Avilés, Asturias (Northern Spain)


The Future

During the early part of 2004, contact was made through Steven Dewar, a now regular contact and friend of the Piping Services team, with Juan, the organiser of the Interceltico Festival.

The event was looking for a Scottish Pipe Band to visit and entertain for their 8th annual festival. Williamwood Pipe Band put their name forward to help out but notice was recieved saying that the organisers want to keep Williamwood for their 10th Anniversary Festival.


August 1998

On arrival for the 1998, 2nd Annual Festival Interceltico De Aviles, the pipe band discovered that their luggage, including all the drums, was being introduced to a rather unfriendly Heathrow Airport Baggage Hall. The host groups agreed to share instruments, in the spirit of the festival, and a stronger bond was formed between the participants.



August 1997

In August 1997 Andy was approached by Ian MacDonald, Pipe Major of the neighbouring Neilston Pipe Band, and asked to consider performing in their place at the 'Festival Intercéltico De Avilés'.

This was our first main opportunity to travel overseas, so we agreed and ventured out into the unknown. The administrative learning curve caused no pain and put us in good stead to handle what was to follow. The experience of performing in front of five thousand people in the ancient town square, without any inhibitions, gave us the wonderful opportunity to do what we wanted, and not what was necessarily expected.

The public performances included a number of stage performaces and a parade through the town. A few of the members also played a few solo performances from time to time. Also performing at the festival were Shoogle Ma' Dougal, a folk band made up of members of the pipe band. At night after all the official events had finished the various groups stayed in the town square and held their own informal festival, which gave everyone a chance to try each others instruments.

Playing Away

United Kingdom & Eire
Dublin, Eire
Isle of Man
Jersey (Channel Islands)
Milton Keynes

United States of America
Ben Lomond Sch, Utah
Chicago, Illinois
Cleveland, Ohio
New York, New York

Europe
Albertslund, Denmark
Aviles, Spain
Catania, Sicily
Corfu, Greek Islands
Istanbul/Ankara, Turkey
Izmir, Turkey
Madrid/Barcelona, Spain
Muhldorf, Germany
Plzen, Czech Republic
Rimini, Italy
Thiron Gardais, France

Rest of the World
Australia
Caribbean