The June 2026 issue of Common Stock has been published and is now available to read on the website. The print edition is at the printer and will be posted to members shortly.
Read Online
Members can read the June 2026 issue now on the Common Stock subscribers page. You will need to be logged in to your LBPS account to access it.
To download a PDF of the full issue, click the 'Open' button at the bottom right of the page viewer, then use the bottom link in the menu pane on the left.
The print edition is with the printer and will be posted out to members soon. Now is a good time to log in and check that your postal address is up to date in your member profile.
2026 Bellows Gathering
We are delighted to be teaming up with the National Piping Centre in Glasgow for the 2026 Bellows Gathering, a weekend of workshops, masterclasses, sessions and performances. Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious enthusiast, this is one weekend you won't want to miss!
📅 Dates: May 1st - 3rd, 2026 📍 Location: The National Piping Centre, Glasgow 💰 Cost: £200 including a ticket to our special concert (10% discount for LBPS Members) Buy your pass here - https://the-national-piping-centre.book.app/pass
The exclusive concert on May 2nd will feature all our fantastic tutors plus some special guests!
The line up of tutors includes Ross Calderwood, Lindsay Davidson, Fionnlagh Mac A' Phiocair, Finlay MacDonald, Hamish Moore and Ailis Sutherland.
Ross CalderwoodLindsay Davidson
Workshops and Masterclasses
Ross Calderwood of Lochalsh Smallpipes leads a hands-on reed making workshop, walking you through the full process of making a reed - and you'll leave with a plastic reed you made yourself.
Lindsay Davidson will lead the group in learning a selection of tunes from the Lowland and Border repertoire traditionally associated with bellows pipes and the discovery of individual styles of embellishment.
Fionnlagh Mac A' Phiocair will lead workshops on singing in Gàidhlig with smallpipes, come and learn some tunes & songs over the weekend! (No prior experience with Gàidhlig necessary)
Finlay MacDonald's Sessions 101 workshops cover the essentials; key session repertoire, how to build a set, session etiquette, and the confidence to lead one yourself.
Hamish Moore will lead a masterclass on the pipe making process, a rare chance to get an insight into his craft from one of the most respected names in the business.
Ailis Sutherland will take us through some session repertoire and technique / ornamentation for smallpipes - great for highland pipers looking to get more out of their smallpipe playing.
Dreaming Pipes: Ten Years of the Lindsay System
A touring exhibition, May – September 2026
A new touring exhibition tracing the first decade of the Lindsay System opens this week at An Lanntair, Stornoway, before travelling to venues across Scotland throughout the summer of 2026. The exhibition brings together instrument design, live music, making, research and public engagement, rooted in the living traditions of Scottish bellows piping.
About the Exhibition
Dreaming Pipes: Ten Years of the Lindsay System follows the first decade of the Lindsay System in public use: the open-source, extended-range, keyless Scottish smallpipe chanter design created by musician and instrument designer Donald WG Lindsay. Through prototypes, diagrams, instruments, text, sound and film, the exhibition places the Lindsay System within the wider modern story of Scottish smallpipes, shaped by a simple musical question: how can pipers carry what they already know into fuller participation in the music around them without having to start over from scratch?
The exhibition traces not only the development of the instrument itself, but the wider culture of use, adaptation and exchange that has grown around it: from early uptake by players and makers, to the shareable, 3D-printable LSC_PRINT&PLAY and new access through digital fabrication, to experiments in new and recycled materials, pedagogical use, and the translation of the design back into wood through traditional craft methods.
LBPS Roots
The project has strong LBPS connections. Donald served as Convenor of the Society from 2017 to 2019, and the Lindsay System has developed in close contact with the conversations, workshops, makers, players and revival contexts connected with the Society. The exhibition includes instruments, prototypes, recordings, 3D-printed chanters, interpretation materials and archive material exploring how a new branch of Scottish bellows piping can emerge from within the tradition.
An Lanntair, Stornoway — presented alongside the exhibition
Saturday 23 May 2026, 7pm
Donald WG Lindsay & Roo Geddes
Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist
Sunday 24 May 2026, 7pm
Donald WG Lindsay & Roo Geddes
Cnoc Soilleir, South Uist
15 June – 10 July 2026
Exhibition — The Rockfield Centre, Oban
12 July – 22 August 2026
Exhibition — Dundee Central Library
17 July 2026
Concert — Oban
The Rockfield Centre — during the 2026 Festival of the Sea
Thursday 13 August 2026
Concert — Glasgow
Piping Live
Friday 14 August 2026
Concert — Birnam Arts
19 August 2026
Concert — Dundee
The Wighton Centre
23 August – 14 September 2026
Exhibition — Glasgow
Venue in development
8 September 2026
Workshop and evening recital — Orkney
Orkney International Science Festival
Work is underway to produce a calendar of upcoming events related to bellows-piping. You can access it here.
