Web Wise Business clients, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers recently added a new stamp to the passport as their latest tour took them all the way from Frankfurt, Germany, to Calcutta (or Kolkatta), India.

 

Once more bringing "bag rock" to the masses, the Chilli's performed to a crowd of over 6,000 at the exclusive Tollygunge Golf Club. In an eagerly anticipated open air gig, the band performed a sizzling set that left yet another excited international crowd buzzing and awaiting more.

 

"India is another new territory for us but the British Council had obviously done a great job spreading the word as around 6,000 people filled the gardens and judging by the reaction every single one of them enjoyed the night!" band member Malcolm McEwan told Web Wise Business when we caught up with him.

 

In town to promote the Kolkata Book Fair and the Scotland - Kolkatta Connection, the band were kept busy performing a number of gigs in just 3 days, even finding time to stop by the Kolkatta School of Music to "jam" with some young local musicians and teach them about the bagpipes. With their final performance of the trip taking place at the closing ceremony for the Kolkata Book Fair, the Chilli's yet again drew in the crowds.

 

"The closing ceremony in the past has been a low-key affair and the original plan was for the three pipers to play acoustically to an expected 200-300 people" McEwan told us. "Word of our appearance had obviously spread though, and as the crowd kept coming into the book fair, it became clear that the plan had to change!  A PA system was quickly erected and the full band went on to perform to around 3,000 excited people!  This was perhaps one of the craziest gigs we’ve done but it was also so much fun!"

 

However, this wasn't to be the strangest occassion the band were involved in while in India, "We attended and performed at a Burns Supper" McEwan recalls,  "that was a strange experience, sitting in Calcutta eating haggis sent over from Edinburgh and hearing the Selkirk Grace!"

 

Hopeful that they can return again soon, the band are now off to play in Kiev, Ukraine this weekend, followed by a show in Slovenia and then on to Luxembourg for the Zeltik festival.

 

To keep track of all the bands upcoming gigs and tour dates, and to learn more about "bag rock", visit the Red Hot Chilli Pipers website.