Highlands Chamber of Commerce is bringing a series of pop-up bagpiping performances from local musicians Margaret Tooke and Glenn Morris, who are set to begin in May.
Each performance will be held on select Saturdays up until the month of October. The dates for the pop-up bagpipe shows are May 4, June 13, Aug. 2, Sept. 7 and Oct. 5. The pop-ups will pay homage to Scottish and Irish heritage in honor of their contribution to the area’s cultural hub.
While the specific location of where each performance will occur remains unknown for now, according to Morris, the pop-ups will last for 30 minutes each, which means locals only have a brief window if they want to catch some of the music.
Morris added to this, stating that they try to play music that is familiar to the community alongside other types of songs that fit the style of the bagpipe.
“There are some sort classics that we play, but Scotland brand new. And then we play Danny Boy. We play various songs that people are going to remember. The theme from Outlander, which is a Sky Boat song,” he said.
Tooke and Morris originally became interested in bagpiping in 2008 after they saw the film Amazing Grace, which featured bagpipe music during its end credits. Moved by the music they heard, the two decided to pick up learning how to play.
“We were living in Baton Rouge at the time and my best friend knew a guy who was forming a new pipe band in Baton Rouge and we became a two of a group of about five that were his first students,” Tooke said.
Since then, the two always are sure to play Amazing Grace with their performances, which Tooke described as a moving showcase of music.
“We always play Amazing Grace at the end and we’re playing together for the first run through the song and then I stop and Glenn starts the second playing and he turns and walks away. So, the sound fades,” Tooke said.
In addition to the upcoming performances, Tooke and Morris noted that they are in need of drummers to accompany their bagpipes, and that they are open for anyone who knows how to play, should they be interested in joining.
“We desperately need drummers,” Tooke said. “Pipes sound so much better with drummers.”
Speaking on what she hopes the biggest takeaway is from the upcoming performances, Tooke said she is excited to be spreading music in the area and seeing the faces of the community gather for the art of bagpiping.
Morris further emphasized this, stating that it will be a pleasant surprise for locals to will stumble upon in town, providing an exciting experience for those that enjoy music.
“I think it’s just kind of a nice surprise for people that are walking in downtown Highlands to hear these pipes and to have that new experience. It feels appropriate to be playing that kind of music,” he said.