We asked the Pipe Major what it is about Piping Live! that draws him and his band into Glasgow for the week.
"We've been looking forward to it for a long time, and when it finally comes it's great because there's lots of events you can go to, meet pals you've not seen for a long time and generally get out and about for the whole week."
The band are fielding two separate bands at the World Pipe Band Championships this year: a grade two band and a grade four band.
"We've got a band competing in grade two and we've got a band made up mostly of youngsters, topped up with a couple of adults, competing in grade four."
So what does Pipe Major Bowes think of Piping Live! as an event?
"I think it brings people from all over the world into Glasgow and it promotes the art" he said. "Hopefully you've got a lot of youngsters listening to it for the first time and they go on to take up pipes or drums."
Finally we asked him if he is looking forward to the World Championships.
"It's great, it's good fun" he said. "I notice it a lot more in the youngsters, some of them are competing at the worlds for the first time, and they get a lot more excited about it than for the thirtieth time!"
Piping Live continues all week in venues around Glasgow. Check out all of our Piping Live! coverage here
For more information on the festival, check out the official website here
