Our Story

1973-1978

In 1973 a group of people in Malmö started to perform under the name of The Hamilton Pipes & Drums. The band members wore the Hamilton tartan and had the Scottish Duke of Hamilton as their protector.

The Hamilton Pipes & Drums participated in the competitions held in Scandinavia but the band also got in contact with people in Germany which lead to engagements at the Euro Musiktage (a gathering of bands playing wind instruments) in Bösel. The band has played there several times and has also performed in other towns in Germany. 

The band went on its first trip to Scotland in 1978 and practiced piping and drumming in Glasgow. The following year the practice took place in London where the band also played to the general public.

1979

The band bought new kilts and plaids in the Black Stewart tartan and the name was changed to The Griffin Pipes & Drums. In the same year the band made a record together with two other Swedish pipe bands, The Murray Pipes & Drums and The Gothenburg City Pipe Band. 

Buying new uniforms and making a record naturally meant spending a lot of money but luckily enough Griffin Pipes & Drums was great demand at the time and the band had in average one engagement every week throughout 1979.

In 1979 Griffin Pipes & Drums became Scandinavian Champions in grade four.

1988

Griffin Pipes & Drums went to Scotland again to improve their skills and they also took part in The Balloch Highland Games. 

Today

Piping and drumming is certainly an international matter that can be seen among the former members of Griffin Pipes & Drums. Among the people playing in the band there has been players from

Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand. We still have playing members since the band started in the 1970s. Members and former members usually meet at least once a year on All Saints Day, when Griffin Pipes & Drums has its annual celebration.

Besides regular public and private performances in Sweden, our band members continue to be instructed by experts and perform abroad. Our engagements take us all the way to one of the world's most prestigious shows, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.