Let’s get this out of the way up front: the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are not the Red Hot Chili Peppers. No Flea. No funk-rock. What you get instead is something arguably more entertaining — a Scottish bagpipe rock band that has turned the traditional Highland instrument into something that fills arenas and gets crowds on their feet. They’re heading to the Anderson Center for the Performing Arts at Binghamton University, and if you haven’t seen them live, you’re in for a surprise.
The Pipers invented what they call “Bagrock” — a genre that sounds like a joke until you hear it. They take classic rock anthems, pop hits, and traditional Scottish tunes and rework them with full bagpipe arrangements backed by a proper rock band. Think AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” with dueling pipes, or Queen’s “We Will Rock You” driven by a wall of Highland drone. It shouldn’t work. It absolutely does.
About the Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Formed in Scotland, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers won the BBC talent competition When Will I Be Famous? in 2007 and haven’t slowed down since. They’ve sold out shows on five continents, moved over a million records, and built a reputation as one of the most genuinely fun live acts touring today. Their shows are high energy from start to finish — part rock concert, part Highland Games, all spectacle. The musicianship is no joke either. These are classically trained pipers who happened to discover Marshall stacks.
If you want a taste before the show, their album Bagrock to the Masses is a solid starting point.
Venue Info
The Anderson Center for the Performing Arts sits on the Binghamton University campus and serves as the Southern Tier’s premier performing arts venue. The theater is well-appointed with comfortable seating and clean sight lines throughout. Parking is available in the university lots adjacent to the venue — arrive a bit early if you’re not familiar with the campus layout, as signage can be sparse for first-timers. Downtown Binghamton is a short drive away, with plenty of pre-show dining options along Court Street.
Tickets
The date for this show has not yet been announced. Keep an eye on the Anderson Center events page for on-sale information and pricing as details are confirmed. This is the kind of show that draws a broad crowd — families, rock fans, the curious — so don’t wait too long once tickets become available.