Inverness piper ‘buzzing’ to play live in USA after releasing World Cup song

Inverness bagpiper who released World Cup song for Scotland Iain MacGillivray ‘buzzing’ to head out to USA to perform live for Tartan Army A bagpipe instrumental with a music video incorporating the Highland landscape, Inverness castle, and footage and commentary from Scotland’s memorably victory over Denmark that sealed qualification for the World Cup finals, the song has brought nothing but positive feedback after tens of thousands of views online. “It’s unique as a bagpipe tune with no lyrics, but it’s had a lot of good feedback – some people have even been saying it should be the official anthem,” he said. “It’s really gaining momentum. Being a musician, you have to take these opportunities, and I wanted to give something back to the fans and the country in this moment and try to encapsulate that in a video to make it epic. “We’ve got an anthem now that is from Inverness, and it’s been brilliant to have that recognition. “It helps to push the Scotland thing away from Celtic and Rangers, or Hibs and Hearts. We’re a Highland band, so there’s no club association in the same way – it’s all about Scotland. “The music video is a really good showcase of the Highlands and Inverness, and it’s been brilliant to get feedback from people in the central belt or abroad who think it’s brilliant.” Mr MacGillivray will not be attending the game against Haiti itself due to his performance times, but that does not mean his trip to the USA will be exclusively music-based. As commander of Clan MacGillivray, he will be speaking to the Native American centre in Boston about an ancestor who became chief of a tribal creek nation, and he will also be acting as chieftain for a nearby Highland Games on the morning of Scotland’s match against Haiti.

Appropriately, there will also be a tie-in with Mary’s Meals, a Scottish charity feeding millions of children every day all around the world, including in Haiti. That link could also see some famous faces popping in to The Haven to soak up the atmosphere while Mr MacGillivray is playing there in the coming weeks. “When I got in touch with Mary’s Meals out in the States, they were so keen to pounce on it, so they are effectively in tow with us,” he explained. “I don’t know for sure, but Gerard Butler is the face of Mary’s Meals, he’s the biggest celebrity involved, and I’ve heard that he knows what we’re doing and he might even make an appearance. “It’s such a cool thing, and he is a football fan, but I don’t even know if that’s going to happen or not. I’ve heard rumours about Ewan MacGregor maybe making an appearance as well, but again I don’t know. “We’re going to be in the right place if they do show up – we’re right in the heart of things and we’re going to have the place bouncing. “I was out in Germany a couple of years ago for my brother’s stag do, and we fitted it in with the Scotland game against Germany at the Euros, and there was something like 200,000 people there. You could feel the buzz, so I’m so excited to go out to the States and experience that again. “As it gets closer, I’m getting more and more excited to be honest.

It almost feels like an official state visit with the Native American Centre, and with the Highland Games and Mary’s Meals on board we’ve almost expanded the purpose of going out there. “To play for all the fans in Boston, it’s going to be historic, but we’re not just going out as musicians – we’re almost going out as ambassadors.” Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.