Promoting the Bagpipe Revival since 1986
The Bagpipe Society
Blowout 2025
Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June
Polesworth Abbey
High Street
Polesworth
Warwickshire
B78 1DU
Featuring:
- Gesine Banfer & Steven Player
- Callum Armstrong
- Tasos Makris
- Jon Loomes
- Mat Stephens
- Nicholas Konradsen
- Ross Calderwood & Caleb Wilson
- David Faulkner’s Pipe Club
- Jon Swayne & friends
- Aisling Holmes
- Terry Mann
- Ravi Sawney
- workshops for beginners
- … and the Fabulous Friday Night Competition!
A BLOWOUT IN A NUTSHELL
The Blowout is the annual gathering of the Bagpipe Society, but is open to all and anyone happy to buy a ticket. The weekend ticket includes camping in the vicarage garden on Friday & Saturday night and access to all workshops, talks and concerts. It’s very good value!
If it’s your first Blowout, ask for Kirsten or Martin on arrival - or look for anyone with a big friendly Bagpipe Society badge - and we’ll do our best to help or to answer any questions. This year, we are offering more sessions for beginners, aiming to keep you busy & entertained throughout the weekend!
The Blowout starts on Friday afternoon in a fairly informal manner. The main event is the Fabulous Friday Night Competition, hosted by Julian Goodacre. We start when he is ready, but definitely not before dinner. The 2025 theme is Brush Up Yer William Shakespeare! - see link below for full(ish) details!
Rules for the 2025 competition
Saturday is packed with workshops from 10am-5pm, followed by the BagSoc AGM, the concert in The Abbey Church Of St Editha and the Bal Folk.
Sunday continues with workshops, a talk, and the closing concert which features most of the performers & workshop leaders as well as contributions from the weekend’s participants.
We finish at 3:30pm and go home tired & happy. Hangovers are optional.
Please be aware that the timetables are not set in stone! It is almost inevitable that there will be changes made closer to the date, sometimes even (in crayon) on the weekend itself, so always consult the printed timetables on display in the hall for the definitive plan.
More information about practicalities can be found further down this page.
PERFORMERS & WORKSHOP LEADERS
WORKSHOP: Early Folk Music
Gesine invites you on a journey through the centuries. In this course you will learn folk tunes, old dances and ballads from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Some of the popular tunes were so well known that they were arranged into polyphonic movements or ornately decorated as early as the Renaissance. Others made it to America through emigration and are still played today.
All instruments are welcome!
TALK: Her name is just smoke in the wind: Following the traces of female bagpipers in iconography and literature in history
In the 5th century b.C. Herodotus describes how women played the Aulos in the Egyptian temple-city of Bubastis, to honor the cat goddess Bastet. Throughout early antiquity, reed instruments and frame drums were initially the instruments of women and belonged to the cult of mother deities. They were the instruments of the powerful priestesses who played at religious ceremonies, sacrificial acts, ancestral cults and funerals. They paid homage to Cybele, goddess of fertility and earth. This picture changes in the Middle ages and Renaissance - there are hardly any depictions of female musicians. What happened? Are they really missing? Did they not exist? Do the surviving images of female musicians present a real situation? In this talk I will follow the traces of female bagpipers in iconography.
Dance workshop: Folk & Early Dancing where’s the line?
Exploring gaillards as they are a major influence on folk dances; plus 18th century common ballroom dances such as bourrees and minuets.
WORKSHOP: English Borderpipes
A course focusing on how to overblow cleanly, expanding the range, and how to learn to play cross-fingerings more precisely.
Please note that this workshop is for a maximum of 12 participants per session, so sign up beforehand via BlowoutQuestions@gmail.com to secure your space! Callum will be running the same workshop twice, so please specify your preferred session.
Gaida workshop
In this workshop I will introduce you to the gaida tradition of northern Greece by teaching some greek tunes and songs. We will use these traditional tunes as a vehicle to approach the technique and style of gaida.
TALK: An overview of the Gaida in Greece in the 20th century
In this conversation we will examine the presence of the gaida in northern Greece and its evolution from the interwar era, until the beginning of the 21 st century. For this examination it is important to take into consideration factors such as the social and political environment of each period. Only through this perspective we can have a better understanding of the gaida music and construction in Greece.
WORKSHOP: Zen and the art of hurdy gurdy
From the basics of getting a sound, to using the instrument as a conduit for expression.
The hurdy gurdy is a fascinating instrument that prompts many questions. Such questions include; Why do we do what we do? What is that exactly? Is it entirely ethical? How can we improve? Where’s the pub? Is there any cake? What do I do with all this cotton wool?
In our quest for enlightenment we will try to answer some of these, and possibly play a tune or two along the way. Expect something old, something new, something borrowed, and something French.
Scottish smallpipes
Caleb Wilson and Ross Calderwood
Caleb and Ross have been regulars at the Blowout for the past few years, travelling all the way from Lochalsh in the Highlands. Both musicians were raised in a Highland bagpipe tradition but are now primarily known for their small pipe playing, as well as D and G Border pipes and Swedish-style single reed pipes. Ross is one of Scotland’s leading small pipe makers and has performed with various bands, including Harta, where he plays predominantly Scandinavian music blended with early Scottish tunes. Meanwhile, Caleb has been exploring local Gaelic songs with renowned singer Jenny Duncan. Together, they have embarked on a new musical project with Hurdy Gurdy player Quentin Budworth and Keri Skye on double bass, focusing on French, English, and Pan-European music. Caleb and Ross always look forward to their trip south and are happy to help throughout the weekend.
