WARMINGTON: The night Paul McCartney brought Scotland to Hamilton
No one will forget the inspiring and gutsy performance by the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band, which joined Paul McCartney for a performance at Hamilton’s newly-renovated TD Coliseum.
“It was a very emotional moment,” said Black. “A lot of us were fighting tears.”
McCartney, 83, even acknowledged this — saying how he had a number of people on his crew from Scotland who were very moved by this performance.
It was pretty special – not just for the local Canadians performing up there but also for audience members who understood they were experiencing something monumental.
McCartney only plays Mull of Kintyre in Commonwealth countries. There’s something about that iconic song — immortalized by McCartney during his Wings era — that hits people from there but there was another reason for Black.
“I had a lot of kids and teenagers up on that stage for the first time,” said Black. “This was a huge challenge, and they all came through in a big way.”
And the biggest pat on the back came from both the huge ovation from the packed house and from McCartney himself — who is more than 70 years older than two of those performers.
This was about a veteran musician and a new generation
With Black, there were 26 other pipers and drummers up there with McCartney and his incredible band consisting of Wix Wickens (keyboards, accordion, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, percussion, backing vocals); Rusty Anderson (lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals, Brian Ray (rhythm and lead guitars, bass guitar); Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums, percussion, vocals); and Hot City Horns players Mike Davis (trumpet), Paul Burton (trombone) and Kenji Fenton (saxophone).
But for this piece, Black asked that we highlight the young people he brought up there.
Black grew up knowing about the Beatles and Wings and many other musical triumphs of the iconic musician. But for the kids he took up on the stage, not only were they not born during the time of the Beatles, some of their parents weren’t, either.
It didn’t stop Ben Lees 16, Rowan Paniccia 19, Thelonious Tracy 14, Haroon Awan, 14, Maya Croome, 12 and Iona Lees,12 from nailing their parts.
“They know the music and they knew this was big,” said Black. “And they all did so great. I am so proud of all of them.”
Teaching young people to pipe and drum is the sole reason Black started this band 25 years ago when he came to Canada from Scotland.
And years later, he has kids from everywhere in the world wanting to learn. This was the fourth time Black and the band have been up there with Macca, but this time may have “been the most exciting” since a lot of the pipers and drummers were so young.
McCartney and his band were very supportive
“I knew they were nervous but I knew they could do it and Paul knew they could do it, too,” said Black. “Paul said, ‘I know you have got this.’ The band and crew were also very supportive and (even made sure friend Shona Russell was centre stage to get some pictures and video).”
It all started a month ago when manager Dennis Toll, of Brantford, got the email from McCartney’s musical director offering them the gig. They kept it a secret and rehearsed for weeks.
“Paul knows us, and quite surprisingly, when we last spoke, he was also familiar with the Town of Paris and the surrounding area,” said Toll.
On show day, they waited for McCartney to arrive in the newly renovated arena and piped him in with Scotland the Brave. “He touched his hand to his heart,” said Black.
Later, they went up and did a sound check with him “which helped everybody” with their jitters because when they went on to Mull of Kintyre in the encore, they were ready.
“Playing with Sir Paul is always a thrill,” said Black. “We first played with him twice in 2010, again in 2015 for two shows, and now in 2025. It’s an incredible experience for our players — standing in front of thousands is nerve-wracking but unbelievably rewarding.”
Hamilton the founder was from Scottish himself
It was rewarding for the crowd, too, and for McCartney, who didn’t just ask for applause for the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band once, but twice.
It was a well deserved tribute and fitting since Hamilton was named after city founder, father and Edinburgh-educated George Hamilton whose parents came to Canada from Scotland in the 18th century.
No one who was there will ever forget the night Paul McCartney and the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band brought Scotland to Hamilton.
Comments from youth who appeared with McCartney
— Iona Lees, 12
Q: How were your preshow nerves?
A: They were pretty good. I’m just excited to do it and see all the people in the crowd.
Q: What was it like when you got to play on stage for Paul McCartney?
A: It was really cool. I didn’t expect to get to play for him and I was really excited to meet someone famous and play with him.
Q: Did the practises in St. George prepare you for having to be on this stage?
A: It definitely did. I knew what time to come in and that and I knew the music perfectly well.
Q: If you could describe Paul McCartney, how would you describe him?
A: I would definitely call him talented singer, especially at that age. And that he can sing for that long.
Maya Croome, 12
Q: Did you know about Paul McCartney before you were asked to play with him?
A: I feel like I’ve heard a few of his songs before. I didn’t know him pretty much like every single one of the songs by memory, but I’ve heard a few of his songs.
Q: You got to shake his hand. What was that experience like?
A: It was definitely something. I have never shook someone’s hand that has actually been important and special in that kind of way, so it was really cool.
Q: If you had to describe Paul McCartney, how would you describe him?
A: He’s nice and he’s really sweet — a lot sweeter than I thought he was going to be. He seems really funny in general and he’s really nice.
Haroon Awan age 15
Q: How have you felt leading up to the concert?
A: Today, it’s been pretty good but at first I was really stressed out. I thought maybe I’d make mistakes or like mess up the whole thing but after practising in St. Geroge and then today’s practice with Paul McCartney on stage, that was pretty fun. It was a lot less stressful.
Q: What is your impression after meeting Paul?
A: Paul is very nice and he’s pretty funny, too.
