About Us
Ross & Ailise | Drum+Drones
About Drum+Drones
Based in Perthshire, Drum+Drones is a Scottish Bagpiping duo that performs live music for events across Scotland. They are unique, young, and passionate about performing traditional Scottish bagpipe music in a modern upbeat way. Ross and Ailise have the talent to elevate your celebration. As siblings, they understand the focus on family and the importance of making any event unforgettable in a fun and bespoke way.
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Drum+Drones can travel throughout Scotland to make your celebration magnificent. They can perform ceremony music and music for entertainment, playing from a custom playlist you design. Ideal for indoor and outdoor events, this versatile duo can provide an evocative bagpipe soundtrack, no matter your event.
Ross drumming at Sports Day and Ailise bagpiping at a Funeral.
Solheim Cup 2019
One of Ross & Ailise's top highlights was playing at the Women’s Solheim Cup Golf Tournament in Gleneagles. Although close to home, Ross and Ailise played at the Opening Ceremony to thousands of fans at the event and many millions broadcast on Live TV. Ailise had the opportunity to bagpipe the players off the stage and be the Lone Piper in the montage film for the tournament which can be seen below. Jackie Kay recited her poem over the sound of Ailise’s Bagpipes as she stood on top of a crag at Loch Turret Dam.
Ailise plays for the Solheim Cup Opening Ceremony at timestamp 3:57
Getting Started
Aged 8, Ross began drumming by taking up lessons with accomplished World Drum Corps Champion Gordon Brown. Learning to play on a Rubber Drum Pad, Ross gradually improved his skills before joining Comrie Pipe Band where he gained experience playing alongside other Drummers in small local events.
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Ailise began bagpiping after joining Comrie Pipe Band with Ross. Having already started playing the flute, Ailise naturally decided to give the Bagpipes a go. Ailise was taught by Scott Murray, Pipe Major of Morrison's Academy Pipe Band. She began her bagpiping journey with the chanter, a practice instrument that allowed her to focus on finger technique and play tunes quietly. Progressing to the goose, Ailise learned striking in and breath control. Eventually, she moved on to playing the full set of Bagpipes and was invited to join the band.
Ailise playing on top of Loch Turret Dam in the Highlands of Scotland
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Ailise and Ross also travelled over to the Republic of Ireland in 2022, to perform in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. Playing to over 500,000 people on international television, they marched down the streets of Dublin in one of the largest parade’s in the World. They had both been waiting to participate in the event since 2020 however, due to the pandemic it was cancelled two years in a row. On a previous visit to Dublin, they had the chance to play at the British Embassy to many foreign guests arriving and showcase the band’s talent.