The Bagpipe Society

Blowout 2026!

Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May

Polesworth Abbey

High Street

Polesworth

Warwickshire

B78 1DU

Featuring:

• Eric Montbel
• Louis Jacques
• Cecile Delrue Birot
• Lizzie Gutteridge
• Jon Swayne
• Aisling Holmes
• David Faulkner
• Nicholas Konradsen
• Sean Jones
• Ross Calderwood & Caleb Wilson
• Roger Webster & Mat Stephens
• Andy Letcher
• Terry Mann
• Pipe Club
• Friday Night Session
• workshops for beginners
• … and the Fabulous Friday Night Competition!

Buy Tickets here

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!

This year, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the mighty Bagpipe Society with several themed sessions and workshops - while also running ‘business as usual’ with beginners’ classes, pipe club, pipers’ surgery etc

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.

The Blowout starts on Friday afternoon in a fairly informal manner, starting with the Fabulous Friday Night Competition, hosted by Julian Goodacre. The 2026 theme is TREES & WOOD - see link below for full(ish) details! Afterwards, a session in celebration of 40 years of the Bagpipe Society, led by David Faulkner. A list of the tunes, and sheet music is available in the Sheet Music section!

Timetable and Materials

Competition rules

Menu

Sheet music

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.

Saturday

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.

Sunday timetable

Can we have the following paragraph in a box, or highlighted, for extra noticeability?

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 and Workshop Leaders

Eric Montbel

Workshop: how to approach a traditional Limousin repertoire, such as songs or violin melodies, and adapt them for bagpipe playing. Ornamentation, vibrato, and style will be explored.

Talk: “The musettes Gaillard or the art of the fake”

Louis Jacques

Workshop: Looking for style : a journey through the historical way of playing the musette du Centre.

Musette du Centre is by definition the revivalist instrument : reinvented in its organology by Rémy Dubois and Bernard Blanc in the late 70’s, reinvented in music by musicians like Jean Blanchard, Willy Soulette, Frédéric Paris…, la musette has transcended eras and musical genres.

From the ancient sources to the most modern way to play, including the contribution of polyphonic playing, we will try to identify and play certain stylistic elements during a genealogical journey.

Lizzie Gutteridge

Workshop: Medieval harmonies

Play music from the 12th-15th centuries in 2 and 3 part harmony, for G & D pipes and related instruments. Some original music in multiple voices already fits nicely onto bagpipes with minimal adjustments. Medieval monody also offers plenty of opportunities for arrangements. In this session we’ll play some of each, sampling songs and dances, religious and secular music, with harmonies that will sometimes feel evocatively exotic, sometimes unexpectedly familiar.

Workshop: Renaissance harmonies

Music from the 16th and 17th centuries, in 2 to 4 part harmony, for G & D pipes and related instruments. From the court of Henry VIII to Playford’s Dancing master via Arbeau and Preatorious, Renaissance repertoire is rich pickings for drone instruments, with haunting melodies and dazzling dances. The harmonies are simple but rich - bear in mind that the triad as the basis for harmony was relatively fresh and new!

Cecile Delrue Birot Hurdy Gurdy in G/C

Maximum 12 participants

Workshop : In this course we will work on getting self sufficient in creating music for Hurdy Gurdy. By listening to collectages from Centre France, we will search together how to find new coups de poignée, ornaments, and how you can adapt other instruments’ style for the hurdy gurdy.

My workshop is not for beginners, you need to be able to catch a melody by ear and I won’t use sheet music.

Jon Swayne

Workshop: When thinking about celebrating the upcoming 40th year of the Society’s existence, I had the idea of writing some music for pipes, to be rehearsed at the Blowout and performed in the Saturday concert in the church. This is open to as many pipers as would like to take part – the more the merrier – and I really hope that as many as can, will.

The only qualification is access to a suitable set of pipes and the ability to play the music to an acceptable standard. The only other thing I would say is to urge all participants to put some work in in advance to become familiar with the music, so that when we come to rehearse we can concentrate on ensemble and presentation rather than merely getting the notes right, with the object of producing something memorable and beautiful in the church.

The music consists of a Jig, a Waltz and a 3/2 Hornpipe and has lines for G1 G2 and low C. As well as the music, and for those who don’t read, there are sound files to download: for each piece there are four files available: one balanced version, and one with each line prominent.

If you are playing G pipes and are not sure which line to work on, then I suggest you work on both, and we will allocate a reasonable balance of the two lines at the rehearsal.

It would not be realistic for us all to learn the music by heart, but if you will be using music, bring a stand.

Good luck, and please email me directly with any questions: jon@jonswayne.com

I should also say that there is, so to say, a two-pronged Puzzle contained in the music, relevant to the Society and to the celebration. Solutions are invited by email to me. The first correct solution will receive a bottle from the Presidential cellar. The solution and the winner, if any, will be announced at the concert. We will rehearse it at a workshop at the Blowout on Saturday, and perform it in the concert in the Abbey. Music will be sent out in advance, and I hope as many as possible will take part who have the right pipes and feel up to it.

Let’s make a glorious sound in the Abbey!

Aisling Holmes

Workshop: Come and enjoy playing bagpipes (and other instruments) together in harmony, with new tunes written to celebrate 40 years of BagSoc. For all abilities, bagpipes in G and D.

Nicholas Konradsen

Workshop: Reed making: “finish your own reedpipe and then make a reed for it” workshop.

A little 5 holed pipe that plays a major sixth in D, make it half finished and let people carve at them and oil them and finish them off and then make their own reeds and take them home

Workshop: Play with a sway : In this workshop I will teach an example of how to take a tune and develop variations and ornaments which shift the emphasis of a tune to keep it feeling fresh and lively after multiple playthroughs!

Sean Jones

We will be looking at how double reeds work. Specifically how their shape allows them to drive the air in the bore of a chanter. I’ll bring reed making materials and tools so those who are interested can have a go.

Andy Letcher

Workshop: Pipe Club

Andy is taking over the Pipe Club this year, but the format remains the same! 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!

David Faulkner & Aisling Holmes

Workshop: Absolute Beginners

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!

Terry Mann

Workshop: 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!

Roger Webster & Mat Stephens

Workshop: Dance workshop

The workshop is open to new and experienced dancers alike. We will run through the basic forms, steps and rhythms of couple dances including marche, scottish, polka, waltz and mazurka and of course bourrée in both two and three timing. If time allows we may also look at some collective dances that might be encountered in a traditional bal. Beyond the basics, we will work on balance, posture, fluidity of movement, responding to a dance partner and responding to the music. By the end of the session, participants should feel confident to participate in the Saturday night bal and in other traditional dance events.

Saturday Bal Folk

Toucan (Louis Jacques & Cecile Delrue Birot)

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

NEW! Catering is provided by professional chef Mo Essakhi.

Menu here

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.