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Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow)
- Alexandria, VA
- Bagpiper
- Travels up to 120 miles
- $250-$400 solo, more for band or accompanists
Overview
I am a Highland Bagpiper & Scottish Fiddler, and perform with two Scottish Celtic bands.
In addition to being a soloist, I am the piper/fiddler/lead singer of a Scottish traditional folk band, The Devil's Tailors, which performs modern Scottish Celtic music on pipes, fiddle, guitar, percussion, and vocals; and a Scottish Early Music duo called Tweedsyde, which performs 17th & 18th century Scottish music on period instruments & in period costume.
I can perform as a soloist for events, with a guitarist for listening/dancing, with The Devil's Tailors or Tweedsyde, or with an expanded version of The Devil's Tailors, which includes a pianist and a dance caller for Scottish Ceilidh dancing.
22 Reviews
Peter's bagpipes were the perfect addition to my son's wedding day on October 5 in North Bethesda, Maryland! Peter was stationed outside the chapel both before and after the wedding ceremony and thrilled our guests with his playing! Peter was very responsive before the event to help plan the songs we wanted to hear (he learned some new Irish-themed songs for our event) and even wore our preferred colors (green). We were very pleased with our experience and highly recommend Peter as a bagpiper for your event!
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Stephen! It was a lovely day to play pipes for such a wonderful audience.
Peter did a great job! He was professional and kept everyone entertained. Would recommend to anyone looking for a bagpiper in the area.
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Bryan! It was a pleasure to play!
Remember, the pipe band plays Thursday (7/11) at Market Square in Old Town, we start at 7:30. Totally free! Hope you and the family can make it out!
Peter
Photos from this event
Peter is incredibly talented and was flexible to our event needs! I am grateful for the joy he brought to our party and our guests. We’re all hoping he will come back again in 2025!!
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Mary! It was a lovely event!
Peter was terrific. Flexible, accommodating of our small gathering, with great musical skill and interesting commentary. Bravo!
Fiddler, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Nancy! It was a great pleasure to play for you and your family.
You and your band were very professional, the music was excellent and you made our wedding day exceptional! Thank you for the entertainment and it was wonderful working with you!
Celtic Music
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Megan! We had a great time! I wish more of us could have stuck around for the reception.
Peter was a wonderful part of my Dad's memorial service. He intuitively understood how to contribute to set the mood for the attendees, from welcoming to somber to heartfelt. His playing was at the forefront when appropriate and in the background when appropriate. He brought outdoor pipes to welcome the attendees, indoor pipes for the reception, and a fiddle for walking amongst the guests and playing. And he charmed my Mom with his deep knowledge of Scottish music history. Highly recommended.
Celtic Music, Fiddler, Multi-Instrumentalist, Bagpiper
Photos from this event
Mr Peter showed up to our wedding on time and dressed to impress.
He did an awesome job entertaining our guests and played beautifully the entire time.
I would definitely rehire him and recommend him always for any event where his talent is needed,
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Ana, it was a lovely ceremony, and it was a pleasure to chat with your father in law in the shade beforehand.
I think my decision to decline to play the processional worked out for the best - using the recorded prelude to the song gave you a far more poignant entrance, with a fuller sound, than I could have done with that piece solo on fiddle.
Peter was great. His professionalism and demeanor were dignified and honorable. I’d recommend him to anyone looking for a bagpiper.
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thank you so much! It was such an honor to have had the opportunity to have played for your father's service at Arlington.
Peter was excellent! He showed up a little early and was well prepared for the event! He even was able to roll with the punches when there were a few scheduling issues! Musically he was great as well as being very personable! He interacted with guests to the event, not just playing music but talking about the history and background of the instruments and songs! I highly recommend him and will hope to have him come to our future international events!
Celtic Music, Fiddler, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Multi-Instrumentalist, World Music, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Ben! It was a lot of fun playing for your church and participating in your event. Thanks for making me feel so welcome!
Peter played a variety of instruments including bagpipes and violin, and played them beautifully. He provided music for our service and cocktail hour, was very personable and a was always willing to talk about his instruments. Peter added an extra dimension to our celebration and was a pleasure to work with.
Celtic Music, Fiddler, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Multi-Instrumentalist, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Lewis, it was a lovely ceremony! I’m grateful to have had the chance to be part of it,
Peter and his accompanist was a perfect addition to my father's 70th birthday party. Fun, knowledgeable, and a talented musician. As soon as the event was over, we were already talking about finding an excuse to bring him back.
Fiddler, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Peter provided piping for my father's graveside service. He was very helpful prior in terms of music selection, and incredibly flexible on the day of the service when we got ahead of schedule. His piping was superb, and his fiddling of "Danny Boy" did not leave a dry eye. He was a tremendous addition to the service, very moving, and my family will always be grateful for the special touch he added to the day.
