The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

A diamond year for the Tattoo

To say that 2010 is a special year for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo would be something of an understatement. With a Royal endorsement, a big anniversary and a trip Down Under, 2010 is set to sparkle.

By royal appointment

The ‘royal’ of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was bestowed on the event earlier this year by HM The Queen. The honour marks the exceptional services to Scottish culture, entertainment, the military and the charitable organisations that this remarkable event supports – since the first Tattoo in 1950 the event has gifted an impressive £5 million to service and civilian organisations. Quite a symbolic birthday present for the 60th anniversary or Diamond Jubilee Year.

Let there be drums . . .

In keeping with this special year the line up for the 60th anniversary show promises to be as spectacular as ever. Set against one of the world’s most imposing stages, the beautifully lit mass of Edinburgh Castle. Many spectators of the Tattoo have commented that even before the band has struck the first note the initial sight of the castle bathed in such exquisite light is enough to raise the hairs on the back of the neck.

Visitors this year can look forward to the trademark mix of the traditional to the contemporary and innovative with the perennially popular Massed Pipes and Drums and Massed Military Bands and dancers, singers and even gymnasts from countries ranging from South Africa to Switzerland, New Zealand to the United States and of course the Scottish Regiments. Military pipe and drum bands this year include the South African Irish Regiment, the South Australian Pipes and Drum Band, the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Grenadier Guards.

Amongst the 1,000 strong cast this year will be performances from the Citadel Band from Charleston, South Carolina who will represent the United States in their return to the Tattoo. Decked in their own officially registered tartan the band have a well earned reputation as one of the world’s first rate military college bands. Expect gymnastic feats from The Army Physical Training Corps who are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year and feats of precision and dexterity from The Imps Motorcycle Display Team. The Imps are Britain’s largest motorcycle display team and range from an unbelievable 5 to 16 years of age. Instantly recognisable in their red tunics The Imps deliver an amazing display of disciplined motorcycle acrobatics on bikes ranging from 50-250cc. Highlights of their show includes motorcycle pyramids and breath taking fire jumps. The New Zealand Army Band, one the finest marching brass bands in the world will be making an appearance. The Band of the Brigade of Ghurkhas will also return to the Tattoo this year. The multi-talented and versatile band who are as at home jamming with pianist Jools Holland as they are performing public duties on Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace, will bring some Nepalese flavour to the show with their own unique style.

The annual audience of the Tattoo is around 217,000 though a staggering 100 million people around the world see the show on television. Over the course of the show’s 60 years of history over 40 countries have been represented making it the world’s largest and arguably greatest tattoo.

Flying the flag Down Under

Following the royal seal of approval and for only the third time in the Tattoo’s history the event was staged somewhere other than its traditional Edinburgh home. In February, 350 British-based performers joined a global cast of over 1,500 musicians and Highland dancers ranging from Trinidad and Tobago, Norway, China, Australia and New Zealand at Sydney’s Football Stadium. Set against a replica backdrop of Edinburgh Castle the largest display of military pipe and drum bands ever to perform out of Scotland performed to crowds of over 130,000 over 5 nights.

See for yourself

So if you’ve never seen such pomp and ceremony performed with humour and wit or witnessed the spine tingling haunting sound of the Lone Piper high up in the castle battlement or sang Auld Lang Syne in the company of thousands to a backdrop of a sky and city alive with fireworks, then perhaps this is the year you should. Once you do you’ll never forget it.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs from 6th-28th August.