A young local pipe band are doing their bit to bring Scottish traditional music to a wider audience by releasing their own version of Ed Sheeran’s Castle on the Hill. Davidson’s Mains & District Pipe Band first played the chart-topping hit in the freestyle category of the Scottish Schools Championship – and the performance attracted so many hits on Facebook that the band decided, with Sheeran’s approval, to record his song in the studio and raise money for charity.
A video, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, has also been produced to accompany the release, which is available for digital download.
With a percentage of the proceeds being donated to Cash for Kids, the project has won the approval of key figures in the music industry, including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ Craig Munro, who is also a judge at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships.
Craig said: “The innovation and imagination shown by Davidson’s Mains School Pipe Band, creating their version of Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran, is everything the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships Freestyle Event is about – all musical disciplines working together having fun. I thoroughly enjoyed their performance whilst judging the event and congratulate them on their new charity single.”
Davidson’s Mains & District Pipe Band were formed in 2012. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength under the guidance of their pipe major, Clare Miller, whose tireless work has made them a vital part of their community.
Alexandra Duncan, chief executive of the Scottish Schools Pipes & Drums Trust,which aims to protect and expand the country’s musical heritage, said that the band should be congratulated on responding to worldwide interest in their music.
“Davidson’s Mains school pipe band is a fantastic example of what pupils, parents and tutors can achieve in a very short space of time,” she said. “Tuition started just seven years ago, and since then pupils, parents and the community have gone on an exciting journey, competing in national events, performing in the school and community, and creating their own take on contemporary music. Hats off to Davidson’s Mains schools pipe band!”
Castle on the Hill by Davidson’s Mains & District Pipe Band is available for digital download at major stores, including iTunes.
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