The skirling melodies of the pipes. The rhythms of the drums. The exciting combination of the two. That's a Scottish pipe band.

As in every fest throughout the years, we host a guest pipe band to bring a wee bit of Scotland to the Columbia Basin.

In 2024, we welcome the Columbia Regional Pipe Band to our 22nd Annual Prosser Scottish Fest!

The Columbia Regional Pipe Band got its start in 2011 when members of the Desert Thistle Pipe Band (active from 1976 to 2011 in southeastern Washington’s Tri-Cities area) teamed with like-minded pipers and drummers from across the Pacific Northwest region to form a band centered on pipe band competition. This “regional” characteristic is reflected in the band’s name. Today’s Columbia Regional Pipe Band is made up of pipers and drummers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The band's tartan is Blue Ramsay (ancient).

Columbia Regional Pipe Band has competed regionally at the BC Highland Games, Bellingham Highland Games, Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games, Portland Highland Games, and Spokane Highland Games. In 2015, the band competed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

Pipe Major Judy Morrison has led Columbia Regional Pipe Band since its formation in 2011.

Celtic music from the traditional sounds of the Scottish Lowland pipes, guitar, fiddle, dulcimer, and bodhran, through the stirring sounds of the pipes and drums, Scottish Fest has it all. See our Past Performers page.

As we've filled out our entertainment for this year, we look forward to the following performers and their lively music at our 2024 Prosser Scottish Fest!

Since 2015, Cavort has taken audiences on energetic Celtic journeys complete with hearty pub songs and vigorous instrumentals, bringing Ireland and Scotland closer to the Pacific Northwest. Their infectious rhythms and rhymes have a multigenerational appeal while continuing centuries-old traditions. When you see them at our 2024 fest, you’ll be sure to click your heels in musical joy!

Cavort is based in Seattle, Washington.

The band’s three CDs are titled: Cavort, Cairde Cavort, and Kilted Cavort.

Based in Kennewick, Washington, One More Tune brings their music in the tradition of Scotland, Ireland, and the Eastern and Western United States.

Fred Carpenter learned to play the fiddle back East in North Carolina. He learned to play from old guys who learned from the old guys that played tunes going back to hundreds of years, and some that were new.

Paul Knight started out on guitar at 12 years old playing Hank Williams etc. It was contemporary back then. He took up harmonica when in the Navy because it was the only thing that fit into a footlocker. Paul later took up banjo while living in Mississippi and Utah.

Joe Gunther is the president of Washington Old Time Fiddlers District 12 and plays the fiddle as well. He’s in demand as one of the best guitarists in the area to back fiddlers.

Shamrock and Sage is an Irish pop-up band located in eastern Washington State. It features professional and semi-professional musicians, who share a love of music, and a good Irish whiskey. Formed initially in 2019 as a way for friends to share their love of traditional Irish tunes, their music includes ballads and drinking songs from Ireland and the surrounding Isles.

Skweez The Weezle is an acoustic band that has been proudly carrying on the Celtic music tradition from their base of operations in the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland), greater West Richland, metropolitan Benton City, and Mid-Columbia area of southeastern Washington State. The band has performed at every fest since our first one in 2001.

Their current repertoire includes traditional and original Celtic tunes from Highland and Lowland Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton Island, Brittany, Wales, and the USA.

Since their formation in 1999, Skweez The Weezle has kept a busy schedule performing throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana at festivals, Highland games, concerts, coffeehouses, wineries, book-stores, universities, weddings, receptions, and private parties.

The band's released CD is: A Celtic Band (2002, sold out)

Email the Entertainment Chair (entertainment@prosserscottishfest.org) for more information.