Charlotte, NC · est. 2025
Rose & Thistle
Ladies Pipe Band
“As strong as the woman next to me.”
An all-women pipe band showcasing the strength, skill, and spirit of women in the pipe band world — carrying on Scottish tradition while raising awareness and funds for cancer research.
Our story
About the band
We are a branch of the Queen City Juvenile Pipes & Drums, based out of Charlotte, NC. The main body of the band is made up of women from around the South Eastern states.
The Rose & Thistle Ladies Pipe Band showcases the strength, skill, and spirit of women in the pipe band world. Our mission is to raise cancer awareness through our love of the Scottish pipe band tradition. The pipes and drums carry a long and storied history from Scotland, one spread throughout the world by Scottish descendants and lovers of the genre. Our band formed in 2025 with the goal of putting together an all-ladies pipe band that carries on this tradition while raising money for cancer research.
While we hope our main purpose — carrying on Scottish tradition and supporting cancer research — will continue for years to come, our current biggest goal is a venture to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2026. The band subsequently opened membership to the world for this endeavor, and we now have members from all over the US, as well as Canada, Germany, and Australia. We will descend on Glasgow Green together this August, wearing our tartan and proudly carrying on the tradition.
We're just getting this off the ground — please check back often, as we'll be updating and adding to this page as the band grows.
Our tartan
Woven in lavender, worn with purpose
The band has chosen to wear the Spirit of Scotland Weathered tartan for its lovely lavender hue. Lavender is the universally recognized color for all cancers — a unifying symbol representing awareness and support for anyone affected by any form of the disease, as well as their caregivers and loved ones.
Many specific cancers carry their own distinct awareness colors — pink for breast cancer, orange for leukemia, dark blue for colon cancer, among others. The lavender ribbon represents the collective fight against cancer as a whole. Its calming, healing tone symbolizes unity and inclusivity across the entire cancer community.
Every rose we carry and every stitch of tartan we wear is for someone — this is why we play.
Glasgow 2026World Pipe Band Championships
The journey
Our members are scattered across the globe — and this August, we'll all descend on Glasgow Green together, tartan on, to carry on a tradition that's centuries old.
Gallery
A few moments so far
Our photo library is just getting started — follow us on Facebook as we post performances, chapter gatherings, and the road to Glasgow!
More photos from performances and chapters are on the way — follow us on Facebook to see the latest!
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