Bagpipes

The Highland bagpipe is an integral part of Scottish culture and history, famous for its distinctive, powerful sound that even accompanied troops as they landed in northern France on D-Day.

But the wind instrument is slowly growing silent as demand dwindles and machine-made bagpipes replace traditionally crafted ones, consigning their use to largely ceremonial occasions.

At his workshop in Tunisia's capital, Khaled ben Khemis pieces together a type of bagpipe once banned from airwaves but now embraced by artists infusing its sound into new musical styles.

Μοναδικά στιγμιότυπα από drone

The 4th Athens Celtic Music Festival gets under way on the roof of the Trianon Cinema in central Athens on Thursday, May 17. Organized by local acts Iernis, Noriana, Solastas, Tir Fada and Treescelts, the four-day event will also feature the Curfa Gaelic Choir and special guests David Alexander, Scott Mavroudis, Nicola Stathers and Paddy Egan.

The Scottish band Red Hot Chilli Pipers that is expected to arrive for a first-time performance in Bulgaria at the opening of the 20th annual Salon of Arts at the Sofia National Palace of Culture sent a video greeting to their fans.

By Jeremy Gaunt

Tucked away in a corner of Athens' historic Plaka district is a small museum showing that there is more to Greek music than "Zorba's Dance" and "Never on Sunday."

The traditional Rhodope bagpipe (kaba gaida) contest in Bulgaria's village of Gela will take place on August 2 and 3.

This would be the 11-th year of the festival, which takes place in the first weekend of August in celebration of St. Ilia, near the St. Ilia chapel above the village in the heart of the Rhodope mountains.