From pipes|drums magazine:

Midwest Pipe Band Association President Jim Sim said that feedback from bands and spectators has been positive after using an open formation at the Chicago Highland Games, so the organization already plans to use it in 2016.

Competing Grade 2 and Grade 3 bands played the Medley event in “concert formation,” after the MSR and Grade 4 and Grade 5 bands competed in the traditional circle.

For the concert layout, a large rectangle shape was painted on the ground and the bands were allowed to form up in whatever manner they chose within the space. Judges were stationary at a table at the front of the bands, with piping adjudicators on the outside and drumming and ensemble judges in the middle.

Read more in the pipes|drums magazine article.

Twitter