A PIPING hot weekend of bagpipe music takes place in Devon next month ? to feature the first ever performance in England by an award-winning Parisian folk musician. Michel Esbelin, the Auvergne tradition specialist, is just one of the highly acclaimed bagpipe musicians taking part in the weekend of music, dance and workshops organised by Wren Music, the Okehampton-based folk arts development organisation. The Piping Hot Bagpipe Weekend on March 4-5 will feature traditional and contemporary folk music from a variety of European sources. Michel Esbelin has been exploring the music of the Auvergne region of France ? where his ancestral roots lie ? since the late 1970s. At first, he played the violin and the hurdy-gurdy, but in 1982 he took up playing the cabrette - the central French small pipes. His bagpipe virtuosity has earned him the Gold Medal at the Concours de Paris in 1983 and the Concours de Gannat in 1986, and an illustrious recording and touring career across Europe. Also headlining the weekend is David Faulkner from Moretonhampstead. He is well known for his work with bands such as the Eelgrinders, Zephyrus and the trio Moebius - with which he has appeared at the Armagh Pipers Festival, and at the North American bagpipe convention, at North Hero, Vermont, USA. His solo work has included tours and performances across Europe at festivals and piping conventions, including Edinburgh and Pencadre. His most recent project has seen him teaming up with accordionist Steve Turner to play mostly previously unrecorded 19th Century pipe music. He has also continued to work on community and education projects with Wren Music, including helping with the Roots Band in Okehampton. Many people do not realise that there is a long history of piping in the Westcountry ? as can be seen from the carvings of bagpipers in a number of local churches. On Saturday, March 5, there will be a bagpipe and piping tradition workshop day at the Octagon Theatre, Okehampton College. The workshop has been designed for players of intermediate and advanced levels, and offers an opportunity for keen musicians to develop a greater understanding of vibrant pipe-playing. The morning session will concentrate on the Auvergne tradition, while the afternoon will feature David Faulkner and the English piping tradition. The weekend will culminate on the Saturday night with a concert, in the Octagon Theatre, from 8pm-10.30pm. Joining the other performers will be Mike York who will be playing pipe music from Macedonia and Bulgaria. The weekend will be launched on Friday March 4, with a traditional French Grand Bal of music and dance, at Longdown Village Hall near Exeter. To reserve a place on the workshops or for further information about tickets please contact Wren Music on tel 01837 53754 or email [email protected]">[email protected]