Well I went to the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo the other night and thought I’d chronicle it for you all. The Tattoo happens during Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival during August every year. The Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world. It features everything you can think of…from stand up comedy to theatre to music and beyond.
The highlight of the Tattoo once again was the Swiss Secret Police Drummers. They’re insane. They beat eachothers drums as well as throw their sticks over their shoulders while the drummers behind them do the same, catch them and play on like nothing happened. The tricks and rhythms were superb. I have a video of their section (5mins) which I will post in the very near future as soon as I find out how to. I have however posted their 2006 Tattoo performance at the bottom of this thread so PLEASE do watch it as they really are amazing.
Anyway the Tattoo is held at the Edinburgh Castle. The castle sits on top of a huge rock in the middle of the city…
The grandstand…this is set up about a month before the festival kicks off. During that month they have concerts. This year it was Duran Duran and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Last year I was lucky enough to have been taken to Girls Aloud at the castle by my girlfriend.[cool]
Castle - check!
Whisky - check!
We’re almost there!!
Looking up towards the castle from the Royal Mile.
Looking down the Royal Mile…the line was HUUUUUUUUUUGE. They shut the Royal Mile off to traffic during the festival so it’s full of performers promoting their shows.
We’re here!
Now we’re just waiting for the rest of the festival goons to take their seats! See the white house on the top left of this photo…they have the best seats in the house and they don’t even have to pay for tickets! Tattoo tickets sell out waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay in advance every year and people pay big money to secure them. It pays to be pals with the folk that own that house!
It’s ON!!! Notice all the photographers. They’re running around the whole show getting snaps. It must be a real distraction for the performers but they seem to be fine. It’s quite amusing though as they all scurry around so fast that they run into eachother and fall over many times.
The Scotland massive in all their glory. The sound of 100 bagpipes playing at once with a bunch of bass drums and snares is quite formidable. The bagpipe is classed as a weapon of war NOT a musical instrument by the way…this is a true story.
Check out the killer leopard skins some of the drummers are sporting…
Next up was the Tongan massive featuring their warriors & brass. The warriors here are getting down!
Not to be outdone the brass then get down!
As expected the British military get ultra jealous of the Tongans bad-ass dance moves and scare them off…not without one of the bully brits gettin nailed on the head by a Tongan trumpet though! (bottom right)
Next up were the Chinese massive. They were awesome. Their percussion was kick ass and their horn section sounded like 1000 turkeys having their neck broken at once. It was amazing hearing their crazy-ass horn section play Scotland The Brave! They also had crazy-ass horses!
Next we had a telling of a ghostly Rabbie Burns poem. Rabbie for those who don’t know is Scotland’s treasure. He’s their pride and joy. He was a poet. This section was performed by some bonnie Australian lassies. Check out the awesome images that are beamed onto the Castle by the way. This section started off with the lights going right out and just a lone horse and rider…
As we come towards the end of the Tattoo we get the whole of the massives…
And lastly the lights dim right down and on the castle a lone piper plays…this is actually quite spooky but at the same time touching…
Below is a few links to give you an idea of the Tattoo and a few of the things mentioned. As I said earlier I will post my video of the Swiss Secret Police Drummers at same point. Until then check out the video below!!!
PLEASE EVERYONE HERE CHECK THIS OUT!!!
The Swiss Secret Police Drummers 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7k6VYGtm8g
The Scotland Massive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgwRitTgU4
Rabbie Burns
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbie_Burns
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
http://www.edfringe.com/