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The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band rolled out at the Scottish Pipe Band Championships in Dumbarton on Saturday 16 May, 2009 in style.

The band's drum corps unveiled their brand new set of Pearl drums, which both looked and sounded fantastic.

A solid performance in both piping and drumming brought the band a third place, which was a fantastic achievement for many of the band's newest players.

The band is putting the preparations in place for their medleys, which will be played at the British Pipe Band Championships in Banbridge on Saturday 27 June, 2009.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band was strongly represented in the prizes at this years' World Solo Drumming Championships in Glasgow on Saturday 25 October, 2008.

In the adult events, the focus was firmly on Jim Kilpatrick MBE, who secured second place overall in the final having played from the qualifying heats in the morning and the semi-finals. The overall winner was former Shotts drummer Barry Wilson.

In the juvenile events, new band member Grant Cassidy won the Section 1 final for the third year in succession with two first places. Meanwhile, tenor drummer Neil Bruce who also is a competing snare drummer won 5th place in the Section 3 final.

Congratulations to Jim, Grant and Neil on their superb achievements on Saturday and well done also to the rest of the band's snare drummers who also performed strongly at the event.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band is saddened to announce the passing of one of its former members, Bert Barr. Bert (72) died suddenly at his home on the evening of Wednesday 24 September, 2008.

A native of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Bert began drumming at the age of 10 and what would follow would be a career spanning 5 decades that many envied, but Bert would be too humble to brag about.

He joined Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band in 1953, where he eventually met and became the lifetime companion of Alex Duthart. Alongside Alex, Bert's career saw him play a central role in what is considered the most influential period in the development of modern pipe band drumming. During his career, he built a dazzling collection of honours which includes 3 World Solo Drumming Championship titles and 15 World Drum Corps Championship titles.

For decades, Bert was much sought after as an instructor at home and overseas. After his retiral from competition in 1987, he focussed his time on passing his experience and talent onto a conveyer belt of developing youth, perhaps most famously with the children of St Thomas Episcopal School Pipe Band in Houston, Texas and most recently at home with North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band. His selfless dedication to the development of youth and talent has enriched the lives of countless drummers around the world.

Bert was a regular fixture at Shotts band practices, where he was always warmly received and his friendship and support were sincerely appreciated by everyone he shared his time with.

Bert is survived by his loving wife, Eileen.

Bert's funeral service has been arranged for 1215 hours on Thursday 2 October, 2008 at Wishaw South Parish Church, Academy Street, Wishaw. A composite drum corps led by The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band will play outside the church and thereafter at Daldowie Crematorium in honour of Bert.

Held in the highest regard by everyone in the band past and present, Bert will be dearly missed. The band extends its sympathy and prayers to Bert's wife Eileen, family and friends.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band finished third at Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon on 30 August, 2008.

The band once again performed the much talked about 'The Big Turnout' to an audience wondering if the band would repeat it's display from the recent World Pipe Band Championships.

The drum corps won the Best Drum Corps award, making the band's drummers Champion of Champions for the seventeenth time in 20 years.

Band members have worked extremely hard over the course of the year and are now on a well earned rest before work starts again for the 2009 season.

The band would like to thank everyone who has supported and followed us throughout the year.

For the third year is succession, The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band took third spot at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on Saturday 16 August, 2008, maintaining its status as Scotland's top band.

This Scotland on TV footage shows pipers from the band preparing for the March, Strathspey & Reel.

The band played two superbly in both the March, Strathspey & Reel and the Medley legs of the competition final. One of the day's highlights and one which earned the band a huge ovation from an appreciative audience, was when the band turned outwards to face the audience during the final tune of the Medley, entitled 'The Big Turnout'.

You can watch the Medley performance in full on YouTube.

The Caledonia concert performed by The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band filled the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday 13 August, 2008.

Hosted by Phoenix Honda Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band and compered by Ken Eller, the show contained 3 hours of music from the Shotts band, backing group, guest musicians Griogair and Moira Kerr and dance group Crossfire.

Robert Wallace of The Piping Times was present and wrote a favourable review of the show.

You can watch some exclusive footage of the band's preparations for the show courtesy of Scotland on TV.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band has joined the world's social networking community by launching its own official Facebook group on Monday 30 June, 2008.

Existing and new members of Facebook are free to join the group and find out more about the band and events the band will be involved with.

The group is administered by band members. We hope to see you there.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band took the runner-up spot at the British Pipe Band Championships in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham on Saturday 28 June, 2008.

The drum corps continued their strong form by winning the Best Drum Corps award.

The band will enjoy a short break before preparing for the next major championship at Lisburn on Saturday 26 July, 2008.

The Scottish Pipe Band Championships held in Levengrove Park, Dumbarton on Saturday 24 May, 2008 heralded the opening of major pipe band championship season.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band put in a strong performance to take second place overall and secure the Scottish Champions title for the drum corps.

Click here to watch the band's entire medley performance.

The band is now preparing for a concert in Innerleithen in two weeks and the British Pipe Band Championships, held this year in Birmingham on Saturday 28 June, 2008.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band will take to the stage in the Peeblesshire village of Innerleithen on Saturday 7 June, 2008.

The concert hosted by St Ronan's Piping Society will take place in the Memorial Hall, Innerleithen at 1930 hours. Tickets are priced £7.50 and are available from A & A Caldwell's, High Street, Innerleithen, Graham McGrath, Eastgate Peebles and by E-mail to srpssecretary@googlemail.com.

This is an ideal opportunity to hear the Shotts band in concert prior to the Worlds Week show 'Caledonia' in August.

A veteran of previous shows at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band returns to the venue with their ‘Caledonia’ show to entertain a full house thirsty for good piping music at the annual pre-Worlds concert hosted by Phoenix Honda Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band.

As the most successful Scottish pipe band of the last two decades, the Shotts Band represents Scotland’s strongest hope for taking top honours at the World Pipe Band Championships, which they have won on no less than 15 occasions with their unique brand of innovative and progressive musical arrangements.

‘Caledonia’ presents an opportunity to hear one of the world’s greats at the top of their game performing new, traditional and favourite compositions in the world’s favourite pipe band concert venue.

Tickets are available now from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Web site, priced £17.50 each. Book early to avoid disappointment.

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