Bagpipes are coming to Boone with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers taking the stage at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, bringing their high-energy blend of tradition and rock to town.
Known for following Scottish musical traditions, the band’s most recent album, “Back to Roots,” was released on Oct. 10.
Formed in Scotland in 2002, the group rose to fame after winning the 2007 BBC talent show “When Will I Be Famous?” The nine-piece Celtic rock band fuses traditional Scottish bagpipes and drums with electric guitars, keyboards and modern-rock rhythms, creating a soundscape deeply rooted in tradition.
Their performances include everything from classic melodies like “Flower Of Scotland” to high-energy reimaginings of rock anthems, including Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars,” AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” and Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” which has amassed more than 5.9 million views on YouTube.
The same year they won the BBC talent show, the band released their sophomore record, “Bagrock To The Masses.” The album is certified platinum in Scotland and led to the group receiving the Scottish “Best Live Act of the Year” award.
Courtney Snow, a fan from Yadkinville, wrote in an email that she has been following the band for a while.
“As Americans, we don’t hear some instruments as often as the others, such as the bagpipes. In the way they incorporate this unique element only plays an additional role in their delivery of music,” Snow wrote.
Snow also wrote that the band’s performances connect with listeners, enabling audiences to find meaning in their music through their cover songs.
Another longtime fan, Donna Zelazny, shared through email that she first discovered the Red Hot Chilli Pipers while attending Renaissance festivals and the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games with her son.
“My son was piping with a pipe and drum band, but was too young to drive, so I got the benefits of loads of opportunities to explore various events,” Zelazny wrote.
Over time, Zelazny became drawn to the band because of how they perform traditional Scottish music while also resonating with broader audiences.
“While some bands bring a primal energy that makes you feel as though you’re dancing around the fire on a Scottish hillside, Red Hot Chilli Pipers make the pipes more relatable to the modern ear,” Zelazny wrote.
She credits the band’s blend of old and new for keeping music fresh.
“I really appreciate their mixing of modern and traditional tunes and the way the music can feel fresh but ancient at the same time,” Zelazny wrote. “People new to Red Hot Chilli Pipers may not recognize some of the more traditional tunes, but they certainly will find some of the more modern tunes to be familiar.”
At the center of the band’s sound is the presence of the bagpipes themselves.
“The pipes lend an energy and force that can’t really be matched with any other instrument,” Zelazny wrote.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will perform at the Appalachian Theatre on Feb. 26 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Standard tickets cost $35, with student tickets available for $28.
