West Newsmagazine 5-1-24

20 I
May 1, 2024
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Can you hear the pipes?
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By KATE UPTERGROVE
Canada’s Celtic Rock Warriors are coming
to Manchester, which means you’re in for a
rare treat.
On Saturday, May 11, the St. Louis Scottish
Games and Cultural Festival will take
over Schroeder Park for 12 full hours of
heavy athletics, sheep-herding, sword fighting,
dancing competition, kids’ activities,
kilts and pageantry, food and drink, and a
wide variety of music, including Canada’s
Mudmen and one of the largest bagpipe competitions
in the Midwest.
But let’s start with the Mudmen, who will
perform twice – once at 5:15 p.m. and again
at 7:45 p.m. Boasting an impressive 26-year
career, brothers Sandy and Rob Campbell
are known for high-octane performances
that combine impressive bagpipe skills with
rock chops. Together with Colin Amey, Andy
Gingerich, Alex Showdra and Emmett Glancie,
they are the Mudmen.
The Mudmen take the stage at 5:15 p.m. on May
11. (Used with permission)
Maybe you’ve heard the band before. Its
music has been featured in Xbox and Play-
Station video games, on the HBO series
“Shameless” and in other noteworthy performances.
As Sandy points out, other artists like AC/
DC and Paul McCartney have had No. 1 hits
that featured bagpipes, but only the Mudmen
put pipes in every song. The group has
guested or opened for rock bands ZZ Top,
The Guess Who and Loverboy to name a few
as well as The Irish Rovers, The Chieftains
and Scottish tenor John McDermott.
Since the 18th century, the great Highland
bagpipe has been considered an instrument
of war, with regiments using pipers to lead
them into battle, hence the Mudmen’s “rock
warriors” nickname. Today, the grandeur of
pipe and drum bands continues to inspire
audiences at festivals such as those at the St.
Louis Scottish Games.
On May 11, bagpipe enthusiasts can listen
to solo and quartet competitions in the morning,
then, sit back, relax (with some authentic
Scottish food, of course) and enjoy the fanfare
of pipe bands competing in a champion
supreme event sanctioned by The Midwest
Pipe Band Association.
At press time, 10 pipe bands had registered
to compete for over $12,000 in prize money.
“The neat part about a large band entry is
that all of the competing bands will perform
together in the closing ceremony in what is
known as the ‘Massed Bands,’” explained
acclaimed St. Louis piper Matt Pantaleoni.
“It’s a very moving experience and, for
many spectators, the highlight of the day’s
activities.”
The pipe band competition begins at 2
p.m. on the Bill Nicoll Memorial Ceremonies
Field. That’s also where spectators can
witness:
• Opening Ceremonies at 9:15 a.m., followed
by Highland Mist Scottish country
dancing at 9:30 a.m.
• Sheep Herding Demonstrations at 10 am.
and 3:30 p.m.
• Parade of Tartans, featuring all
assembled Scottish clans at noon.
• First Responders Tug-of-War at
1 p.m.
• Awards Ceremony, Massed Pipe
Band performance and Farmers’ Walk
at 4:30 p.m.
Entertainment on the Alex Sutherland
Memorial Stage begins at 10 a.m.
and continues throughout the day, culminating
with the final Mudmen concert
beginning at 7:45 p.m. Featured
acts include folk music by Peat Fire
Flame, Jamie McGeechan, The Wee
Heavies, Mitzi MacDonald and Keltic
Reign, and a performance by Shilleligans
Celtic Music Duo.
Sword-fighting demonstrations take place
at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the Legion of Honor
area.
Kids can join in the fun with activities just
for them from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Admission is $25 for adults aged 18 and
older and $10 for youths aged 13-17. Children
age 12 and younger are free. Tickets
should be purchased in advance at stlouisscottishgames.com.
Beginning at 5 p.m., entrance to the festival
grounds for the evening concerts is free.
General parking is available at Parkway
South High, 801 Hanna Road; Hanna Woods
Elementary, 720 Hanna Road; The Journey
West County Church, 625 Meramec Station
Road; and Community Christian Church,
623 Meramec Station Road. Complementary
trolley transportation will be available to and
from the Schroeder Park festival grounds.
Accessible parking only will be available in
Schroeder Park.