News from Simon Fraser University Pipe Band is that the group's latest CD, Live from New York City, is now available.

The band's 12th CD, a 74-minute effort that features a bagpipe-toting Statue of Liberty on its cover, is a live recording of its May 4 performance at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, a celebration of the band's 30th anniversary.

"This is the band as you've not heard us before," said the band's pipe sergeant, Jack Lee. "We played our best performance ever at this venue."

Musically, expect a wide range of songs, from traditional to not-so-traditional.

The CD sells for $20 on the band's website (www.sfupb.com) and in select stores, including Tartantown in Coquitlam. Copies signed by the SFU band are also available for $30.

Lately, the band has been rehearsing at Lee's backyard in Surrey for the World Pipe Band Championships, happening this weekend in Scotland. More than 8,000 pipers and drummers and more than 40,000 visitors will take part in the event.

Also of note: Lee recently used an industrial sewing machine in the basement of his home to sew heavyweight zippers - like those used on scuba-divers' wetsuits - into his pipers' sheep and goat-skinned bags, all in the name of keeping them dry and sounding sweet.

"It's a breakthrough this year for the band," Lee told reporters. "The zipper lets us get inside the bag and put in some material - silicon - that will keep the drones dry. This more than triples the amount of time we have to tune and really get the most out of our instruments, which is key to achieving the sound we are after. Pipers want a wet, rich chanter sound, but also want a dry bag.

The zippers allow us to achieve both."

NEW NAME, SAME ABBA SONGS

One of the best ABBA tribute bands around was once called ABBAcadabra. The foursome is still together and gigging plenty this summer, including Friday, Sept. 14 at Coast Capital Playhouse in White Rock, but legal issues have forced a name change, to ABRAcadabra. So reports local promoter Rob "Rock.it Boy" Warwick, who is staging the concert in White Rock, along with a "Show He Never Gave" gig Aug. 31 featuring Buddy Holly tribute artist Johnny Vallis; see whiterockplayers.ca for info about both events.

LIVE MUSIC AT WEEKEND RUN

Show band March Hare, Danny Echo and Alexandria Maillot, a Peak Performance Project talent contest finalist for 2012, are set to hit the stage for Sunday's Run For Recovery.

The annual event, on Aug. 12, will be held at the Price Pro store in Newton to raise funds to help people kick addictions.

A post-run festival offers music and food, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6911 King George Blvd., Surrey. To get involved in the event, visit www.runforrecovery.net.

"We play all different kinds of music," said March Hare singer/guitarist Dan Hare, "but for the Run for Recovery event, which is outdoors in the afternoon, we'll keep it light. We'll do lots of popular music, old and new, for all ages. It will be a fun show."

JONES, LANE PLAY THE BLUES

Concert dates booked by White Rock Blues Society this fall will feature JW-Jones ("Canada's top touring blues act," on Oct.

13) and Jimmy D Lane (Nov. 10). Both gigs will happen at the bar at Pacific Inn Hotel, South Surrey. Also planned is a New Year's Eve dinner/dance with Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne at the venue.

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