On September 12, 2025, Scottish bagpipe band Red Hot ChilliPipers performed at Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. This
was my first time seeing the band, and they did not disappoint.
The lighting effects for the show were absolutely incredible
and added to the show. There were moments that stand out in my mind solely for
the lighting alone. One of these happened near the beginning of the show, where
there were white lights pointed at the band in a way that made them seem close.
In that moment, it felt like time froze for a second, which was a cool effect. There
were many times throughout the show where the lights were flashing quickly and
strobing, which could cause problems for those sensitive to lighting effects
like that. The theater was smoky, even when the doors opened at 7:30 pm.
The musicians were phenomenal, both in technical skill and
showmanship. The sound was balanced between the bagpipes and the other
instruments and vocals. Bagpipes tend to be a loud instrument, especially live,
and when there are multiple bagpipes playing at the same time, but this was not
an issue.
The songs the band played were a nice mix between traditional
Celtic songs and covers of pop and rock songs. They had some slower songs in
the mix, but the songs were mostly upbeat and fun. The band encouraged the
audience to sing, clap along, and even dance. By the end of the night, everyone
was on their feet rocking out, even those I thought would never do that.
The band’s interaction with the crowd was incredible. It was
obvious that they were feeding off the audience’s energy for the whole show.
There were times throughout the show that I was rocking out, having a ton of fun,
and it seemed like they would notice and smile. A few times, Andrew seemingly looked
at me in these moments and pointed, though it is hard to tell if it was intended
for me.
On a personal level, this show was exactly what my soul
needed. I do not remember the last time I saw a show that made me so genuinely
happy. I was rocking out to the songs and even teared up at “Highland
Cathedral.” The band put so much love, passion, and talent into the show, and their
dedication to their music shows.
When the show finished after an encore (a Queen song, no
less), “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds played. This song was
perfect in that moment, as I had just seen “The Breakfast Club” for the first
time the previous weekend. Simple Minds is a Scottish band. It made me feel
like the Pipers did not want us to forget the show, which I most certainly will
not.
Overall, this concert is a show I will not soon forget. It
was my first time seeing the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and I look forward to
seeing them again in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed the music as well as my
interactions with other audience members, who encouraged me to have as much fun
as possible, and I did.