For the second time, you voted Joyful Noise Bagpiping, Tampa A-List's Best Ceremony Music! Thank you all for voting and for the kind words and exaltation as it reminds me the reason why I do this. Not the glory (there isn't any), definitely not the money, but because it is a way God uses me to be a blessing to so many in Tampa Bay (and the excuse to wear a kilt haha). I am humbled and grateful you took that time to vote and I hope to prove myself worthy and look forward to serving the community with my joyful noise.
      Those I serve are truly the greatest clients and as I continue to learn new tunes, I hope I can continue to add that Celtic tradition to your event! Few things are like the skirl of the pipes and I'm glad for more often than not, people enjoy my take on timeless tunes. 

      As a member of the Clan Gunn Society of North America (CGSNA) and avid participant in the tent at highland games in Florida, I've been asked many times what place it there for clans today? Well, most importantly its a way to preserve our culture and learn our history! You also gain new friends and family who share your interest and appreciation for Scottish arts and culture. Plus, you have the opportunity to be apart of the clan parades at highland games and group tours that many clans coordinate to visit Scotland.

      Your small yearly dues cover the cost of having a tent at games, administration costs, and displays to name a few but every officer position is a volunteer placement and they put much a good deal of their money and time into each event. As the Florida Branch Bagpiper for Clan Gunn, I volunteer my time to pipe events and it is a great benefit to have a shaded tent to rest and share in some good conversation! 
​      Next time you go to a games, stop by a tent and chat them up and if you don't know what clan you're from you can find great resources! As a dues paying member of CGSNA, I can without question speak of the benefits of it. My wife and I have made great friends, learned much, and even imparted some knowledge to others. A great honor for clans at highland games is to earn he clan of the year prize and be an honored clan at games. This year at the Dunedin Highland Games, Clan Gunn won Clan of the year and will be the honored clan next year at Dunedin! 
​      There are many highland games and celtic festivals around, so do some research and hit some up! It makes for a fun day and there are always many things to see and do. In a fast paced and ever changing society, I find a comfort in Scottish clan societies in the states as they ensure an important part of history isn't forgotten. Few places in the world haven't been affected by Scottish culture, near every former or current British colony has bagpipe bands, they brought there traditions and farming to the American Colonies, farmed and settle the Appalachian Mountains, and have served a vital part in the military.

      The Royal Scots Dragoons Guards album, Spirit of the Glen was the first album recorded in an active war zone (Basra, Iraq) and you can hear that fact on the Flowers of the Forest track. One of my favorite albums and you can feel the emotions of those Cavalrymen in the music. Drum and Bugle has it's place in parade but bagpipes have stood the test of time in battlefields and civilian life. As an avid piper in Tampa Bay, I've played hundreds of events and I have seen a wide range of emotions and talked with those who have served with Scottish battalions with pipe bands, and heard them in wartime. Known many veterans and even an SAS officer who served in WWII and they all agree those pipers are crazy. I think we all have to be to some level as common side effects of the instrument is hearing loss, upper repertory illness (clean your bags guys), and a steady case of empty wallet syndrome.

​      Bagpipes are not for everyone, and I always say you either love'em or hate'em. Next time you hear the mournful bellows of the highland bagpipes and a piper in traditional garb, don't pretend to pop the bag or mess with the drones or the kilt, instead give the piper a smile or a head nod and maybe drop a few dollars his or her way. It's a costly instrument to maintain and don't forget the saying, "time to pay the piper!"

​      As much as you might not enjoy it, it could be making someone else's day. Also, as St. Patrick's Day comes, you can only play so many Irish tunes on Scottish pipes. And no, we cannot play ​Free Bird.

Probably Scotland's most famous poet, over 200 years later Robert Burns is beloved the world over. Though, during his life he was not as loved continually as he was thought to be a crown sympathizer at times. January 25th the world over, people hold dinners to celebrate his birth and read a few of his poems but being that are written in Scots it isn't so easy.

​One of the few times a year, bagpipers are guaranteed a job if they desire and the only gig all year I believe we are truly respected and welcomed by the harshest of music critics. I always enjoy piping in the haggis to A Man's A Man For A That ​and piping other loved tunes. Did you know that there is another day everyone recites a poem of his? It's New Years Day when people sing Auld Lang Syne​.

​The past couple years I have piped a private event in St. Petersburg, Florida and have enjoyed it as the hosts invite those without much knowledge of Rabbie, Scotland, bagpipes or haggis (which a lack of haggis knowledge is a good thing). Scotland's Favorite Son was an advocate of his history and preserving a small piece of it within his works. As in his poem, Scots Wae Hae:

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
Welcome to your gory bed,
         Or to victory!

Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power--
         Chains and slavery!

​Those are just two stanzas and you can see the rest online but you get a quick sense of what he is speaking of, especially if you've seen Braveheart (though a very historically inaccurate movie). Or here in Address to a Haggis:

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!