Celtic Music, Bagpiper
Mr. Walker did an outstanding job.
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Steve! It was a lovely morning for some piping and golf!
We engaged Peter for our daughter's wedding at Mt. Vernon. The wedding was a Scottish-Salvadoran fusion event and Peter's playing was just the right blend of the Scottish portion. Ultra-professional and accommodating, Peter quickly caught on to the spirit of the thing and was one of the highlights. The day was great and Peter was a big part of it!
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Jim! It was a pleasure and an honor to play for your daughter's ceremony!
Peter was a huge success. Worth every penny.
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Donald, I had a lovely time!
Peter is wonderful! Very flexible and warm. I'm from Scotland and wanted a bagpiper at our wedding to bring a touch of Scotland to our day. He was excellent!
Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Makrina! It was a wonderful ceremony, and I loved having the chance to play for everyone!
Peter and his band played a ceilidh for our wedding and it was an absolute hit! People kept saying it was the highlight of the event. He also played bagpipes for the ceremony. I can't recommend them enough!
Celtic Music, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Natalie! We had such a wonderful time playing your wedding!
Peter and his partners did a fantastic job leading our guests through a musical journey across Scotland as we danced the evening away under his caller's fantastic instruction. Kids as young as 9, and big kids as old as 75, danced for hours, enjoying every minute. All of our guests thought the band was incredible. We look forward to Peter and his friends again playing at our home!
Fiddler, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Jason! It was so much fun to play the party - the crowd were the most enthusiastic dancers!
We hired Peter as a last minute replacement for our community International Festival. From the quote request to the show, he was very professional and responsive. He provided suggestions for the program and brought a guitarist to accompany his bagpipe and fiddle. They performed a musical tour of Scotland in full costume for our guests. What a great addition to our event! I absolutely recommend Peter! Thank you so much!
Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Cheri! We had a great time playing!
Peter added such a special element to our wedding day. He looked amazing and the music was wonderful. Even better, he seemed so excited to be there with us.
Fiddler, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks, Lindsay! It was a lovely ceremony and I was very honored to have the chance to participate.
Engaging.. knowledgeable.. skilled in his craft
A delight to have him in our company and that of our friends
Many of our friends remarked in kind and would highly recommend him!
Terri Muncy
Celtic Music, Fiddler, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Bagpiper
Response from Peter Walker - Am Bogha Dubh (The Black Bow):
Thanks for the kind words, Terri! It was a lovely reception, and a great honor to be asked to play.
Peter, Thank you for making our holiday party special last night . We recieved several messages from guests this morning
Who thoroughly enjoyed the music ! You were wonderful ! We highly recommend you to anyone planning a cocktail party !
Celtic Music, Fiddler, Bagpiper
Booking Info
Price Range: $250-$400 solo, more for band or accompanists
Gig Length: 30 - 120 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $1,000,000 - On per gig basis; surcharge of $175 to be added to my fee. Lead time required.
What to Expect
I am extremely flexible for performance, and will play any mix the instruments on which I perform, at the client's request. I can provide or recommend repertoire.
My repertoire is almost exclusively Scottish; but I can learn Irish tunes upon request - but will play them in a Scottish style.
If a generic "Celtic" style is needed, I will de-emphasize the tune types particular to Scotland, instead playing tunes with rhythms common across the Scottish traditions.
My attire is flexible; for piping gigs, I can kit out anywhere from casual through full regimental dress. For fiddling gigs, I have attire that ranges from casual through white tie. In addition, I can also turn out in attire, and with instruments, appropriate to the middle 18th century (think Prince Charlie & Outlander).
About
I am a traditional Scottish musician specializing in 18th century music. I have studied Highland bagpiping since 2001 and Scottish fiddling since 2002 (with a background in classical violin). I principally perform on Scottish Fiddle and Highland Bagpipes, as well as Scottish smallpipes and border pipes.
I have performed with the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums since 2004, for weddings and Scottish Country Dances since 2006, and founded the Scottish Folk-Acoustic band The Devil's Tailors in 2008, and lead the only DC-area open Scottish jam session for over ten years. I also participate in a living history unit reenacting the 1745 rebellion in the Highlands, leading me to study the music's historical context. In 2018, I began performing with the Scottish early music duo Tweedsyde.
I have twice qualified for the US National Scottish Fiddling Championship, and was 4th place overall in Grade 4 Senior out of almost 850 pipers in 2006.
Additional Booking Notes
Most of my gigs are completely acoustic. If I am to play through a PA, I have wireless rigs available that connect through a standard XLR microphone cable to the house mixer, and require 110 V power; the larger rig is pre-mixed so all my instruments come out at the same level.
Services Offered
Setup Requirements
Varies; I can provide my own PA as needed, but often play without sound reinforcement.