The Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe Band has a long and proud history in the region and looks forward to a vibrant future bringing the unique sound of the highland pipes to events around the Wairarapa.
A community-based band, we focus on supporting as many community activities as possible. We have traditionally played at ANZAC Day and Christmas parades throughout the Region and supported local community activities like Greytown Festival of Christmas, Carterton Daffodil Festival, Relay For life and A&P shows. Individual or multiple pipers can be engaged for private functions such as funerals and weddings. Contact us through Facebook or email fernandthistle21@gmail.com.
We have recently combined with the Masterton Brass Band in their rooms in Queen Elizabeth Park. The rooms and adjacent park provide a magnificent venue for teaching and rehearsing. With summer coming on, the skirl of pipes may be heard in the park on Thursday evenings. We are looking at combining with the Brass Band for an open-air concert before Christmas.
The band is ably led by Pipe Major Louisa Slack, Drum Sergeant Hunter Nielsen, Pipe Sergent Lisa McKay-Kerr and Pipe Corporal Lawrence Cheetham. Hunter has been teaching learner drummers for a little while and Lisa has recently commenced teaching piping. Teaching is undertaken in the Band Rooms on a Thursday evening commencing at 6:30 pm.
We welcome new members whether they be returning to piping or drumming form an absence or wishing to learn form scratch. Come along on any practice night and introduce yourself or contact us through our Face Book page or Gmail.
For the last two years we have combined with the City of Wellington Pipe Band to develop a depth in piping and drumming during a weekend retreat held in Featherston. The bands have then combined to deliver a Highland Pipe band concert in the Carterton Events Centre (CEC). This year’s concert will be on 6th November at 3:30pm. Tickets are available from CEC.
