514 - No Scotland, No Party: Boston’s World Cup Piper, Matt McArthur (Dojo Conversations Ep 164)

Sometimes the best piping stories start with a simple question: “Can you bring your pipes?”  

Not all of them end up playing on a rooftop with NFL legends, becoming a viral sensation playing alongside Grimace, or partying with the 60,000-strong Tartan Army though…  

This week, Andrew and Jim are joined by Matt McArthur – a Quincy, Massachusetts-based piper, comedian, and longtime friend of Andrew’s from their days studying under legendary piper Donald Lindsay at Invermark Piping School in 1998.  

Matt tells us how a throwaway joke at a comedy show escalated into national TV appearances, NFL legends, and becoming the unofficial mascot of the Tartan Army.

From piping on a penthouse rooftop alongside Gronk and Julian Edelman, appearing in a White Claw ad he didn’t know he was part of, and having a dance-off with Grimace, this is one World Cup adventure you won’t believe.  

We also talk about the power of just getting the pipes out and playing for people – because sometimes the strangest gigs lead to the best stories (and opportunities!).  

Here’s what we cover in this episode: 

• 00:00 – “So you met Grimace…” 
 
• 01:41 – Introducing Matt: bagpiper, comedian, and accidental “sports ball legend”
 
• 02:50 – How Matt ended up at the centre of Boston’s World Cup celebrations
 
• 08:00 – The random bar gig that started it all
 
• 11:20 – The Tennent’s shortage and the White Claw twist
 
• 18:30 – BBC Scotland goes viral: “The Americans don’t even know the World Cup is here”
 
• 20:00 – Learning the songs the Tartan Army actually want to hear
 
• 21:00 – The casting call that led to a rooftop TV appearance
 
• 23:55 – Playing live on national TV, 100 feet up!
 
• 28:11 – “No Scotland, No Party” 
 
• 30:00 – Meeting Grimace and accidentally becoming part of an ad campaign
 
• 31:37 – The big takeaway: just go play for people