2012 AGM and band practice

Wednesday practice (12 December):

Innisfree Social Club
Chesters Ave
Longbenton
NE12 8TY

Please arrive for 7.30pm; practice starts promptly at 7.45pm.  We will hold the AGM after band practice so hope to see as many people as possible.

If you can't be there, please send apologies to Bryan, Eileen or via FB sites.  Thanks!

Rescheduled band practice...

As promised....

Sunday practice (9 December 2012) from 11.00am-1.00pm:

Oxford Centre
West Farm Avenue
Longbenton
NE12 8LT

Weather cancellation!

Weather update: tonight's practice cancelled due to nasty driving conditions!

Bryan will try to set-up a Sunday practice at the Oxford Centre. We'll confirm this practice at the end of the week. Sorry...but stay safe!

Wednesday practice (5 December 2012)

Wednesday practice (5 December):

Innisfree Social Club
Chesters Ave
Longbenton
NE12 8TY

Please arrive for 7.30pm; practice starts promptly at 7.45pm.

*** The band AGM will be the following Wednesday, 12 December 2012 (location to be announced).  This meeting will officially put to rest all business affairs for the old band.  The new band retains the same name but management changes will lead to a new and improved organisation and musical ethos.  Stay tuned (no pun intended!) for news and results of this exciting challenge.***

Practice - 2 December 2012

Sunday practice (2nd December):

Oxford Centre
West Farm Avenue
Longbenton
NE12 8LT

From 11.00am-1.00pm (please bring pipes!)

Practice date for 4th week of November 2012

Wednesday practice (28 November):

Innisfree Social Club
Chesters Ave
Longbenton
NE12 8TY

Please arrive for 7.30pm; practice starts promptly at 7.45pm.

Revised practice/location schedule for 3rd week of November 2012!

No Tuesday or Thursday practices at Byker or Innesfree social clubs this week!

Only one practice:  Wednesday evening, 7:30pm at HMS Calliope (South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 2BE).

Fred Morrison is coming to NE England!

This is next Friday, 23 November in Houghton Le Spring!  Tickets are £10...please reserve ASAP with Kevin Reilly!

Autumn 2012 band practice schedule

ATTENTION:  Until further notice, there is NO band practice on Tuesday nights. 

Practices will be Thursday evening (arrive 7.30pm, practice starts promptly at 7.45pm) and Sunday afternoon (3pm - 5pm).

All autumn 2012 practices will be at the Innisfree Social Club, Chesters Ave, Longbenton NE12 8TY. 

Dedicated Tuesday learners' lessons, as well as a revised band schedule, will be put into place once a more permanent practice venue is established.

Band's website

Hi everybody,

The City of Newcastle Pipe Band's website is temporarily offline!  A new and improved website is under construction and we don't want to confuse you with all the out-of-date stuff!

For now, you can stay informed of the band's activities either via this blog or our public Facebook page (simply "like" our page).

For more information about the band or to contact us to play at your events (weddings, agricultural shows, fairs, official ceremonies, etc.), simply e-mail us at contact@cityofnewcastlepipeband.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your support!

Ryton Show & Fair Day - 16 September

If you're not participating in the Great Northern Run, please come and cheer us on at the Ryton Show & Fair Day at the Ryton Cricket Ground (NE40 3AS) on Sunday, 16th September!

Any extra pipers would be greatly appreciated:-) Tuning starts at 13.00 and our first presentation is at 13.35.

Recommended parking at Charles Thorpe Comprehensive School (NE40 3AH) or 200 meters west of the cricket grounds (will be signposted - may be NE40 3AG).

Haggerston Castle - Sunday, 10 June 2012

Reminder:  fund raiser at Haggerston Castle tomorrow afternoon!  Coach leaves from usual place at West Denton at 11am (same price).  Good opportunity for band and a way to get an extra practice in for Chieftains concert next Friday:-)

The Chieftains are coming to town...

