Bagpipe Playing Rocker Set to Perform at Indianapolis Colts Game

A young woman has become a viral TikTok sensation for her bagpiping skills, and she will soon be performing at Lucas Oil Stadium at an upcoming NFL game.

I Don't Know How the Algorithm Gave Me Rock-n-Roll Bagpipes

Look. I cannot explain how the algorithm placed a rock-n-roll bagpipe player on my FYP, but I'm not even a little bit mad about it. As a woman who grew up as a flute-toting band geek in the mid-late 90s, it was hard to find popular music that was relevant to the instrument that I played. Other than listening to old Jethro Tull albums, there wasn't exactly a lot of rock artists incorporating a flute into their songs.

Let Me Introduce You to Ally the Piper

Needless to say my angsty inner teenage band geek was pretty excited when I discovered a rock-n-roll bagpipe player. I mean, this woman rocks - literally! Ally the Piper has been making videos on her social media platforms for quite some time with nearly every TikTok video racking up tens of thousands of views, and some stretching into the millions.

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What Makes Ally The Piper So Cool?

You may be asking yourself how on earth a bagpipe player could possibly be that popular. It turns out, Ally the Piper isn't just any 'ol bagpipe player. While she does have tons of videos of herself playing traditional bagpipe music like you might expect, most of her videos are her playing popular rock, metal, and punk songs - on her bagpipes!

Canva; Ally the Piper via TikTok

Years of Bagpipe Lessons Culminating into Ozzy Covers on Stage? Yep!

In one video, a commenter had mentioned there was no way Ally's parents spent the money for her to learn to play bagpipes thinking she "would one day be on stage playing Crazy Train." That commenter could not have been more wrong. Check out Ally covering classic Ozzy tune in the video and be sure you watch long enough to catch the "guitar solo."

Ally's Metal & Rock Covers Are So Good Even Metallica's a Fan

Ally's metal and rock covers are so good they have even gotten the attention and support of metal icons Metallica and Iron Maiden. In fact, when an internet troll tried to tell Ally "Bagpipes don't belong in Metallica! James would not approve," Metallica took time to reply to the haters.

How Did Ally Get Her Start With Bagpipes?

Ally's career with bagpipes kicked off more than a decade ago. In 2012 she took home a win as a member of the youth pipe band during the annual World Pipe Band Championships in Glascow. She continued to compete for several years while dominating in solo competitions, before switching her focus to her music career in 2019. This remarkable young woman has been crushing stereotypes about the instrument and has introduced millions of people to the bagpipes.

Ally the Piper is a viral internet sensation, renowned for modernizing the Great Highland bagpipe. She blends classic rock and heavy metal with Celtic influences, captivating audiences worldwide. Supported by legends like Metallica and Iron Maiden, Ally showcases her talent on various traditional instruments and is redefining the bagpipe's place in contemporary music.

Ally Will Share Her Bagpiping Talents at Lucas Oil Stadium

Ally the Piper will take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for both a pre-game show and the half-time performance on Sunday, December 22nd as the Indianapolis Colts host the Tennessee Titans. Game time is at 1 pm ET in Indianapolis, and tickets for the game are available through Ticketmaster.

Ally Is Currently Touring into 2025 with Shows in Indiana, Illinois & Kentucky

Ally the Piper is currently touring with dates into March 2025, including stops within driving distance of Evansville in Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky. She will perform in St Louis on March 13th, again in Indianapolis on March 14th, and in Louisville on March 17th. She also has a show in Chicago, Illinois.

Keep scrolling to see some of my favorite bagpipe covers from Ally!