kelsey's Wee Reel
Killiekrankie
Kirkhill
Lexie MacAskill
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Maree
Loch Rannoch
Loch Tay Boat Song
Lochanside
Lochiel's Welcome
Lord Lovats Lament
Lough Conn
MacPherson’s Rant
Mairi Bhan Og
Mairi's Wedding
Merrily Danced the Quakers Wife
Molly Connell
Morag of Dunvegan
Mrs Macleod of Rassay
Mrs Macpherson of Inveran
Mull of Kyntyre
Murdo's Wedding
My Home
My Lodging's on the Cold Ground
O'Rourkes
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Pumpkins Fancy
Roddy McAulay
Roses O’ Prince Charlie
Sailing
Sailing (Rod Stewart)
Sarah's Song
Scotland The Brave
Scot's Wha Hae
She Moved Through The Fair
Shoals of Herring
Silver Threads Among the Gold
Skye Boat Song
Sleepy Maggie
Snake Hips
Star of The County Down
Stirling Bridge
Stop Your Tickling Jock
Susan Macleod
Tam Bain's Lum
The Ale is Dear
The Athol Highlanders
The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering
The Banjo Breakdown
The Barren Rocks of Aden
The Brown Haired Maiden
The Clumsy Lover
The Conundrum
The Dark Island
The Dream Valley of Glendural
The Drunken Piper
The Earl of Mansfield
The Festival March
The Flowers of the Forest
The Foggy Dew
The Gael (Last of The Mohicans)
The Gay Gordons
The Glasgow City Police Pipers
The Gravel Walk
The Hawk That Swoops On High
The High Road To Gairloch
The High Road To Linton
The Hills of Kintail
The Irish Washerwoman
The Jolly Beggerman
The Kilt is My Delight
The Little Drummer Boy
the Man From Sky
The Mason's Apron
The Mercury Sweep
The Mingulay Boat Song
The Minstrel Boy
The Old Rustic Bridge
The Piper O Drummond
The Pipers Cave
The Rose of Allandale
The Rowan Tree
The Silver Spear
The Sound of Sleat
The Star O' Robbie Burns
The Steamboat
the Tall Man
The Train Journey north
The Two Ronnie's Maggies
The Wandering Piper
The Wearing of the Green
The Wise Maid
We Will Rock You (Queen)
Welcome The Piper
We're No Awa' Tae Bide Awa'
Westering Home
When The Battles Are Over
When You And I Were Young Maggie
Will Ye Ne Come Back Again
Willie's Brogues
Wings
I'm happy to take requests. My repertoire consists of 100's of marches, strathspeys, slow airs jigs and hornpipes, etc.
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I always arrive in plenty of time before I'm due to start playing, I dress immaculately, my pipes are in tune and I play to a high standard .

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I mainly perform at churches, hotels, social clubs, in people's homes (for private events), restaurants, and do street parades. Notable venues include Sheffield Arena when I performed at the IIFA (Bollywood Awards) in 2008.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

My favourite bagpiper composers include Fred Morrison, Gordon Duncan, Mark Saul, and Terry Tully .

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

The IIFA (Bollywood) Awards at Sheffield Arena which was in front of 12'500+ people including celebrities such as Colin Firth and Shilpa Shetty, etc. I've appeared on ITV's 'The Dales' and 'The Lakes' . I've also been fortunate to be booked 3 times to play for Struan Marshall's birthday (Steven Gerrard's manager) at his private villa in Ibiza.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

I always try our best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let me know at your earliest convenience.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

No. I play acoustically so I don't have a PA setup.

How much time do you need to set up?

30 Minutes.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Yes, you can choose tunes from my repertoire and I'll happily welcome any suggestions not listed as long as they are tunes that are playable on the highland bagpipe.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, absolutely! I bring my own instrument to play acoustically.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

If a tune isn't included in my song list there may still be a chance I already know it. If there is a special song you'd like me to learn I would be happy to do this for you as long as it's playable on the highland bagpipe. Bare in mind the instrument only has 9 notes and a restrictive scale so not everything is playable.

Ed's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£120
Up to 1 hour£165
Up to 2 hours£185
Up to 3 hours£200
Packages
Birthday Appearence
Current social distancing regulations may make it hard to celebrate a loved ones birthday, but their day can still be made special and unforgettable with a solo bagpipe performance outside their house or in their garden. I am offering birthday packages at a special rate which includes appearing in Scottish attire and playing 20 minutes worth of medleys, requested tunes and Happy Birthday, etc.
£100
Solo Bagpiper 1 Hour
Piping as requested for up to one hour. Perfect for celebrations such as birthday parties, christenings, retirement do's and other , special occasions, etc.
£165
Funeral
Lead the cortege to the chapel Play the coffin into the chapel Play a few tunes at the end of the service as guests gather outside Church: Lead the coffin up to the church doors / down the aisle Play during the service (if required) Play as the coffin is carried out of the service (and back to the hearse) Burial If the burial is at the same location price will be the same and includes leading to the graveside and then playing several tunes at the end of the service
£180

Add-ons

CD of Requested Tunes
+£20
Full No.1 Highland Regimental Dress
+£20
Ed
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5 out of 5
19 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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4.9
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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4.8
Punctuality
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5.0

Ed's Reviews

From Encore customers:

IV
Ian V
7 months ago
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5 out of 5

Excellent

GC
Gregg C
8 months ago
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5 out of 5

Ed was absolutely fantastic. We would recommend him to anyone! He made our wedding so special. Thanks Ed!

Reply from Ed
8 months ago

Thanks Greg, I'm delighted to hear that. All the best to you both, Ed

SL
Steve L
10 months ago
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5 out of 5

Wonderful. Beautiful piping and understood the occasion perfectly. Thank you Ed

Reply from Ed
10 months ago

Thankyou for your kind words and for taking the time to leave a review Steve. All the best, Ed

RW
Richard W
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Absolutely first-class!

Read all 9 reviews

From other customers:

JB
John B
11 months ago, for a Funeral / Memorial service in Ilkeston
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5 out of 5

You played the bagpipes at my dad's funeral on Monday, just wanted to say thanks a lot as I didn't get a chance to thank you on Monday. Unreal hearing the pipes that close. You did a fantastic job....One Love...Brad.

PM
Paul M
1 year ago, for a Funeral / Memorial service in Manchester
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5 out of 5

Had this wonderful experienced piper at our sisters funeral today and he was absolutely amazing, we felt we gave her a beautiful and special send off. We had also had him at both our son and daughters weddings and he added a very special touch to both. Highly recommend, very professional and an amazing piper .

Read all 20 reviews