The sound of bagpipes flooded Central Park. Food and drink vendors lined the street, selling juicy tenderloins and chilled refreshments. Lawn chairs dotted the park around the main stage and spilled over sidewalks as over 200 people vied for front row seats to experience the electrifying Celtic-rock fusion show performed by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
For the second stop of their U.S. Tour, the Scottish-based Red Hot Chilli Pipers delivered a powerful show in Grinnell on Sept. 4, one that involved beam lights and fog machines. Invited by the Grinnell College Committee for Public Events, the bagpipe band played traditional Scottish reimaginings of classic rock hits from artists like AC/DC and Stevie Wonder, as well as their own pieces.
When the Pipers began their setlist, excitement pierced the crowd. College students began dancing in the front, as others in the audience bobbed their heads and sang along.
The Pipers have gained international recognition since their formation in 2002, playing at events like Scottish music festival T in the Park and Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival. They were the 2007 winner of BBC’s When Will I be Famous? and a two time winner of the Scottish Live Act of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
“We’re so excited!” Jason Bierstedt, Marley Pozniak, Mathew Davis, Liam Gustafson and Lillian Tuai, all `27, exclaimed simultaneously. They added that they had heard about the show from a paper advertisement.
Tuai, who is part of the College’s Swing Society with Davis and Gustafson, said, “A lot of the swing dance club is hopefully going to be here, to come and swing. That’s what we’re mostly here for, to be honest.”
Ross White, tour manager of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, said that it was “good to be here [in Grinnell].”
“Grinnell’s cool! We walked around all the little streets,” he said. “There’s lots of nice little bars and restaurants and stuff so … it’s nice, we like it.”
Many in the audience came to see the Pipers, but several community members also said that they came to support Turlach Ur, Grinnell’s local competitive pipe band, which opened for the Pipers.
“Get out your phones and send them to your family so you don’t have to explain to them later what they missed,” cried Turlach Ur leader Rob Clower to the audience.
Grinnell residents Connie and Duane Roland said they attended the show after hearing about the Pipers from Facebook.
“I wanted to check them out, and I thought it would be something cool to do, so I dragged my husband,” said Connie Roland. “I was surprised there were this many people here. It was a really good turnout.”
Jean Raymond and her Scottish Terrier, Sophie McGregor, traveled 50 miles to attend the concert. She said that she was more excited to watch Turlach Ur, this being her second time doing so.
Peter Hanson, associate professor of political science, said, “I love Turlach Ur. I feel like we are so lucky to have a bagpipe band in Grinnell. It’s so unique.”
Hanson said that he had never heard of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers before, “but everybody spoke really highly of them. So far, they’re just a lot of fun.”
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will continue touring the U.S. until their return to Scotland in October. Their next stops include cities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
