Tulloch Ard

Members of the Hilltop Highland Dancers perform a sword dance on Thursday evening. (photos by Chuck Grimmett/Collegian)

Tulloch Ard
By Collegian freelancer Samantha Gilman and Arts Editor Marieke van der Vaart

Strength, dignity, grace, poise: these are the words that best describe the performances of tonight and last night’s Tulloch Ard concert. From the moment the curtains opened to the sharp rat-a-tat of the snare drums accompanied by the piercing notes of the bagpipes, the Hillsdale College Scottish Highland Pipes and the Hilltop Highland Dancers brought a taste of Scotland to Markel Auditorium.


The night’s performances included orchestral works from ensembles which included the fiddle, flute, cello, guitar and accordion. The dancing numbers featured incredibly precise footwork and gracefully strong lines, and the clear, strong voices of the guest artists, the Buehrer Sisters, dripped with the beautiful Scottish lilt.

The siblings performed a set of “Walking Songs,” songs that women traditionally sang as they walked on wool to help it dry, junior and concert attendee Kirsten Block said.

Block said the enthusiasm of performers was particularly evident.

“You could tell they really loved what they did,” Block said.


She said the bantering of the master of ceremonies and performers displayed an endearing sense of camaraderie.

“It just seemed like a whole bunch of people who just enjoyed dancing and playing music got together.”

Dark Side of Oz

(all photos by Sally Nelson/Collegian)

Collegian freelancer, freshman Sally Nelson, went backstage at a concert on Saturday for the band, Echoes of Pink Floyd, tribute to the rock and roll band and the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz."

Pink Floyd cover band reveals the 'Dark Side of Oz'


The cover band “Echoes of Pink Floyd” lives up to its name.

During the laser light show in Jackson on Feb. 5, Echoes’ performance had moments of brilliance when the hall sounded more like a concert from the 1970s rather than the 2010s.

The energy charged hall reverberated with music so similar to the original band that, at moments, listeners could hardly tell it was a tribute band.

Freshman Harris Wells, who attended the show, was surprised by the authenticity of the band’s vocals.

“Recreating Pink Floyd’s instrumental sound is a much easier accomplishment than recreating the vocals,” said Wells.


Before the show began, the audience eagerly yelled “Pink Floyd forever” and whistled loudly in anticipation.

Over 1250 enthusiastic fans burst into uproar when the band played the first note of “Speak to Me.”

Lights flashed after and "The Wizard of Oz" played on a circular screen behind the band.



The first half of the show featured Floyd's album, the Dark Side of the Moon played over "The Wizard of Oz." After Dorothy listens to the Tin Man’s heartbeat and the heartbeat plays at the end of the album, the band took an intermission. When they came back on stage, they played various Pink Floyd songs off other albums.


Some synchronicities between the film and the album were surprising. The two appeared to interplay closely many times but one of the most striking moments occurred when the song “Money” started and Dorothy walked into the colorful world of Oz.

Kaleidoscopic lasers proved to be one of the most striking elements in the show. Using six laser projectors, Echoes’ shot lasers above the heads of the audience, brilliantly illuminating the arched hall.


“The lasers were pretty psychedelic,” said senior Anna Wiley.

At the conclusion of the show, the audience burst into applause yelling for an encore until the band walked back on stage to perform several songs, including the legendary “Another Brick in the Wall (Pt 2)” off of the album “The Wall.”

The Michigan band truly paid Pink Floyd an echoing tribute.



To find out more about the band, go here.