On 19 and 20 September, Vienna Pipes and Drums travelled to Busto Arsizio, Italy, to take part in the BustoFolk Festival Interceltico. Having performed at BustoFolk before, we were delighted to return for their 25th anniversary.
Our first performances came on Saturday evening, when we played several short sets in front of the festival stage. It was a great way to kick off our weekend and bring some Scottish pipes and drums into a programme packed with live music from across the Celtic world.
A Sunday full of music and dancing
Sunday was the big day for the participating bands. In the afternoon, we joined musicians from Italy and beyond for the grand parade through the centre of Busto Arsizio. With pipers, drummers, brass musicians and many other performers taking part, the parade brought plenty of music and colour to the streets before returning to the festival grounds at the Museo del Tessile.
Back at BustoFolk, we took to the main stage for our own Vienna Pipes and Drums performance, giving the festival audience a chance to hear the band on its own and enjoy a selection of our repertoire.
Later, we returned to the stage together with the Italian pipe bands for a Massed Band performance. Bringing all the pipers and drummers together was a fitting finale to our time at the festival – and always a special experience, both to play and to hear.
It was a pleasure to meet old and new friends, perform alongside fellow musicians and once again experience the fantastic atmosphere that makes BustoFolk such an enjoyable event for us.
A big thank you to the organisers for inviting us back and making us feel so welcome in Busto Arsizio. We always enjoy playing at BustoFolk and look forward to hopefully returning again!
© 2026 Filippo De Diongigi // Elena Di Vincenzo
Want to see us live?
If you’d like to hear Vienna Pipes and Drums live, join us at one of our upcoming events:
40th St. Andrew’s Night Ceilidh – 6 November 2026 – Get your tickets now!
Burns Supper – 13 February 2027
30th Anniversary Concert – 24 April 2027