East Ayrshire Pipe Band Academy (EPIC) put on a spectacular recently as part of a celebration of the group.
This year EPIC celebrate five years of working, teaching and performing within the local community.
To celebrate in style, they held an expert show at Cumnock's Barony Hall, with a support from Kilmarnock Pipe Band, who this year celebrate their 90th anniversary.
The pipes and drums were supported by a backing band of piano, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit – and this ‘rock’ set up was an underlying theme of the concert.
A huge crowd gathered in Cumnock as the bands performed a number of well-known favourites.
The first half was hosted by 11-year-old Angel Blackhurst who did a phenomenal job speaking to the audience whilst performing in both EPIC and Kilmarnock, and also doing some dancing.
At the end of the evening EPIC presented their annual awards, and the winners this year were:
- Gigger of the Year – David Bunten and Kenzie Thomas
- the Extra Mile Award – Angel Blackhurst and Chloe Donald
- the Shine Award – Melissa Leary
- The Alex Duncan Memorial Award – Jai Blackhurst
To conclude the show the bands were joined by Councillor Jim McMahon who gave a rousing rendition of Caledonia.
EPIC Project Manager Paul Warren said: “We are so pleased to have been able to celebrate our first five years with such a big event – this past five years has brought us a car crash, a global pandemic and the covid lock downs, protectionism and a spiralling cost of living crisis.
"That EPIC is able to put on a show like this after these five years is incredible, and our young people that have hung in there through such tough times should be incredibly proud of themselves – we certainly are, and every single one of them is truly EPIC.”
Local represenatives turned up at the show to enjoy the best of the bands.
Councillor June Kyle said: “Wonderful concert at the Barony Hall.
"The improvement a year on is amazing. Well done to all the youngsters for their hard work.”
Councillor Neill Watts added: “It was absolutely brilliant, the hard work that everyone involved has put in to this production has certainly paid off, it was spectacular!
"Well done to everyone, you were just awesome and certainly EPIC!”.
Councillor Jim McMahon, who performed, said: “It was an outstanding performance from all the talented pipers and drummers in the show.”
Councillor William Lennox, who also attended, said: “This was a brilliant event!
"We had a superb night listening to the real musical talent of so many young people who have learned various instruments, including the bagpipes and drums.
"Cllr Jim McMahon joined in at the end with the band singing Caledonia. I mean, between the young people and this song, I don’t think there were many dry eyes in the room.”
EPIC would like to thank all of the local businesses and local people who supported the concert, donated raffle prizes and came along to cheer them on.
Footage from the show is available on the EPIC East Ayrshire Pipe Band Academy Facebook page.
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