The annual bagpipe showcase, Squeeze the Bag, is scheduled for Jan. 17 at Reynolds Hall at 8 p.m.

The bellows-blown bagpipe is a quieter, more parlor-oriented cousin to the great highland bagpipes most folks are familiar with. Attendees will see pipes that are far more likely to be played with flutes, guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, drums and other instruments in a session-like atmosphere for concerts or dances in smaller, more intimate settings. Four kinds of bagpipes will be featured: the Scottish smallpipe, the quieter cousin of the great highland pipes, the Irish uilleann (or Union) pipes, Northumbrian smallpipes and the Border pipes which are played in the border region between Scotland and England.

The concert is divided into three section, opening with the tiny Northumbrian pipes of England with Dick Hensold. Next will be an Irish section of the program with uilleann piper, Joey Abarta and flutist and piper, Sean Gavin, who tours internationally with Irish Christmas in America and the group Bua. The Scottish section of the concert will feature pipers Tim Cummings, Iain MacHarg, Bob Mitchell and more, in a set of music from the highlands and border regions of Scotland on both Scottish smallpipes and Border pipes.

Co-sponsored with the Upper Potomac Pipers Weekend. Classes available in many kinds of bellows blown bagpipes, flute, whistle and mixed-instruments. More information is on the web page. http://upperpotomacmusic.info/squeezethebag/

Admission is $18 adults, $15 seniors, $12 SMD members, $8 students. For more information call the Upper Potomac office at 304-263-2531 or email updf@earthlink.net. Come on out and watch these pipers Squeeze the Bag.