SFU to Commence Eastern North American Tour

Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (SFU) is set to embark on an ambitious, three-city concert tour this week, beginning with a show at the Dalhousie Arts Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Wednesday, April 23.

The band continues on to Toronto’s famed Massey Hall on Friday, April 25, and then to Worcester, Massachusetts’ Mechanics Hall, Sunday, April 27.

To mark the Toronto occasion, the Toronto Police Pipe Band is holding a reception / party for SFU at the CN Tower in downtown Toronto the night before, open to all for a cover charge of $10. Aside from being able to rub shoulders with band members, guests are promised performances from pipers Alan Bevan, Robert Crabtree, Michael Grey, and Stuart Liddell.

While details of the concert repertoire aren’t known, the band has indicated that a strong blend of new and established material will be performed, along with several solo spots from some of the band’s higher profile players.

SFU competed and performed at the North American Pipe Band Championships at Maxville last year, prompting Toronto’s 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band to protest the event. At the time, SFU Pipe-Sergeant Jack Lee said that if the tables were reversed, “We would not even consider a boycott but would more likely try to organize a social gathering with [the 78th Frasers] during the weekend.”

Ticket sales for the 1500 seat Toronto concert are reportedly very strong. SFU has stated that the band does not plan to record any of the concerts for a CD.

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