Droning On

Jeremy is the computer-hacking, globe-trotting, website-building force of nature behind TheSession.org

Tune into this episode to hear some of Jeremy's mandolin picking, to boot!

APPLICABLE LINKS

https://thesession.org/ (of course)

*that's a great place to make a one-time or recurring donation

And consider supporting The Session via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/the_session?

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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You can write-in...

David Duncan returns to the show, this time to talk with us about his amazing invention: a pickup mic for the Great Highland Bagpipes!

Tune into this episode to hear James list a few of the many things he does not understand, and demonstrate several more.

APPLICABLE LINKS: Electrified Bagpipe Chanter: https://www.duncelectric.com/

-Elijah Walcott using it for looping: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da0Ew49uMJd/

-David Soloing: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUXTIAAEWQD/

-One of my favorite samples, from “early testing” in Feb of 2025: https://www...

Not unlike episode 128 last year, this episode is a rambly mess of a "road to competition" monologue over several months.

Also not unlike last year, I didn't end up competing... at one local festival...

But entirely unlike last year: I did manage to compete once this time 'round!

As before, if you're up for creating an audio journal like this in the ramp-up to a competition, performance, while composing a tune or harmony, putting together a medley, recording a track, etc - send it in! I'll help doctor it...

Ever heard of the Uilleann Pipes? The Ninja Turtles? The Internet? PODCASTS?!? Patrick D'Arcy invented them all.

Tune into this episode to hear Jim mispronounce Patrick's surname with remarkable consistency...

Here are some links to things we talked about:

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Rod returns, and this time: it's piratical.

Tune into this episode to hear the host promise (repeatedly) to make flattering edits, and then completely neglect doing so!

Here's the website that was mentioned in this podcast, "The Music of Robert Louis Stevenson": https://edrls.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-music-of-robert-louis-stevenson/

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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You can write-in to the show with comments, ideas, requests, etc. at TheDroningOnPodcast@gmail.com

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Hey friends,

Here's a little bonus episode. A while ago, when first adding Patreon support as an option for the show, we started doing these drawings.

Droning On Prize givEaway

But I fell behind, so catching up here - so far this year there have been several artists on the show with albums available on BandCamp. In this bonus episode the Cthulhu Dice Tower will select winners of copies of these excellent albums.

This time we're giving away copies of:

Conor Crimmins is a talented DJ, surfer, flute-player, and more. Among many other excellent projects he has produced an album, AEROPHONE, which has been described as, "Banging dance music with spacy flute lines".

Tune into this episode to hear, well, some real banging dance music with spacy flute lines!

APPLICABLE LINKS:

The guest for this episode needs to introduction, it's Rabby himself, returned to the show for some chat!

Tune into this episode to hear the best bagpipe-podcast-dad advice ever to hit the airwaves.

Check out Rab's show and everything he's got going on along with the rest of the Big Rab Show crew at their website: https://www.thebigrabshow.com/

(and, of course, they're all over the socials)

Here's a Bagad-rock band we mentioned, though could not pronounce, during the show: https://startijenn.bandcamp.com/album/skeud

And here's...

Ben Jaber(wocky?) is a talented multi-instrumentalist gracing stages, camps, the internet, and more with his uilleann piping, french horning, fluting, and more.

Tune into this episode to hear how Ben became the freshest prince of Bel-Air.

During this interview, we mentioned:

Justin is a lifelong piper. He's competed at high levels as a soloist and with bands, and he's played some Bagad as well.

Tune into this episode to hear two dudes do their best to describe the indescribable regarding bagpipe-sounds.

Here's a lovely MSR from Justin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJgheR_1GQE

And a Piobaireachd, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHqG7Wjpp4A

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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Camille is a professional performer, experienced piper, published author, and (as of recently... or soon, because she lives in the future): a stained glass artisan!

Tune into this episode for the most children's television programming focused Bagpipe Podcast Episode to date.

Here are some bands that came up during our conversation:

Australian Celtic Women: https://www.celticwomen.com.au/

Murphy's Pigs: https://murphyspigs.com/

Chasing Abbey: https://www.chasingabbey.ie/

Celtic Thunder: https://www.celticthunder.com/

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook...

