Hire Michael Basford | Bagpiper in Cambridge

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Glasgow City Police Pipers, Sample

Solo Piper and Drummer Scotland the Brave and the Rowan Tree

Abide With Me, Sample

About Michael

Experienced piper, playing over 20 years across all levels of piping.

3 of 5 photos

Bagpiper

Cambridge

I have enjoyed piping for 20 years, enjoying competing and performing across the world. I have competed and won numerous prizes as both a solo piper, as well as in band competitions. This year, I have lead a pipe band I teach to competition success, picking up prizes against a well-established set of competitors. I take pride in ensuring the organisers and attendees of the events I perform at enjoy great music, and will offer my years of experience to facilitate particular requests to ensure a smooth, enjoyable performance. Please let me know about your event, and I will be more than happy to spend the time it takes to make the piping just right for you!

Michael

5 out of 5

6 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

5.0

Punctuality

5.0

Michael's Reviews

5 out of 5

A quality piper! The perfect start to our wedding. Thank you so so much Michael.

5 out of 5

Michael was fantastic for our event. He is a highly skilled musician. A great communicator and flexible when required. I would highly recommend him.

Reply from Michael

1 year ago

Thank you Steve, it was a fantastic event and very enjoyable to perform for you all.

5 out of 5

Excellent evening and are you able to do next year?

Reply from Michael

1 year ago

Thanks Stuart, it was a pleasure to play. Encore will certainly be able to help with next year's booking.

5 out of 5

I cannot rate my experience with Michael highly enough! It was a joy to work with you, incredibly professional, punctual and an outstanding performance. Many thanks and highly recommend!!

Reply from Michael

1 year ago

Thank you Prab, it was a great occasion for us to play at and we wish you both the very best for the future!

Read all 5 reviews

5 out of 5

We hired Michael as part of our City wide Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, specifically to play “Diu Regnare” on the Thursday evening. To say Michael fulfilled the brief with professionalism, skill and dedication would not do justice to Michael’s work. He presented and performed perfectly and we would not hesitate to book him again or suggest him to anyone looking for a skilled, professional piper.

Michael you were amazing thank you! Burns Night performance at Guards and Cavalry Club.

Read all 3 reviews

Encore badges

Lightning fast responses

Average response time under 2 hours

5 gigs

Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore

Saved the day!

Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice

5th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 5 years

Encore expert

Demonstrated expertise by completing the Encore Academy

Member of the Encore community forum

Michael's Song list

I'm happy to learn any particular requests, but the following is a few of the favourites :

Diu Regnare (QE2 Platinum Jubilee)

