Hire Thistle Piping | Bagpiper in Dunblane

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From£250

1 hour

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Wedding bagpiper at Cambo Estate

Wedding Piper & Drummer Scotland. Welcome wedding guests.

Bagpipes playing along to backing track. A lovely tune/song for a wedding entrance?

About Thistle Piping

Thistle Piping provide a first class service focussing on the highest possible standards of dress, deportment and musicianship.

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Bagpiper

Dunblane

Public liability insurance of £2 million

Drew Sinclair founded Thistle Piping Central Scotland in 2014 after a long involvement with Thistle Piping (founded 1999) in Aberdeen. Drew has over 40 years piping experience and has performed at Tattoo's, Festivals and Events all over the world. He also has 15 years experience of leading a very successful pipe band at the highest competitive levels including 7 years in Grade 1. He has made several televised performances including the BBC drama series Monarch of the Glen, a popular Specsavers advert, a Mango Clothing advert and is currently (Nov 2021) filming something with Sky One. Drew has played for Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Rock Stars and Celebrities over the years as well as approximately 800 weddings. Preparation, attention to detail and using this wealth of experience means your event is in the safest of hands with Thistle Piping Central Scotland.

Thistle Piping

5 out of 5

10 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

4.9

Communication

4.9

Punctuality

5.0

Thistle Piping's Reviews

5 out of 5

Drew was fantastic for our event. Very friendly and willing to lend his extensive experience to help shape/suggest how to incorporate a piper into the plan. Great piping, and some informative discussion as well. Drew really exceeded all expectations and helped create a very memorable event. Many thanks!

Reply from Thistle Piping

4 months ago

Hi Tom Thanks for leaving such a lovely review it's greatly appreciated. It was a real pleasure to meet everyone and to be made to feel so welcome. You were such an engaging and interested audience which makes everything easier. Safe onward travels to everyone and thanks again. Drew

5 out of 5

Very professional and respectful! Thanks so much for last minute booking. Was super accommodating

Reply from Thistle Piping

9 months ago

Thanks Mikhaila, that's very kind of you. Many thanks, Drew.

5 out of 5

Drew looked and sounded fantastic and he provided a wonderful tribute to my mother at her funeral. Thank you to Drew and to Encore, I am deeply grateful. Catriona

Reply from Thistle Piping

1 year ago

Thanks very much Catriona.

5 out of 5

great

Reply from Thistle Piping

1 year ago

Many thanks Michele.

Read all 8 reviews

5 out of 5

I asked Drew to be the piper for our wedding at Loch Dunmore in Pitlochry. From start to finish he was absolutely fantastic. So approachable during the organisation phase and conducted himself in such a friendly and professional manner. He was at the lochside before me on the day and was dressed immaculately. When my wife arrived Drew had the pipes going and what a sound! Goosebumps all over my body! He piped my wife along Loch Dunmore and stayed with us throughout the short ceremony and photographs. He then piped us back along the loch at the end and the quality of his music was outstanding. I would highly recommend Drew to be your piper. He will not let you down and you will love his sound. Thank you for being a huge part of our big day! I'm delighted I chose Drew!

5 out of 5

We hired Drew for our wedding at Comrie Croft! Drew was great and very easy to communicate with. I wasn't sure what piping songs to have for the wedding and he was really helpful! Very talented and even stood out in the rain to pipe the guests in for arrival. True professional - Highly recommend! Thanks Drew!

Encore badges

10 gigs

Experienced: 10 bookings through Encore

Saved the day!

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

4th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 4 years

Thistle Piping's Song list

I have an extensive repertoire of traditional and modern bagpipe tunes. I have attached a small list of the most popular tunes specifically for Weddings as a guide.

WEDDING CEREMONY MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

WEDDING PARTY PROCESSIONAL

HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL

CALEDONIA

FOR THE LOVE OF A PRINCESS / GIFT OF A THISTLE – BRAVEHEART THEME

THE SKYE BOAT SONG

THE GAEL – LAST OF THE MOHICANS THEME

ROWAN TREE

AMAZING GRACE

THE HIGHLAND CRADLE SONG

TRUMPET VOLUNTARY – THE PRINCE OF DENMARK’S MARCH

ODE TO JOY

BRIDAL CHORUS – HERE COMES THE BRIDE

HECTOR THE HERO

THE SLEEPING TUNE

SIGNING OF REGISTER/SCHEDULE

Any tune from the Processional or Recessional list can be utilised, there is often time to play two tunes, one slower in tempo the breaking into something more upbeat and celebratory.

WEDDING PARTY RECESSIONAL

MHAIRI’S WEDDING

HIGHLAND LADDIE

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE

I LOVE A LASSIE

THE BROWN HAIRED MAIDEN

THE BLACK BEAR

HIGHLAND WEDDING

THE HIGH DRIVE

THE TRAIN JOURNEY NORTH

FATHER JOHN MACMILLAN OF BARRA

If you have any chart songs that you might like played just let me know and I can advise. There are a number that work okay as a solo piper (we only have nine notes and no real key change unfortunately), but a large number really need other instruments behind them to sound recognisable and I can advise appropriately.

Here are some that I have used effectively

Don’t stop believing – Journey

Wake me up – Avicii

Can you feel the love tonight – Elton John (Lion King)

Marry you – Bruno Mars

The rose – Bette Middler

500 Miles – The Proclaimers

The above list is by no means exhaustive and is designed to offer a starting point and a reasonable selection of melodies. Alternatives suggestions or requests are always possible.

Thistle Piping's Prices

Last updated: 2024

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

Performance duration	Price
Short performance (up to 15 min)	£200
Up to 1 hour	£250
Up to 2 hours	£312.50
Up to 3 hours	£375

Customer questions

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

We generally only have a piper allocated to one event on any date and always confirm and double check timings and details about 4 weeks before the event date. Any later changes to timings should easily be accommodated.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, absolutely. Bagpipes are acoustic, mobile and don't require any amplification!

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes, as long as the piece can be played on the bagpipes and sound recognisable, We only have 9 notes so some songs/tunes simply don't work.

Musicianship

Genres:

Scottish music

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Instruments:

Bagpipes

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Event types:

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

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Other skills:

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