Jason Rouse is a talented artist. From programing games, to painting landscapes, to tape-recordings of historic sets of pipes and so, so much more.

Tune into this episode to hear some killer tunes, great stories, and totally quotable quotes.

APPLICABLE LINKS

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook...

Jack is a lifelong, multi-generational, multi-instrumentalist and on top of all that, he's also an excellent conversation partner. But don't take my word for it: check out this episode of the show, you'll see!

Tune into this episode to hear the host's feeble attempts to stitch together multiple takes after the internet or solar flares or angry gods or something tried over and over again to stop the conversation. But we persevered!

Check out Jack's social media stuff: https://www.instagram.com/charlestonbagpiper/

And if you're interested, here's the Iona Session album that...

WRITE ABOUT GUEST

Tune into this episode to hear which famous Irish singer joined Matt to sing about Donuts on his All of Us album.

Here's some of Matt's music with the Electric Heaters: https://electricheaters.bandcamp.com/

And some of his music for kids: https://mattheatonmusic.bandcamp.com/

And of COURSE some of his music with Shannon: https://mattandshannonheaton.bandcamp.com/track/cabin-boy

Be sure to check out Matt & Shannon's guided session in April: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNBgNicF6tU0jlitHYcB03R9bE7MkGBl0<...

Celtic Pink Floyd is a project that's been around for going on two decades now and a lot of very talented musicians have been involved from the beginning. Throughout all iterations, performances, and albums: brothers Damon & Brian Stout have been at the core and Patrick D'Arcy has been sprinkling traditional flavors over every arrangement.

The brothers & Pat join me on the show to talk about the CPF project in general, about the next, "stripped-down," iteration of the group, and to share with us a brand new track from the group, putting their own spin on the Duran...

Just wanted to do a little re-upload in case anyone missing Jeff would enjoy hearing his interview from back in episode 077 (March, 2023).

*Skipping ahead to the 1-minute mark will get you past the old opening "ad" from when this interview was first published.

Jeff also played on a couple tracks for the charity album we did a bit ago, it's lovely to listen to him making music: https://droningon.bandcamp.com/album/pipes-for-peace

Cedar Dobson returns to the Droning On podcast to talk through, and hear samples from, her excellent holiday album, "A Whistle Wonderland". Cedar's done some very cool, "tradifying," of familiar holiday melodies with plenty of her own signature Cedarisms.

Tune into this episode to hear lots of wintertide standards done in a not-so-standard way!

And congrats to Carol (of the Bells?) for winning the D.O.P.E. giveaway! A copy of the album will be headed your way shortly.

To get your own copy, check it out on Bandcamp: https...

Andrew O'Sullivan is back to play through, (and talk through,) some more Holiday tunes!

Tune into this episode to hear Andrew talk about fiddles, smallpipes, and "fiddling around with smallpipes".

This episode features some piping from Andrew & I, but also from:

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: htt...

Robert Macdonald came on the show back in January of 2024. We talked then about his bagpipe journey, his music making with Pennyland, and more -- including the fiddle playing & tune-making of Cape Breton fiddler John MacDougall.

The most recent episode (136: Music from the Dead, The Tune-Making of John MacDougall by Robert Macdonald) was an, "audiobook," you might say, of what Robert wrote about John MacDougall's work after spending time with him in Cape Breton in 2009.

Tune into this episode to hear a dude who's never been to Cape Breton ask a dude who has been...

Robert Macdonald came on the show back in January of 2024. We talked, then, mostly about his music making with Pennyland.

We talked a bit about his scholarly work on the compositions of fiddler John MacDougall, though, and ever since I've been wanting to dig a bit more into that.

This episode is an, "audiobook," you might say, of what Robert wrote about John MacDougall's work after spending time with him in Cape Breton in 2009.

Tune into this episode to hear an abrupt (but hopefully pleasant) change in sound quality.

Here's a...

With around 40 books published to date, Stuart combine the roles of writer, storyteller and lecturer in Scottish history, folklore and geomythography. Additionally, Stuart has had a fair amount of poetry published and for many, many years worked as a musician. For 30 years he has been teaching at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Open Learning and has also been visiting schools as a storyteller, as well as focusing as a writer on history, folklore and the Scots language. I was the first Director of the Scots Language Centre in Perth and am a founding member and past-President of the...

