Pickled Folk works with the very best Scottish musicians and entertainers to provide a first rate service to events and weddings in Edinburgh and the central belt of Scotland.  So, if in addition to a piper or pipe band you are looking to source a ceilidh band, string quartette, harpist, wedding singer or whatever, why not hop over to Pickled Folk and see what we can do for you.

On that note, I am delighted to welcome Ryan Faulds to the Pickled stable and will be posting a photo of him in the gallery very soon.  Ryan is an extremely talented young piper who previously served with the Royal Regiment of Scotland where he also passed the prestigious Pipe Major’s course and examination.  Over the past two years or so he has been competing with the Grade 1 Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band.

From a business perspective, I am delighted to have retained a number of corporate clients from previous years and to have secured a number of new clients. Weddings remain our core business of course and  it continues to be both a privilege and a pleasure to be a part of so many couple’s big day.

January is always a busy month for engagements and then February and March ease off a little. This is balanced however by the fact that the first three months of the year are the real biggies in terms of enquiries received.

The big news however (yes you heard it here first) is the forthcoming launch of my sister web site offering a range of the very best of Scottish musical entertainment, including ceilidh band, fiddler, string quartette, pianist, and tutored whisky tasting.   This new arm of the business has grown organically from the many musicial friends and contacts with whom I have worked in and around Edinburgh over the years and the goodwill and trust established with many quality venues across Scotland.  The name has still to be finally decided upon but watch this space for some more news shortly.

The day before, I had been at Edinburgh Zoo with pipers and drummers in place to welcome Edinburgh’s now famous new arrival in the form of the two Pandas from China. A great day had by all.

The rest of the month sees some Festive weddings lined up and a number of Pickled Pipers booked out for Hogmanay, with 2012 shaping up to be a huge year. Why not follow on Facebook or Twitter if you would like to follow our goings on.

I felt full of youthful vigor the following week however as I sat and sipped a cup of tea in the vestry of Pitlochry Parish Church as I waited on that day’s bride and groom reappearing.  Despite being over 26, I reflected on the fact that this piper still leads a pretty crazy rock and roll lifestyle and decided that there was time for one more digestive before heading out again.

In promoting the business in this way, I hope that potential customers will see an established, reliable and thoroughly professional business which in turn will give them the confidence to book their wedding or event piper through me.  There has been a noticeable increase in the number of pipers offering their services to the market in the last couple of years. Like all services there is a variety of standards out there and some have come and gone already. It does however drive me to ensure that The Pickled Piper continues to provide the very best of service, from that very first enquiry right through to the day itself.

In the short term however, it’s been a great week. In the space of seven days there has been bookings at Prestonfield House, Traquair House, Melville Castle, Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, Leapark Hotel, Grangemouth and Glenskirlie Castle Hotel. Great venues, great people and great fun!

PS Mark has secured me two tickets for Trooping the Colour in June.  Fantastic.