Neilston & District Pipe Band

 Neilston & District Pipe Band performs for Parades, Weddings, Conferences, Gala Days & Special events. 

The band was founded in 1970, in the townships of Neilston and Barrhead. The dress worn is the traditional kilt and plaid with accompanying dress and cross belts (no. 1 uniform). Pipe Major Russell Mechan leads the band.

Neilston Pipe Band has played all over the world including Canada USA, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, Bangkok, Tokyo,  China & the Philippines.

Reports of a pipe band in Neilston date back around 200 years. Records of 1819 say that a group from Neilston played “Scots Wha Hae wi Wallace bled” (College of Piping Tutor, Book 1) at a rally of Scottish Radicals in Paisley on 11 September. On that occasion, the band sensed trouble with the police — a tradition we maintain to the present day — and escaped down Storie Street. However, it is equally probable that the band had to rush off to another gig.

In more recent times, a band formed in 1970, and that marks the start of today’s Neilston & District Pipe Band. It draws its members from the townships of Neilston and Barrhead, 15km southwest of Glasgow. The band has a pipe corps playing the great highland bagpipe, and a drum corps of snare, tenor, and bass instruments. Pipe Major Iain MacDonald leads the ensemble.

The tartan of the band’s kilts is MacKenzie — Army 5a — worn of old by the Seaforth Highlanders (72nd and 79th Foot) and, of course, Glasgow’s regiment, the Highland Light Infantry (71st and 74th Foot).