Few things conjure the Scottish Highlands as readily and completely as the song of the bagpipe. And you needn’t be a Scot—or have any Celtic blood at all in your veins—to be stirred by sound of the pipes. If you long to answer the call of the pipes, we can help. We are the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch.

We were founded in 1993, as a family-oriented group that emulates the Queen’s Own 42nd Royal Highland Regiment: the legendary Black Watch of Scotland. Our goal is to maintain, spread and foster a love and appreciation of the traditional Celtic arts of highland piping, drumming and dancing. To attain our goal, we offer free instruction in those arts. Our band embraces family values and its nearly 75 members are of all ages, both genders, and come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Membership in the Atlantic Watch is open to all and it is free. All that we ask of our members is that they earnestly participate in band events. Based in Red Bank, New Jersey, the Atlantic Watch plays regularly in and around central New Jersey, as well as the mid-Atlantic region. In addition, we have played overseas. We performed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1995, when we had the honor of meeting with Prince Charles. We returned to Edinburgh in 2000 and 2005, taking part in the international Pipefest, in support of the Marie Curie Cancer Care Foundation. The Atlantic Watch was an opening act for both The Band Of The Grenadier Guards and The Pipes and Drums and Dancers of The Highlanders, as well as The Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of The Black Watch and the Band of The Welsh Guards. Our traditions as a military band—the Atlantic Watch uniform emulates full regimental issue— allowed us to perform on the U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor and at the Barking Sands Naval Station in Hawaii, as well as the United States Military Academy at West Point and at Fort Monmouth.

If you would like to hire the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch for a civic, community or private function, or if you wish to help sponsor the band’s activities, it is important to note that the Atlantic Watch is a fully tax-exempt organization under I.R.S. 501 regulations. For more information about the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch, come see us at one of our weekly meetings, held Thursdays at 7:00 pm at the River Street Elementary School in Red Bank, or contact either Pipe Major Ernie Lackey (732) 918-1421, or Band Agent Al Baker at (732) 233-9805.

The Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch Repertoire currently is:

Pipes and Drums Scotland The Brave – The Rowan Tree Minstrel Boy – Wearing of the Green Battle of Waterloo – Flett from Flotta Highland Laddie – 42nd Highlanders 100 Pipers – Bonnie Dundee Kelly – Rakes of Mallow Let Erin Remember – Wrap the Green Flag Wings – High Road to Gairloch Cock of the North Piobaireachd of Donald Dhu Green Hills of Tyrol – When the Battle’s O’er Marine Corps Hym Amazing Grace Balmoral   Vocal Will Ye No Come Back Again

The Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch uses Bagpipe Player software by Doug Wickstrom! To get a FREE copy of Bagpipe Player, please visit Doug's web site here!