Sean is a woodworking, re-enacting, tunesmithing multi-instrumentalist & delightful conversationalist. In this episode we talk about, (and hear samples from,) their recently-released album, Tunes for the Soul.

Tune into this episode to hear Sean say, "when I do number two..." (that's a poop joke, I can't help myself).

Check out Sean's album: https://seanpatrickreidy.bandcamp.com/album/tunes-for-the-soul

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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Mikey is an artist in many ways. Two of those ways: bagpipes & hair.

Tune into this episode to hear some universally-applicable wise advice. Truly. Try to find a situation where this isn't applicable: you can't.

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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You can write-in to the show with comments, ideas, requests, etc. at TheDroningOnPodcast@gmail.com

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Support the show via Patreon (patreon.com/DroningOnPodcast), or by buying cool stuff...

Competitive soloist, steam engineer, punk rocker, and orthotics-enthusiast: Aaron Bergen is here! We get some stories, and we sample some tracks from an album Aaron did with The Grinning Barretts.

Tune into this episode to hear the story of how Aaron busted his tailbone!

Check out the Grinning Barretts on Bandcamp: https://thegrinningbarretts.bandcamp.com/

And their website: https://www.thegrinningbarretts.com/

And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrinningbarretts/

(and anywhere else cool music is happening)

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We're on...

This is the second part of a two-part interview with America Patton & David Duncan regarding the life, philosophy, and music of Rufus Harley.

Tune into this episode to hear some more of Rufus' bagpipe music, some more of his singing, and some more of his philosophy & world-view as well - and to hear some lovely insights from his son, America, and what I think we can safely call his, "artistic heir," David Duncan.

LINKS:

Learn more about Rufus and the Rufus Harley foundation by following America: https://www.facebook.com/america...

This is the first of a two-part conversation with America Patton & David Duncan regarding the life, legacy, philosophy, and music of Rufus Harley.

Tune into this episode to hear some of Rufus' singing, saxophone, and (of course) his piping.

APPLICABLE LINKS:

To learn more about Rufus, the foundation set up in his memory, forthcoming books, albums, and more, follow:

-Rufus' daughter, Noah Harmony: https://www.facebook.com/noahharmony.harley

-Rufus' son, America Patton: https://www.facebook.com/america.patton.52

-Rufus' jazz-piping heir, David Duncan: https...

This is the first part of a two-part interview with America Patton & David Duncan regarding the life, philosophy, and music of Rufus Harley.

Tune into this episode to hear some of Rufus' bagpipe music, some of his singing, and some of his saxophone work as well - and to hear some lovely insights from his son, America and what I think we can safely call his, "artistic heir," David Duncan.

LINKS:

Learn more about Rufus and the Rufus Harley foundation by following America: https://www.facebook.com/america.patton.52

...

Sam Vogt plays a mean whistle - but that's not all! A skilled guitarist, a capable collaborator, and a delightful conversationalist (and much more, of course).

Tune into this episode to hear Sam tell us the story of how he once, "made (him)self a flute and then realized... "oh... I don't know how to play this...""

Check out Sam's music on BandCamp: https://samvogt.bandcamp.com/album/whistle-tunes

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvogtmusic/

And congrats to Carol for winning the album! I'll get that to...

This is kind of messy, friends, but here's the TLDR:

Alec is back! A multi-piper, dad, creator of Get Bagpipe Ready, recording artist, performer, and recently-converted-whistler: Alec is an all-around excellent human being and we got to talk through lots of stuff including the recently released Celtic Routes album: Song of the Celts

Tune into this episode to hear Alec's confession regarding an upside-down whistle.

Check out the new Celtic Routes album here: https://www.celticroutes.band/#!/song-of-the-celts

And check out Alec's "Get Bagpipe Ready" group: https://www.getbagpipeready.com/

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Michael Page is an enthusiastic piper of approx. 20 years, currently playing with Wasatch & District and currently on his (approx.) 26th set of bagpipes.

