Tattoo Goes Stateside
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Performers recently visited New York City and Washington DC to celebrate Scottish heritage during Tartan Week and performed for the first time at the Washington Tattoo.
Thirty Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Performers including Pipers, Drummers, Fiddle players and Highland Dancers accompanied the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, on his visit to the United States.
Whilst on the ground, they participated in a number of events, including a debut at the Washington Tattoo, a display at the British Embassy in Washington for UK Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson and guests, a musical collaboration with The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps' and a performance at Washington’s iconic Capitol Building to mark the beginning of Tartan Week.
Tartan Week festivities continued in New York with a range of events showcasing our performers incredible piping, fiddling and dancing talents. These included a display at Diageo’s New York HQ, a Creative Workshop with two-time Tony Award winning producer, Sally Cade Holmes, a pop-up Visit Scotland Spring Fling in Madison Square Park, pre-match performance at the NYC Mets vs Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, and a mini-Tattoo for locals in Manhattan’s Byrant Park.
They then joined pipe bands and Scotland enthusiasts from around the world for New York’s annual Tartan Day Parade on Saturday 5 April. Marching down Sixth Avenue, we were proud to walk alongside Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, to represent the Scotland Office and Scottish culture.
Tartan Week activity culminated with Scotland’s Hoolie in New York in Carnegie Hall. The iconic stage set an impressive backdrop that Tattoo Performers made their own. Showing why they are the best of the best, their performance included a pipe solo, poem reading and highland dance display.
Now back on home soil, the Tattoo look to what’s next! Plans for the 75th anniversary Show are well underway, and everyone is counting down the days until August. However, the Edinburgh Show is not all that’s on the horizon. Stay tuned for more on their international plans over the coming months.