CELTICA - PIPES ROCK Announces U.S. and European Tour, March 2013

The rock and roll bagpiping band Celtica - Pipes Rock is announcing a United States and European tour, which commences in March 2013.

"We are a rock band, but we have bagpipes as the lead instrument," says Celtica - Pipes Rock lead man Gajus Stappen, a Vienna, Austria native who plays the electric guitar and percussion. "It is the combination of the traditional Scottish bagpipe with a rocking attitude."

The tour will make U.S. stops including in Phoenix, Ariz., and Longs Peak, Colo. The band will also record their third album, slated for release in Spring 2014.

European shows are confirmed in Casalromano, Italy, Bad Nieuweschans, The Netherlands, and in Hörstel, Loreley, St. Goarshausen and Hohenlimburg, Germany.

The band will also perform at the Celtic Fair Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The tour concludes at the Dunedin Celtic Festival in Dunedin, Fla. For tour dates and complete information, visit www.celticarocks.com/en/dates

Joining Stappen are Gwendolen Rowe, of Mendocino, Calif., and Duncan Knight, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who play the Great Highland Bagpipe. Harry Weinkum, of Phoenix, Ariz., plays bass and percussion, Lukas Rausch, of Scheibbs, Austria, plays The Drums and Josy Svajda, of Saalfelden, Austria, performs vocals, keyboard and percussion.

"We have a really extraordinary show," Weinkum said. "Blending bagpipes with rock is altogether entertaining and awe-inspiring for our audiences."

For their upcoming tour, Celtica - Pipes Rock will perform original songs from their albums "Rising" and "Oceans of Fire" along with cover songs such as AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and Queen's "We Will Rock You."

Before Celtica - Pipes Rock, Stappen played televised shows with Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Maurice Gibb (Bee Gees), World Music award winner Ronan Keating and two-time Grammy nominee Ace of Base. Knight has previously collaborated with internationally acclaimed British violinist Nigel Kennedy. Weinkum has toured with members of the Miles Davis Band and the Zawinul Syndicate.

In 2011 and 2012, Celtica - Pipes Rock headlined central Europe's premiere Celtic music events. To date, the band has performed more than 100 shows, touring Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Austria, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Canada.