Royal Edinburgh military Tattoo - wikipedia Royal Edinburgh military Tattoo This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( October 2012 ) The 2011 Edinburgh Military Tattoo The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, and artistic performance teams on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of Scotland. The event is held each August as part of the Edinburgh Festival. Contents 1 History and etymology 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Origins 1.3 Seating expansion 2 Performances 2.1 International exposure 2.2 Performance structure 3 Performers 4 Producers 5 See also 6 References 6.1 Sources 7 External links History and etymology Etymology The term `` tattoo '' derives from a 17th - century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe ( `` turn off the tap '' ) a signal to tavern owners each night, played by a regiment 's Corps of Drums, to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour. With the establishment of modern barracks and full military bands later in the 18th century, the term `` tattoo '' was used to describe the last duty call of the day, as well as a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by military musicians. Origins The first public military tattoo in Edinburgh was entitled `` Something About a Soldier '' and took place in 1949 at the Ross Bandstand in the Princes Street Gardens. The first official Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with eight items in the programme, was held in 1950. It drew some 6,000 spectators seated in simple bench and scaffold structures around the north, south, and east sides of the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. In 2018, the capacity of the stands was able to accommodate a nightly audience of 8,800, allowing 220,000 to watch the multiple live performances. Seating expansion Since the 1970s on average, just over 217,000 people see the Tattoo live on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle each year, and it has sold out in advance for the last decade. 30 % of the audience are from Scotland and 35 % from the rest of the United Kingdom. The remaining 35 % of the audience consists of 70,000 visitors from overseas. The new stands in place for the Tattoo of 2012 The temporary grandstands on the castle esplanade, used in 2018, had a capacity of 8,800. New £ 16 million spectator stands and corporate hospitality boxes came into use in 2011. The new temporary stands reduced the time taken to erect and dismantle them from the original two months to one month, allowing the esplanade to host events at other times of the year. Performances The Tattoo performance takes place every weekday evening and twice on Saturdays throughout August and has never been cancelled due to inclement weather. Since 2012, each performance has included a fireworks display. From 2005 to 2015, a son et lumière element projected on to the facade of the Castle. In 2016, the projection technology on the castle was upgraded to utilize modern projection mapping technology. In 2018, laser technology was used for the first time. Since 2004, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo has also held free abridged performances at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens, entitled `` Taste of the Tattoo '', and as of 2008 also in George Square in Glasgow. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has also toured overseas, visiting New Zealand in 2000 as part of the Tattoo 's 50th anniversary celebrations. It visited Australia in 2005 and returned to the Sydney Football Stadium in February 2010 as part of the Tattoo 's 60th anniversary celebrations. The Tattoo was staged in Wellington and Melbourne in February 2016. There were also plans to take the show to China in 2020, with performances in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. As of 2014 the Princess Royal is the patron of the event, with the main corporate sponsor being the Royal Bank of Scotland. In 2010 the event became the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo after HM Queen Elizabeth awarded the Royal title in celebration of its six decades of existence. The Bonnie Lass o ' Fyvie being performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2007 International exposure In 2018 the Tattoo was planned to be televised to 40 countries allowing an estimated 100 -- 300 million people see the event on television worldwide. In Britain the BBC broadcasts the event annually, with commentary in 2009 and 2010 provided by BBC Radio Scotland presenter Iain Anderson. Bill Paterson has provided commentary since 2011 ; before 2009 Tom Fleming commentated, not missing a year between 1966 and 2008. In Australia the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ) traditionally telecasts the Tattoo on the evening of New Year 's Eve, although in a break with tradition, the 2006 Tattoo was broadcast a day earlier on 30 December, the 2007 Tattoo was broadcast even earlier on Christmas Eve, and the 2009 Tattoo was broadcast two days after