For anyone that loves to experience brass band music and spectacle than August is the month.  The Edinburgh Tattoo is going to take place from 1st to 23rd August 2008.  The Tattoo takes place on the Castle Esplanade with Edinburgh Castle as a back drop.

With everyone sat waiting for the Tattoo to begin, the doors to the castle begin to open and the sound of bagpipes and the beat of the drums fills the evening air.  Then you start to see the bands march out of the castle across the drawbridge, dressed in their symbolic kilts and sporrans and playing the Scottish tunes that we all know and love.  This is how every year's Tattoo starts, in a traditional way.

The show then starts in full swing with bands and their music from around the world.  The sound of the music is so loud that it resonates through your body.  Everything is done to precision with military style, as you watch the bands marching and drilling in front of you.  

Other performers include stunt riders on motorcycles, doing daring stunts like the motorcycle pyramid, where you are on the edge of your seat scared that they might go wrong and the stunt men will fall.  Dancers, solo and groups, Scottish and international will amaze you with their dances.  The Scottish dancers twirling and swirling to the fiddlers� music.

As the Tattoo draws to a close you can join in with the singing and applauding as all the performers line up in the Esplanade.  This is then followed by the Evening Hymn, the sounding of the Last Post and then the flags are lowered.  The Tattoo closes with the Lone Piper standing on the castle ramparts playing his haunting lament.

If you happen to go to the late Saturday performance then you will also be enthralled by the fantastic firework display, as they explode with brilliant colours in the dark sky...bringing the Edinburgh Tattoo to a thrilling finish.

 For more information, please see:

http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/index.html 

Photo Courtesy of Edinburgh Tattoo