Spellbinding Spectacle Set for Edinburgh Castle

All the traditional ingredients will be present – massed pipes & drums, massed bands, the Lone Piper along with a number of impressive overseas offerings – but some will be contributing a new look at this year’s Edinburgh Tattoo (1-23 August 2008).

Among new elements will be one of the most televised university marching bands in the United States, the 150-piece Golden Eagles, who will travel to Scotland from Missouri for August’s 59th Tattoo while 100 musicians and a cultural item from the Far East are also expected to add an unexpected new dimension to proceedings.

For the third time in the Tattoo’s history, Singapore is to provide participants who will take part this year. The Singaporean contingent will consist of a detachment of Gurkha Pipes and Drums together with a 55-strong Police Military Band, an all-woman Police Pipe Band and an animated act reflecting aspects of Singapore’s social and cultural roots.

The Tattoo’s new Producer, Major General Euan Loudon, said: “While the traditionally preferred show components will once again be to the fore, a discernible cosmopolitan flavour will also be present alongside state-of-the-art production technology adding to the overall Tattoo experience.”

New features will also include an exciting appearance by pupils from Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, which is set to celebrate its first 100 years in 2008. To mark this centenary young students from the school will present a display of piping, drumming and highland dancing that is expected to delight audiences throughout the 3-week Castle Esplanade extravaganza.

From Canada will come a 50-strong Highland Dance troupe who will join forces with the Tattoo’s own Highland Spring Dancers to offer a selection of colourful, complex and compelling dance patterns.

And along with the Massed Pipes and Drums will be two of the foremost services bands in the world, His Majesty The King’s Guards Band – accompanied by its Drill Team - of Norway, and The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, 100 musicians drawn from across the UK led by its distinguished Corps of Drums.

The 90-minute production will also feature the return of the all-girl Lochiel Champion Drill Team from Wellington in New Zealand with an intricate display of precision drill.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which is set-up and run for charitable purposes, is grateful to principal sponsor, The Royal Bank of Scotland, for its continued support. Chairman of RBS, Sir Tom McKillop said: “2007 proved to be yet another fantastic year for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. As Scotland’s most prestigious and internationally renowned event, we look forward to being part of the team making it happen for 2008”.

Some tickets for the 2008 Tattoo (1-23 August) may still be available from the Tattoo Ticket Sales Office at 32-34 Market Street in Edinburgh, Tel: 0131 225 1188, Email: tickets@edintattoo.co.uk