And guess the local pipe band who's been invited to appear with them?!!

http://www.events-in-newcastle.co.uk/event-detail/The-Chieftains-1668

Dunbar Competition - 12 May 2012

7th place finish in our category...beating many 4A bands!  Awesome way to start the season!

Preparing for the 2012 outdoor competition season

Between rain-showers and an attentive bovine audience, the dedicated (crazy!) band members prepare for their upcoming competition. Brrrr.... 

Band Practice - Monday, 28 May

Attention:  Byker Social Club isn't available on Tuesday evening.  Practice will be on Monday (28 May) at normal location and time.

2012 Outdoor Competition Schedule

SAVE THESE DATES!

-    12th May 2012 - Dunbar, Scotland
-    19th May 2012 – Dumbarton, Scotland
-    26th May 2012 – Bathgate, Scotland
-    10th June 2012 - Haggerston Castle, Northumberland
-    30th June 2012 – Annan, Scotland
-    7th July 2012 – Annan, Scotland
-    4th August 2012 – North Berwick, Scotland
-    11th August 2012 – Glasgow, Scotland
-    2nd September 2012 – Chatsworth, England
-    9th September 2012 – Peebles, Scotland

Dunbar Competition - 12 May 2012

1st outdoor competition of the season tomorrow at Dunbar!! We've hired a coach (£14/person), departure from Newcastle at 6am.

Pick-up at the Turnpike car park (NE5 1DR or NE5 1EH for your sat navs, either will get you to the parking lot).

There are extra places on the coach if other band members, families, fans are interested. Contact Jordan or a band committee member if you're interested in going up with us.

Practice on 23 April!

Attention: pipe band practice TONIGHT at Byker, not tomorrow! Thanks...

Pictures from our December 2011 job!

We just received pictures from the Ellison wedding (Martin & Nicole) that we played at on 29 December 2011!

No band practice!

Attention: no pipe band practice tomorrow night (20 March 2012). Practice will be on, as usual, Thursday evening at the Byker Social Club.

Solo piping & drumming competition - Dumfries Music Festival - 17 March 2012

Special thanks: Ian Nelson for tuning Morgan's pipes & David Young for the great photos! Also congratulations to former City of Newcastle band members Thomas Barnes, Helen and Matthew Nicholson for their participation in this competition and for the prizes won by Thomas and Helen.

General plea...

Please: if you have band kit and are no longer actively playing with the band, we need your gear (uniforms, practice pads, chanters, etc.) returned. Please contact anybody to make arrangements for pick-up times/locations/etc. Remember that nobody has been "kicked out" of the band and that you're welcome to come back to practices. This has been said to all concerned parties privately and politely. At the same time, I refuse to get mired down in band politics, rumors and back-stabbing. As the band secretary, my responsibility is towards the "band" and not any particular individual. Please make my job easier...and so I don't have to publicly list names. My goal is not to embarrass anyone. Thanks for your understanding.

Band Practice - Monday, 27 February 2012

Reminder: Pipe Band practice is tonight (Monday, 27 February) at the Innisfree Social Club, Chesters Ave, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Thursday's practice will be back at Byker. Tonight we will also be joined by the musicians from the AV Festival who will be working with Jimmy, Davey, Jordan & Morgan.

Bailleul 2012 - Part 1

Images posted by Jordan on Facebook...also visible on the City of Newcastle Facebook page!

Competition canceled:-(

Due to the weather, the solo piping & drumming competitions in Houghton le Spring have been canceled. They will be rescheduled at a later date.

1st Solo Competitions of 2012!

First solo competitions of the year are tomorrow (weather permitting)!!! The RSPBA's NE Branch competition will be held at Houghton Kepier Sports College, Dairy Lane, Houghton le Spring, DH4 5BH. Doors open at 9.30 and our first contestant plays @ 10.55. The band's competitors this year include Jordan, Tommy Rae, Morgan and Rhys. Good luck!