Congratulations to Lorne MacDougall who has been nominated in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2025. Vote now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 6th December in Aberdeen Music Hall. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Lorne of Lorne MacDougall the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I’m a piper and whistle player from Carradale in Kintyre, now based in Glasgow. I studied Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and work across traditional and contemporary music. I grew up playing in pipe bands but later became interested in playing with other instruments. I’ve always been a bit frustrated by the limitations of the pipes, so I’m often determined to find ways round them. I’ve been lucky to do a lot of film and television session work as well as years of live performances, concerts and touring. I also teach and do music transcription and typesetting.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
There’s always been music going on in my head, so I don’t think it was ever really a choice. Sometimes I want to play to a big crowd, and other times I’d rather be on my own looking through old manuscripts and tunes. The camaraderie of playing in piping groups, trad bands or ceilidh bands is a big part of it too. I love being able to work with musicians of all genres from all over the world. It’s also thrilling and a bit scary never quite knowing what the next gig is going to be.
Any particular career highlights?
One of the most recent highlights was recording for How to Train Your Dragon and then getting to see it in the cinema afterwards. I’ve also worked on other How to Train Your Dragon films, Brave, The Crown, Call the Midwife and Still Game. For The Crown, I recorded, advised on the piping scenes, and appeared on screen as The Piper to the Sovereign. My pipes even got to play the end titles for Wallace & Gromit! Playing at The Doctor Who Prom was another great experience. Working as a session musician has meant recording in some amazing studios, including Abbey Road, where I recently took a group of pipers to record a soundtrack. I love performing with orchestras, like playing with the RSNO last year, and working closely with well-known composers such as Patrick Doyle and John Powell. I’ve also toured with the Tannahill Weavers and been involved in music creation with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
What are your plans for the future?
It’s been 15 years since my first album, so it feels like time for another. I’ve been writing and arranging a lot in that time, and there’s a note on my phone that’s gone through endless updates with tunes dropping off and better ones taking their place. I recently released a couple of singles that had fallen off the album running order, and it feels like the right time now to pull the rest together and record something new.
Lorne MacDougall Social Media
Website: http://www.lornemacdougall.com
Facebook:
Instagram: lornemacdougallpipes
YouTube: @LorneMacDougall
TikTok:
The 2025 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 6th December 2025 in Aberdeen Music Hall! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here). Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night in the Granite City will also welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including beloved singer Hannah Rarity, UK folk legends The Poozies, trad pop band Mec Lir and BBC Radio scotland Young Traditional Musician and Scots Performer o the Year Ellie Beaton and many more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.