If you are aware of other events which may be of interest, please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
December 2025 Issue of Common Stock
The latest issue of Common Stock is available to logged-in members HERE
To download the issue, click the 'Open' button at the bottom right of each double-page and use the bottom link of the menu pane on the left side
Friday 14th November – Sunday 16th November 2025 (exact timings and running order subject to alterations)
Friday night concert in the Royal Dunkeld Hotel 7.30-9.30 pm
Perth and Kinross schools’ quartet of pipes -short opening set Rebel’s Menuet (Crisdean Tewordt and Johanna Wildhack) with Hessen & Highlander, 1746. Allan MacDonald INTERVAL Finlay MacVicar Fin Moore
Friday night: session in the Royal Dunkeld Hotel bar 9.30-11 pm
Saturday Morning 9.30-10.45 am LBPS AGM in Duchess Anne Building, Dunkeld (adjacent to Cathedral Gates)
Saturday morning concert in Dunkeld Cathedral 11am-12.30 pm Stuart Letford Rhiona Sidley and Taybank Session Musicians Jeremy Kingsbury Finlay MacVicar Ian Kinnear Performers’ Ensemble
Saturday afternoon workshops in the Duchess Anne 2pm-5pm These will be participatory; please bring your small pipes with A chanter. Sheet music and some recordings to be provided on the LBPS website before the event. Pete Stewart – Scottish Hilt-and-Point Sword Dances and Their Music: Music for printing is HERE Recordings are HERE.
Jeremy Kingsbury – “Well-Storied Tunes” from the Lowlands and Borders: Music for printing is HERE Recordings are HERE
Gary West – The Music of Gordon Duncan: Music for printing is HERE Recordings are HERE
Saturday night concert in the Royal Dunkeld Hotel 7.30-9.30 pm Quartet of young pipers from the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band with two short sets to open Jeremy Kingsbury INTERVAL Kyle Howie Finlay MacDonald Performers’ Ensemble -musical tribute to Gordon Duncan
Saturday night: session in the Royal Dunkeld Hotel bar 9.30-11 pm
Sunday morning workshops: Royal Dunkeld Hotel 10 am start Workshop 1 Graham Mulholland - technique and tasteful embellishments Workshop 2 Christian Tewordt - the Hessen troops and the Jacobites in Dunkeld
Followed by a field trip at midday, led by Christian, to visit the site where the Hessians awaited the Jacobites.
Accommodation and Meals The LBPS is not booking accommodation or meals for attendees. The Royal Dunkeld Hotel will offer attendees its best accommodation rates through booking direct by phone 01350 727322 and quoting LBPS. If you want to book online, then it should be better value to book via the hotel’s website This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. rather than using booking.com. The best times to phone the hotel are before 12 noon or between 3 and 5 pm. For other accommodation in Dunkeld – see: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/dunkeld-p241961 Tea and coffee will be provided at the AGM and during the afternoon workshop at the Duchess Anne building on Saturday 15th. There are many café, pub, fish & chips and bakery options for lunches and evening meals, with adequate time between events to allow full enjoyment of refreshments! If you want to eat in a pub/ restaurant before the concerts on Friday / Saturday it’s advisable to book in advance.
AGM AGM papers will be sent out 4 weeks prior to the weekend, with details of those standing for election/ re-election to committee roles. In the meantime, please email John Thomson, LBPS Secretary ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you would like to hear more about getting involved with the Society’s future activities.
Livestreaming and Recording We are hoping to live-stream concerts from Dunkeld and all concerts and the workshops will be recorded.
See you in Dunkeld !
June 2025 Issue of Common Stock
The latest issue of Common Stock is available to logged-in members HERE
To download the issue, click the 'Open' button at the bottom right of each double-page and use the bottom link of the menu pane on the left side
December 2024 Issue of Common Stock
The latest issue of Common Stock is available to logged-in members HERE
To download the issue, click the 'Open' button at the bottom right of each double-page and use the bottom link of the menu pane on the left side