Cynulliad Pibau Cymreig / Welsh bagpipe gathering
Mat Stephens has agreed to host an informal gathering for players (and would be players) of single reed Welsh pipes. We will focus on pipes in D, but if your instrument is in a different key then still come along and we will do our best to accommodate you!
Mat wants to be clear that he is in no way qualified to “teach” Welsh bagpipes, but he will come armed with a selection of Welsh tunes suited to the pipes. Mat’s main aim is that the session is hwyl a swnllyd (fun and noisy!). If you already have a favourite Welsh pipe tune, bring it along!
Nicholas Konradsen, who has been making Welsh pipes in recent years (including most of those at last year’s Blowout), will hopefully be on hand to help with any maintenance or reed issues and may even have a set or two to loan for the session.
WORKSHOP: Bagpipe maintenance
This informal workshop about adjustment of single reed type bagpipes as well as general bagpipe maintenance, as well as a demonstration on making a single downcut cane reed for a Welsh Pibgorn. There will be a toolbox present with most of what will be needed to be able to adjust pipes, so if you have any misbehaving sets of Torupill, Säckpipa, Gaida etc you are encouraged to bring them along!
Pipe Club
David will be hosting a Pipe Club. It will be a bit like a piping folk club where you can play the party piece that you have been working on; solo or with a friend or two.
You can ask people to listen or to join in, your choice. It will be a safe space to share your music and have a go at performing in front of a friendly audience. Performance time will depend on how many people are up for doing something. We will make sure everyone feels included and that we have some fun. We can even offer some positive feedback if you would like!
WORKSHOP: Absolute Beginners
David Faulkner and Aisling Holmes
Student pipes will be provided. Please book one in advance to ensure you have one. These will be hands-on sessions where we get to play the pipes.
We’ll learn about the parts of the instrument, what they are called & how they work. We will work through how to hold the instrument and good posture, breathing and blowing and how to maintain steady pressure.
We’ll think about tuning and drones, and start to look at fingering and the principles of gracing! You never know - we might even learn a tune or two. All done with the aim of everyone being included and having some fun!
WORKSHOP: Dancing and playing for dancing
A blend of tune work and dancing, intended for dancers and pipers of all levels. We will learn dances and tunes to play for those dances. All comers will get to do all the dances and all the tunes.
We will learn each dance whilst the tune is played by one of the tutors. Then we will work on the tune, after which we will dance again with you playing the tune.
Participants get to be both musician and dancer - and can swap around roles as they feel to explore how it all works.
At the end they will be able to join dances in the Bals, and play better for dances.
Music for D and G pipes will be provided.
Pipers’ Surgery
Now a regular feature of the festival, the ‘pipers’ surgery’ is principally for players of Southern English Border Pipes, but open to all, especially beginners and those at an intermediate level. Come with questions about technique, posture, repertoire, or practice and he will do his best to help!
Saturday Bal Folk
Jon Swayne & friends - details to be confirmed!
Makers’ Stalls
A number of leading makers of bagpipes and other instruments will be exhibiting their wares and will be glad to help you draw up your wish list.
The Bagpipe Society’s Second-hand Pipes, Books & CD Stall Buy, sell, swap, donate - it’s up to you!
Food
Catering is provided by Just Add Guests.
Check back here soon for more details!
IMPORTANT: Meals need to be ordered by 22 May 2023!
The Bar
The Bar is run by the village hall, which is a fully licensed premises. Please be aware that only alcohol purchased from the bar may be consumed on the premises.
PRACTICALITIES
LOCAL ACCOMMODATION
Polesworth is not well provided with short stay accommodation and you are advised to look in Tamworth, which is no more than a 15 minute drive away. Contact BlowoutQuestions@gmail.com for further advice.
INFORMATION FOR CAMPER VANS
We have the use of two alternative sites for campervans and caravans, both within a very short distance of the Memorial Hall. Spaces are limited, so it is important that you contact BlowoutQuestions@gmail.com for practical information. Please check this page for updates before setting out or contact us if you have any questions.
GENERAL PARKING
The Church driveway is strictly no parking. There are only a few spaces available for cars, next to the Church, but they are solely for disabled visitors to the site. Please park behind the Memorial Hall.
IMPORTANT: these spaces are for cars only and camper vans are not permitted to park there overnight.
CAMPING INFORMATION
Both camping areas are accessible via the church annex. There is no problem with dropping off and unloading, either by the Refectory door or by the garage, which offers an alternative access to the garden. After drop off, re-park behind the Memorial Hall.
The first area is within the old cloisters and fills up quickly. The second area is reached through a gate diagonally across the lawn and consists of rough pasture leading down to the river. There is always plenty of space available. There is 24-hour access to toilets in the Church annex, which contain small wash basins. There is no additional charge for camping, beyond the purchase of a weekend ticket.
TICKETS AND FOOD
Email blowoutquestions@gmail.com with any questions.
Click here to buy a ticket to the Blowout
Catering is provided by Just Add Guests.
Click here to see the menu and book a full weekend ticket
Meals are required to be pre-booked by 11TH MAY 2025
Catering is provided by Just Add Guests. If you would like to book individual meals, please email justaddguestsltd@gmail.com .
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