Scotland the Brave

Flower of Scotland

Highland Cathedral

Amazing Grace

Atholl Highlanders

Bonnie Dundee

The Dark Isle

My Home

Wings

Auld Lang Syne

A Man's a Man

Highland Laddie

Sky Boat Song

Jimmy Findlater

Banjo Breakdown

Itchy Fingers

Above the Clouds

Glasgow City Police Pipers

Rowan Tree

Auld Rustric Bridge

Steam Boat

Steam Train to Mallaig

Clan Campbell's Gathering

We're No Awa Tae Bide Awa

Lt Col, Willie Allan

Lord Lovat's Lament

Green Hills of Tyrol

The Battles O'er

Castle Dangerous

Sweet Maid of Glendaruel

Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle

PM William Ross' farewell to the Scots Guards

MacKay's Polka

Mairi’s Wedding

Bonnie Charlie

Brown Haired Maiden

High Road to Gairloch

Xuanin de Mieres

Steamboat

The Atholl Highlanders

Cock O' the North

Farewell to Camraw

Banjo Breakdown

Andy's Lullaby

Hills of Argyll

When the Pipers Play

La Boum

Sandy's New Chanter

Brown Haired Maiden

The High Road to Gairloch

Molly Connell

The Campbeltown Kiltie Ball

Jock Wilson's Ball

Colonel MacLeod

Clan MacColl

Abercairney Highlanders

Highland Wedding

Lord Alexander Kennedy

The Taking of Beaumont Hamel

The Seige of Delhi

Australian Ladies

1 ACC

The Garb of Old Gaul

Blue Bonnets

Piobaireachd of Donald Dhu

Greenwood Side

The Drunken Piper

The Black Bear

Hot Punch

Corn Rigs are Bonny

The Mucking of Geordie's Byre

Scots Guards Farewell to South Africa

Captain Norman Orr-Ewing

Leaving Port Askaig

The 2nd Battalion Scots Guards Farewell to Malaya

The 2nd Battalion Scots Guards Farewell to Singapore

The Bugle Horn

Farewell to the Creeks

The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering

The Barren Rocks of Aden

Craig-n-Darroch

Happy We've Been Together

The Haughs of Cromdale

Jenny's Bawbee

Teribus

The 79th's Farewell to Gibraltar

Arniston Castle

Aspen Bank

Atholl Cummers

Because he was a Bonnie Lad

The Caledonian Canal

Captain Horne

The Devil in the Kitchen

Dorrator Bridge

Highland Harry

The Keel Row

Lady Loudon

Loudon's Bonnie Woods and Braes

Maggie Cameron

The Marquis of Huntly's Highland Fling

Orange and Blue

The Piper's Bonnet

The Rose Among the Heather

The Shepherd's Crook

The Devil Among the Tailors

The Fairy Dance

The High Road to Linton

The Kilt is My Delight

The Mason's Apron

Mrs MacLeod of Raasay

Mrs MacPherson of Inveran

The Piper of Drummond

The Reel of Tulloch

The Sheepwife

The Battle of the Somme

Colin's Cattle

The Dream Valley of Glendaruel

The Heights of Dargai

The Flowers of the Forrest

The Mist Covered Mountains

My Home

The Skye Boat Song

Cork Hill

The Jig of Slurs

The Kitchen Maid

Minnie Hynd

Paddy's Leather Breeches

The Ladies' Hornpipe

The Londonderry Hornpipe

Me262

B52

Double F Dilemma

Flying Haggis

Murray's Fancy

The Battle of Waterloo

The Devil's Staircase

The Walrus

The Gold Ring

Killaloe

Desert Storm

Fourth Floor

Sleeping Tune

The Panda

Rose of Kelvingrove

Dawning of the Day

Archie Beag

Donald Cameron's Powder Horn

PM George Allan

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The quality of music, organisation and thoughtfulness in ensuring that my experience with performing can ensure just the right impact for their individual event.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I have played at many venues, including the Red Square (Moscow), Gijon, Spain, Max-Schmeling-Halle (Berlin), Celtic Music Festival Ortigueira (Spain), St James' Park (London).

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Willie McCallum, Willie Ross, Donald MacLeod

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

The Spasskaya Tower Music Festival (Moscow Tattoo) on the Red Square as part of the pipe-band performance. Performed with musicians from around the world, including Japan, China, North Korea and Norway.

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

I am often happy to accommodate changes in event timings to help ensure your event runs smoothly.

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

I only provide live music from the pipes themselves.

How much time do you need to set up?

I will typically aim to arrive an hour before I am due to play, to learn the layout of your event, confirm performance details, and tune. I am often more than willing to arrive earlier, if you would prefer.

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

I am more than happy to accommodate tune requests, and will adjust my performance set on the day if I am familiar with particular tunes.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

I will bring all the equipment and uniform to perform. This includes the pipes themselves, as well as the highland dress you can see in my pictures.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

I am always willing to accommodate specific requests for an event. I estimate that I have around 1000 tunes memorised, and will happily learn any additional pieces, if given suitable time (around one week notice).

Musicianship

Genres:

Traditional Scottish folk

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Instruments:

Bagpipes

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Event types:

Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

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Other skills:

Instrumental teaching, Composer, Fluent sight-reader

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