New Year 's Eve on 2 January 2010. These changes were made so the ABC could expand its news coverage of local New Year celebrations. The Tattoo is run for charitable causes and in 2017 it was estimated that over the years has given £ 10 million to the arts, military and civilian charities and organisations, such as the Army Benevolent Fund. However, the greater benefit has been that, by independent count, it generates £ 88 million in revenue for Edinburgh 's economy annually. The official magazine of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Salute, is distributed free to sponsors, friends of the Tattoo, and visiting performers. Performance structure Each performance begins with a fanfare, usually composed for that year 's show. The Massed Pipes and Drums then perform, marching through the gatehouse of the castle and performing a traditional pipe band set. Then, the show 's featured acts perform individually. Performers The 2005 Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrated Trafalgar 200 Each service is usually represented by bands from the British Armed Forces, along with drill and display teams as well. On special occasions, the Tattoo will feature bands from more than one service at the same time. In both 2002 and 2012, bands from all three services were featured to mark Elizabeth II 's Golden and Diamond Jubilees. In 2003, Westlife headlined the event. From 1950 until 1994, the show mainly featured acts from military organizations. However, the show began to diversify and feature civilian acts beginning in 1995. While this was initially met with resistance from some fans, the inclusion of civilian acts has become more and more present in the show over time. One of the most popular acts featured at the Tattoo is the Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel, which has performed in the 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 Tattoos. By 2018 performers from 48 countries had appeared in the tattoo since its inception. Since 2014, a house pipe band was introduced to allow individual pipers and drummers from not only Scotland but across many parts of the world to play in the Tattoo. Known as the Pipers ' Trail, they join in with the massed pipes and drums each year and are the first pipe band with no military connections to play in the Tattoo. Producers Producers of the Edinburgh Tattoo have included : Lt Col George Malcolm of Poltalloch -- Produced a pageant on the Castle Esplanade in 1947 entitled `` The King 's Men '' and produced the first Edinburgh Tattoo in 1950. Captain Forbes Taylor -- Produced the 1952 Tattoo. As a professional film director, Captain Forbes Taylor provided the experience upon which the format for subsequent Tattoos were set and included the first overseas performers. Brigadier Alistair MacLean of Pennycross -- Director of the Tattoo from 1950, he took over as the Producer in 1953. Lt Col Duncan Carter - Campbell of Possil -- Served with the Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ) and took over in 1960. Brigadier Jack Sanderson -- Former Scots Guards officer, he took over in 1968. Lt Col Leslie Dow -- Served with the Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ) and became producer in 1976. Major Michael Parker -- Producer of the Royal Tournament ( 1974 -- 99 ), the Berlin Tattoo as well as the VE & VJ Day commemorations in 1995. Producer of the Tattoo from 1992 -- 4 Brigadier Melville Jameson -- Served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and former commander of the Highland Brigade. Producer of the Tattoo from 1994 -- 2006. Major - General Euan Loudon -- Served with the Royal Highland Fusiliers and former GOC 2nd Division and Governor of Edinburgh Castle. Took over the producer 's post in 2007. Brigadier David Allfrey MBE -- Served with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Current producer after taking over from Maj - Gen Louden in 2011 See also Basel Tattoo References Jump up ^ `` Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo : five things you might not know ''. Britain Magazine. 2017 - 08 - 07. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 21. Jump up ^ `` What is a `` Tattoo '' ? ``. Heartland International Tattoo. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010. ^ Jump up to : McLean, David ( 2017 - 12 - 19 ). `` Everything you need to know about the 2018 Edinburgh Tattoo ''. The Scotsman. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 21. Jump up ^ Mike Wade ( 25 July 2008 ). `` Fighting talk from the general as Military Tattoo faces stiffest battle ''. The Times. Retrieved 9 October 2010. Jump up ^ `` Tattoo stands and delivers £ 16m arena ''. Edinburgh Evening News. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2010. Jump up ^ https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/edinburgh-military-tattoo-deploys-lasers-for-first-time-as-it-honours-space-race-1-4775735 Jump up ^ Katie Emslie, John Gibson ( 25 July 2005 ). `` Mini-military tattoo marches into city 's annual calendar ''. The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 October 2010. Jump up ^ `` Edinburgh Tattoo takes on Glasgow ''. BBC News. