Scotland's First Minister To Bid Farewell To Tattoo Performers Bound For Australia

At 10.00am on Monday January 10th at the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's First Minister, the Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP, personally offered elements of the Scottish contingent of the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Tattoo his best wishes as they put the finishing touches to their rehearsals for the Edinburgh Tattoo's 'Salute to Australia' at Sydney's Aussie Stadium from 3-8 February 2005.

Around 60 musicians, including the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Scotland and Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band, together with Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer, Brigadier Mel Jameson, were in attendance that morning.

Tattoo Producer, Brigadier Mel Jameson, said: "This is one of the largest contingents of Pipes & Drums and Military Bands from Scotland and the UK ever to leave these shores."

"It provides a unique opportunity to fly the flag Down Under."

This is only the second time in the Tattoo's history that the world-class event will be staged away from its home at Edinburgh Castle. In 2000, Wellington's Westpac Trust Stadium in New Zealand enjoyed this honour.

The largest gathering of pipes & drums and military bands ever to perform overseas will be among the 300-strong British-based performers taking their unique brand of entertainment to the southern hemisphere.

The complete cast for Australia of more than 1200 performers will include some of the world's finest musicians from Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA along with 200 top-flight Highland dancers from across Australia and Scotland.

They will perform to 160,000 spectators over 5 nights at Sydney's Aussie Stadium where a dramatic replica backdrop of Edinburgh Castle has been built to help capture the essential magic of the presentation that only the Edinburgh Tattoo can create.

And they will be joined by considerably more throughout Australia who will enjoy the highlights on national television.

Chief Executive of Scotland's National Tourism Board, VisitScotland's Philip Riddle, said: "VisitScotland is proud to be associated with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and we look forward to joining forces with the event in Australia to promote Scotland on the world stage."

"The Tattoo is an outstanding cultural spectacle which puts Scotland on the map, and I've no doubt its presence down under will act as a fantastic advert and hopefully encourage more Australians to visit Scotland in future."