25th February 2013 Washington DC, USA
And the Band Plays on… Tour to the South
The following is a guest blog by Major Andrew Halliday from the Black Watch. Major Halliday is currently taking part in the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch and the Military Band of the Scots Guards 2013 US tour. This is his second post as they head towards the Carolinas and Texas.
The Black Watch Pipes and Drums and Band of the Scots Guards USA Tour 2013 has continued in much the same vein as it began. Wherever we have gone, we have been enormously well received and the group have won over many more friends. I can say in all honesty the US welcome has been one of the warmest we have received since starting the tour. It was only the other week in Newport News, Virginia, that we by chance came upon ‘Toby Keith’s’ [look it up – he’s cool] bar and grill after a performance. We were met by a Herculean ‘Cowboy’ bouncer at the entrance to the bar, who upon seeing our Military IDs, insisted on free beers, burgers and entry for everyone. Humbling and inspiring in equal measure.
Our promised move south resulted in a stopover in Charlotte, North Carolina before we progressed on into Greenville, South Carolina. True to form things in South Carolina are a bit different. For example, a large sign at the ice hockey stadium we played in, announced that if any spectators got hit by the puck during the game, it was their fault for not having watched closely enough. No humour intended, just a fact.
We have now performed 24 times and on all these occasions the audience has risen to their feet in appreciation. However, it’s perhaps 26 times if you count the additional times that the crowd in Greenville rose to their feet in one performance.
We have already met more US Major Generals than the British Army possibly has in it. And when one Major General stands up and ‘orders’ the 2,000 people in the audience to give us another round of applause, and another Major General lovingly embraces his wife during our performance of ‘Amazing Grace’ you know you are doing well.
In the coming week though the distances will get bigger and 10 hour bus journeys will become the normal. It’s difficult to appreciate, but we are doing very nearly the distance from London to Inverness (which is about 440 miles) each day now between venues: the country is huge. The snow has been deep especially in Canada but in the coming days we will head further south and everyone is looking forward to the promise of higher temperature and Texan hospitality.
More about the tour:
Regimental dancing, flashing red ceremonial dress, and historic music by the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch and the Military Band of the Scots Guards have entertained American audiences since they first visited the United States in 1872. Beginning in 1955, they have regularly toured the US coast-to-coast. Having played troops into famous battles like Waterloo, these world-renowned musicians have toured the globe, performing at official state functions and engaging many cultures around the world. Organised by CAMI Inc., this 2013 tour combines both historic Regimental bands as they perform 59 shows in over 50 cities over 3 months around the US and Canada.
More about Major Andrew Halliday
As part of the tour, Major Andrew Halliday from the Black Watch will be keeping us up to date on the tour group’s experiences as they cross the US. A graduate of the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, he has deployed with Black Watch on two tours in Afghanistan where he was awarded a Mention in Despatches, the oldest recognition of gallantry in British forces. He received the award for his actions in combat during the Operation Panther’s Claw.
I wish the tour came to Chicago. The Black Watch was the first pipe band my father took me to see when I was four years old. I would love to have my children enjoy this wonderful experience, too.