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2010. Jump up ^ `` Edinburgh Tattoo to go down under ''. BBC News. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2010. ^ Jump up to : MacAskill, Ewen ( 2017 - 07 - 16 ). `` Edinburgh military tattoo to expand worldwide ''. the Guardian. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 21. Jump up ^ https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/westlife-music-to-feature-in-military-tattoo-107093.html Sources Martine, Roddy Edinburgh Military Tattoo ( c. 2002 ) official guide publication External links Media related to Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Wikimedia Commons Links to past tattoos Edinburgh Military Tattoo official website Edinburgh Castle official website Highland Military Tattoo official website Major music events and festivals of Scotland Benefit concerts Be in Belhaven Live 8 Edinburgh Dance / Electronic RockNess Folk / Traditional Ceilidh Culture Celtic Connections Hebridean Celtic Festival Mòd Northern Meeting Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Solas World Pipe Band Championships Indie Connect Isle of Skye Tartan Heart Jazz Callander Jazz and Blues Festival Rock / Alternative rock The Edge Festival T in the Park TRNSMT Wickerman Others Aberdeen International Youth Festival Big in Falkirk Edinburgh International Festival Killin Music Festival Live at Loch Lomond Loopallu Festival Montrose Music Festival Perthshire Amber St Magnus Festival The Outsider Edinburgh History Mary, Queen of Scots Greyfriars Kirk Burke and Hare Kingdom of Scotland Act of Union 1707 Parliament of Scotland David Hume Edinburgh Review Holyrood Abbey Treaty of Edinburgh Old Town New Town Robert Adam James Craig Church of Scotland Disruption of 1843 Thomas Aikenhead Deacon Brodie North British Railway Visit of King George IV Sir Walter Scott Edwin of Northumbria Devolution Burgh Lothian Edinburgh Stock Exchange Porteous Riots Tron riot Greyfriars Bobby Governance Neighbourhoods City of Edinburgh Council Lord Provost of Edinburgh Council wards Scottish Parliament Buildings and landmarks Edinburgh Castle Holyrood Palace Scottish Parliament Building Forth Rail Bridge Forth Road Bridge Arthur 's Seat Scott Monument St Giles ' Cathedral Calton Hill National Monument Edinburgh International Conference Centre Parliament House Ross Fountain Princes Street Gardens Balmoral Hotel Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Victoria Quay Bute House St Andrew 's House Craiglockhart Castle Old College New College Public art Museums and galleries Fruitmarket Gallery The Georgian House Museum of Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland Royal Scottish Academy Scottish National Gallery Our Dynamic Earth Royal Museum Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Theatres and concert halls Bedlam Theatre Usher Hall Festival Theatre King 's Theatre Edinburgh Playhouse Queen 's Hall Reid Concert Hall Royal Lyceum Theatre St Cecilia 's Hall Traverse Theatre Economy Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Park Edinburgh BioQuarter Caledonian Brewery Standard Life The Royal Bank of Scotland Scottish Widows Ocean Terminal Fort Kinnaird Transport Edinburgh Airport Lothian Buses Edinburgh Waverley railway station Haymarket railway station Edinburgh Crossrail Trams Edinburgh City Bypass A1 road Health and education Schools Hospitals University of Edinburgh Heriot - Watt University Napier University Queen Margaret University Edinburgh College of Art Edinburgh College Moray House School of Education Scotland 's Rural College Festivals Edinburgh Festival Fringe Edinburgh International Festival Hogmanay Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Edinburgh International Book Festival Edinburgh International Film Festival Edinburgh International Television Festival Other topics Geography of Edinburgh Beer in Edinburgh Famous people from Edinburgh Media Sport Religion Parks Streets Squares Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Edinburgh_Military_Tattoo&oldid=855456205 '' Categories : Music festivals in Scotland Military of Scotland Festivals in Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle Military tattoos Edinburgh Festival 1949 establishments in Scotland Recurring events established in 1949 Annual events in Edinburgh Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from October 2012 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from December 2010 Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2014 All articles containing potentially dated statements Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Français 한국어 Italiano Norsk Русский Svenska 中文 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 18 August 2018, at 12 : 31 ( UTC ). 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Question: where is the military tattoo held in edinburgh
Answer: on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of Scotland