Southerners like it hot and strong Pipin' Hot 5

Steve Mason
Chief Reporter
May 17, 2001

As theatre, Pipin' Hot 5 is pretty good. As a showcase of southern musicianship, it works. And as raw entertainment, it's a winner.

At the premiere last night hundreds of Southlanders relished the sound of the pipes and drums of the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band and company.

The theme was Voyages and the set represents the deck of sailing ship bringing Scottish settlers on a tough passage to the unknown.

The format retains the blend of pipes, drums, backing band, solo instruments, singers and dancers but this year there was a more even mix, which would appeal to a wider audience.

Musical directors David Pickett and Peter Skerrett have excelled themselves with arrangements that create a mix of pipes and electronics that swell to a huge sound.

Most impressive were Brad MacClure on a range of instruments including keyboards, Sheena Naughton on fiddle, singer and guitarist Jason Schmidt, and Shannon Cooper-Garland and Amy Morton doing vocals.

There's no doubt that the true crowd favourite was the pipe band.

That is what they came to see and hear for the fifth year - and they certainly weren't disappointed.