On piping St Patrick’s Day

Piping for St Patrick’s Day each year is just plain fun! This year has been no exception. Our band traditionally marches in the San Francisco St Patrick’s Day Parade. This year it was on Saturday the 14th. As with all band gigs, all pipers and drummers arrived early, warmed up, tuned and tried out the parade sets. Then it’s stand around and wait for the parade to move. Once on the street we fall into a natural rhythm of marching to cadence then play a parade set. The crowds are large, and give us an enthusiastic cheer whenever and whatever we play. We are blessed to also have with us members of the Piedmont Highlander Scottish Dancers who perform with us to a couple dance tunes if we are stopped long enough to allow for them to perform. They will also dance with us at the parade review stand as part of our parade performance set. Thanks to the dancers, our Drum Major Paul’s choreography for the band and our Pipe Major Dan’s leading the band came in 1st place in the parade.

Afterward we walked back toward our cars, but instead of leaving, the band played at an Irish pub called the Chieftain: http://thechieftain.com/. There the band played back and forth with a small Irish pub band. We received a raucous reception as we played our parade sets and more. At one point, we cleared enough space for the dancers to offer a dance set accompanied by the pipe band playing Orange and Blue.

On the Tuesday evening of St Patrick’s Day, I was asked to play the Westbrae Biergarten in north Berkeley: http://www.westbraebiergarten.com/ This fine family friendly outdoor beer garden proved to be a wonderful place to spend the evening playing for the patrons. Kids enjoying the fountain and kid friendly play area while Mom and Dad with friends enjoyed delicious food and drink. Families enjoying a meal at spotlessly clean picnic tables under awnings. Others gathered around a fire pit. Face painters created works of art on all children wishing a small adornment. I’d easily rate this establishment as a Bay Area gem and give it two thumbs up for hospitality, food, drink and warm atmosphere. A good time was had by all!