Tune into this episode to hear Mike's tried and tested drone-reed combo!

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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You can write-in to the show with comments, ideas, requests, etc. at TheDroningOnPodcast@gmail.com

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Support the show via Patreon (patreon.com/DroningOnPodcast), or by buying cool stuff...

Cedar Dobson isn't just a unicycling mermaid: she makes music too! You may well have seen her playing double-whistles under bridges, wild 3D printed whistles in forests, and more. Cedar joined me for an interview a while ago, and we discussed (mostly) her album from 2022. Since then she's released more excellent music, including her very recent, "Decade," album which is truly excellent - check out the links below!

Tune into this episode to hear some samples from Cedar's, "Harmonies," album.

LINKS:

Cedar's Bandcamp page: https://cedardobsonmusic.bandcamp.com/music<...

The cowboy piper from Montana: Hart, himself, has graced the show with his presence this week. A delightful conversation partner, I'm very happy to share this extremely enjoyable conversation with you!

Tune into this episode to hear which pipeband 9/10 Russian Oligarchs trust, when they need bagpipe music at a castle in Scotland

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

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You can write-in to the show with comments, ideas, requests, etc. at TheDroningOnPodcast@gmail.com

Owen Kennedy is an amazing fiddler & a lot of his sets, tunes, stylings, etc will be delightfully familiar to pipers of generally, "Western European, Scandinavian, and North American," persuasion(s).

Tune into this episode to hear Owen say that his favorite dancers to play for, are the ones he can't see or hear (JK, he loves playing for dancers, I'm joking).

Here's Owen's website: https://www.fiddlerokennedy.com/

And the album we talked through for this episode: https://fiddlerowenkennedy.bandcamp.com/album/oh-when-now-2

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We're on Facebook: https://www...

Quite possibly the worlds first and most recognizable online bagpipe instructor, Andrew Douglas, is back, folks! Advice on solo competition, musing over healthy habits, and more - check it out!

Oh, and, "people should join the Dojo".

Tune into this episode to hear Andrew & Jim reinvigorate the good ol' Tide Pods meme(s).

Check out everything Andrew and his team are doing over at the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University: https://www.pipersdojo.university/

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And Instagram: https://www.instagram...

Arle's a really fun person to talk instruments with - his experience across a lot of, "uncommon," instruments ranges from wide to deep. He has cool music scattered all over the internet, definitely worth a google!

Tune into this episode to hear the true secret to making good money busking.

Here's Arle's Soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/arle-richard-lommel

And Arle's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/fenevadka

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We're on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroningOnPodcast

And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droning.on.podcast/

It's a 3-episode month, y'all!

Jeremy's back! And it's about time - this album is long overdue a discussion and sampling. If you haven't checked it out already, be sure to do so! We cover a lot of tracks in this episode, but not all of them! Links below for this and all of Jeremy's other excellent music.

Tune into this episode to hear James somehow get drunk as Jeremy drinks whiskey about 1,000 miles away.

Here are links to Jeremy's stuff:

Matt DeBlass is a delightful musician, teacher, and conversation partner. Check out the very cool album of originals, "Small Musics," from which we pulled tracks for this episode along with lots of other releases over on Matt's BandCamp page (link below).

Tune into this episode to hear Matt share, The DeBlass  Theory of Folk Song Fatality: "...if they don't otherwise explain how they die, just assume it was werewolves."

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We're on Fa...

Matt DeBlass is a delightful musician, teacher, and conversation partner. Check out the very cool album of originals, "Small Musics," from which we pulled tracks for this episode along with lots of other releases over on Matt's BandCamp page (link below).

Tune into this episode to hear Matt share, The DeBlass  Theory of Folk Song Fatality: "...if they don't otherwise explain how they die, just assume it was werewolves."

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We're on Fa...

The more I talk to, read about, watch, and listen to Donald Lindsay the more baffled I am at what all this person has accomplished - and he's not slowing down!

Tune into this episode to hear a bagpipe maker talk about why Emu's in the garden were a nostalgic sight for his father - probably the first time that's ever happened on a podcast!

Donald's work is all over the internet, but here are a few good links: