In this episode of the Made to Parade Podcast, Glenn Millar sits down with Will Casson-Smith, retired British Army Warrant Officer Class 1, former Band Master in the Corps of Army Music, professional musician and military music historian.

Together they explore the rich tradition of the Corps of Drums, discussing its history, unique musical style, ceremonial role and the skill required to perform within one of Britain's most distinctive military musical traditions.

Will also reflects on his passion for preserving military music, including the story behind his album My Father's Drum, released in support of Armed Forces charities.

As a special feature, this episode includes one of Will's Corps of Drums arrangements, allowing listeners to experience the music being discussed throughout the conversation.

Whether you're involved in marching bands, military music, pipe bands, or simply have an interest in musical heritage, this is an in-depth discussion you won't want to miss.

Topics include:

Arranging and performing ceremonial music

My Father's Drum

Corps of Drums performance

If you enjoy this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

For years, we've been told that certain cultural traditions are relics of the past, destined to fade away as Northern Ireland moves towards a different future.But what happens when even critics begin to acknowledge the strength of the community, identity and belonging that exist within those traditions?In this episode of Made to Parade, Glenn explores the growing recognition of unionist and loyalist cultural identity and asks whether the narrative of an "inevitable future" stands up to scrutiny when confronted with the reality of living, breathing communities.Drawing on culture, politics, history and previous conversations with sociologist Colin Coulter, this episode examines:🔹 The difference between political aspiration and political reality🔹 Why community and belonging matter more than political slogans🔹 The resilience of cultural identity in Northern Ireland🔹 What marching bands tell us about continuity, heritage and community life🔹 Whether a United Ireland is truly a priority beyond political circles🔹 The challenge of reconciling competing identities in a shared society🔹 Why recognising one culture's legitimacy means recognising another'sThis is not an episode about hostility or division. It is an invitation to think critically about the stories we tell ourselves, the assumptions we make about the future, and the role that culture continues to play in shaping life across Northern Ireland.Because if culture is as meaningful and resilient as many now acknowledge, perhaps the future is not as inevitable as some would like us to believe.Join the conversationDo you think cultural identity is properly understood in Northern Ireland?Can a future be described as "inevitable" when large sections of society remain deeply connected to their traditions and heritage?Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Subscribe to Made to Parade for conversations on marching bands, music, culture, identity, history and the issues that matter to our community.#MadeToParade #NorthernIreland #Culture #Identity #Community #MarchingBands #UnionistCulture #LoyalistCulture #Politics #ColinCoulter #Heritage #Belonging #Podcast #CommunityMatters #NorthernIrelandCulture

So it’s culture now?

For years, loyalist marching bands have faced the same criticism — “what culture?” or “that’s not culture.”But this year in Belfast, something shifted.

A Protestant marching band took part in the city’s St Patrick’s Day parade, a moment that, for some, signalled progress, and for others, raised serious questions.

Now, that conversation has moved even further, with the Belfast Bands Forum involvement in one of the biggest festivals of traditional music coming to Belfast for the next 2 years.

So where does that leave us?In this episode, we’re joined by: Representatives from the band who took part in the St Patrick’s Day parade, Members of the Belfast Bands Forum, and a sitting City Councillor.

This isn’t a conversation about theory, it’s about real decisions, real leadership, and a changing cultural landscape in Belfast.

We explore:Why bands were included in St Patrick’s DayThe thinking behind potential involvement in the Fleadh

.Why this is seen as progress by some and controversial by othersAnd the bigger question: who gets to define culture in Northern Ireland?

Because if this isn’t culture… what is?Join the conversationThis is a topic that challenges long-held views, so we want to hear from you.

Do you see this as progress?

Should bands be part of events like the Fleadh?

What does shared culture in Belfast look like to you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Subscribe for more conversations on band culture, identity, and community

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Scripture, Sash & Memory - Episode 1: Memory, Why We Refuse to ForgetBecause too often, Protestant marching culture is talked about without being properly understood.It’s reduced to headlines, assumptions or controversy, without exploring the deeper roots that shaped it.Scripture, Sash & Memory is about going beyond that.This series looks at how faith, history and community experience, particularly through the Reformation and the Glorious Revolution, have shaped a culture that still exists today.Not to defend it.Not to preach.But to understand it.Episode 1: Memory, Why We Refuse to ForgetWhy do we remember?Why does remembrance still matter in a world that keeps telling us to move on?In this opening episode, we explore the idea that memory is not about hatred, it’s about identity.This episode sets the foundation for the entire series, looking at how Protestant marching culture in Northern Ireland carries inherited patterns shaped by belief, history and community, even for those who no longer actively practise that belief.We’re not making the case that band culture is biblical.We’re asking a deeper question:What happens to a people when they forget where they’ve come from?Drawing on cultural experience and biblical ideas around remembrance, this episode explores:

• Why forgetting is never neutral• The difference between memory and grievance• How ritual carries identity across generations• Why parades can be understood as commemoration rather than triumphalism• The connection between memory, belonging and place“We don’t march because we hate.We march because we remember.”About the SeriesScripture, Sash & Memory explores the connections between:• The Protestant Reformation• The Glorious Revolution• The development of Loyal Orders• The rise of marching bands in Northern IrelandAnd how these influences continue to shape culture, identity and tradition today.Listen / Follow

Available on all podcast platformsSubscribe for more episodesTurn on notifications so you don’t miss the next part of the series

This episode has been in my head for a while.

There are certain melody band recordings that, when they came out, you just knew they mattered. You could hear the work put into it.

That’s what this episode is about.I’m picking my personal Top 5 melody recordings, and for each one I’ll mention a standout track, just as a reference point.

But this isn’t about ranking individual tunes.It’s about the recording as a whole. The overall quality. The consistency across the album. The production.

You might agree. You might think I’ve missed obvious ones.

That’s fine. This isn’t a definitive list, it’s simply the five that, for me, set a standard.

So once you’ve listened, I’d love to know, what are yours?

Like, share and subscribe if you’re enjoying Made to Parade.

#MadeToParade #MelodyRecordings #BandCulture #FluteBands #MarchingBands

Episode 106 | Made to Parade PodcastIn the new episode of Made to Parade, I sit down with long-time bandsman Dennis McNab for a look at early memorabilia of Pride of the Raven Flute Band.Spread out across the table is memory itself.Old Black Watch hat badges.Original dickie bows.A drum major’s sash worn by past leaders.Music pouches, coat badges, and repaired instruments with stories in every scratch.Rare black-and-white photographs, dinner dance snapshots, and faces that built the band long before social media ever existed.Each item opens the door to a story, about people, pride, graft, friendship, and the quiet moments that shape a band’s identity.This episode isn’t only about looking back. It’s a reminder.If we don’t record our history, we lose it, because today’s ordinary moments are tomorrow’s heritage.If you care about where your band came from… this one’s for you.Subscribe for more stories from the band sceneStart saving your history, you’ll thank yourself laterNew episodes fortnightly#MadeToParade #BandHistory #FluteBands #NorthernIrelandBands #Heritage #MarchingBands

How Bands Take Care of Their Own | Gordon Ramsey on Loyalist Bands, Community & CareMade to Parade – First Episode of 2026What if marching bands were more than music and parades?What if they were also mental-health support networks, food banks, fundraising engines, and the glue holding working-class communities together?We’re kicking off 2026 with one of the most important conversations we’ve ever recorded.In this episode, Glenn and Sarah sit down with researcher and author Gordon Ramsey, whose work explores loyalist marching bands through a completely different lens — not stereotypes or headlines, but solidarity, mutual aid, and social care.Together we unpack:How bands step in where the state steps back“Taking care of our own” and what that really looks likeMental health, masculinity and support inside band cultureCharity work, fundraising and community activismWhy bands function as communities of practice and belongingAnd how this connects directly with Glenn’s upcoming book How Bands Build PeopleThis isn’t about defending bands. It’s about understanding them properly.If you’ve ever played, marched, rehearsed, fundraised, or found yourself through a band — this episode will hit home.Because bands don’t just do parades. They build people.

In this special episode, Glenn sits down with Dennis - one of the near-founding members of the Pride of the Raven Flute Band - to look back at the band’s earliest days.
From the first practices and handmade uniforms to unforgettable parades, rivalries, and the deep sense of community that shaped their journey, Dennis shares stories and memories that bring the band’s origins to life.

Recorded alongside rare memorabilia and personal reflections, this conversation captures the spirit, pride, and people who built one of Belfast’s most recognisable flute bands.