Lineup Announced for Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Today the Producers of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, together the Australian Defence Force, announced that The Combined Military Bands of the Australian Defence Force, The Pipes and Drums of the Australian Defence Force and Australia's Federation Guard will all participate in the Tattoo when it takes Melbourne by storm for five performances from Friday 12 February.

Musicians from the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army Band, and the Royal Australian Air Force have come together to create The Combined Military Bands of the Australian Defence Force. The bands rarely come together and over the past 10 years it has occurred on only three other occasions, each time for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Pipes and Drums of the Australian Defence Force has been formed specifically for this occasion. The band comprises members of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force, both permanent and Reserve members. Auditions for the band were conducted utilising Skype and similar technologies, with some members uploading their auditions from deployed operational environments, both at sea and ashore.

Australia's Federation Guard was established in 2000 to meet the ceremonial requirements of Australia's Centenary of Federation celebrations. It is comprised of men and women drawn from all trades across the three services. In carrying out their role as the Australian Defence Force's only full time ceremonial unit, Australia's Federation Guard promotes the standards, values, traditions and ethos of the Australian Defence Force.

"The most pleasing aspect about selecting music for the Australian Defence Force bands to perform at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Melbourne was the chance to look at our Australian identity, where we've come from and who we want to be and to then tap into our very eclectic musical resources to create a montage that captured the essence of the Australian character," said Lieutenant Commander Steven Stanke, Director of Music for the Royal Australian Navy.

"From the traditional folk songs that shaped our colonial development and modern pop songs that resonate around the world, I also wanted to include music that described our vast continent and how we perceived our place in it today and tomorrow. It's not just Waltzing Matilda and Botany Bay, but My Island Home, Peter Sculthorpe's "Earth Cry" and Archie Roach's sublime and humbling "Spirit of Place". In our Centenary of Anzac years, there is also a tribute to those who helped shape our nation during conflict, often paying the ultimate sacrifice."

"In this seven minute montage, I wanted to include music that shows the world that there is a history and maturity of which we are very proud and that the Australian Defence Force is a worthy trustee and presenter of our unique culture."

International bands performing include:

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band; His Majesty the King's Guard, Norway; Royal Corps of

Musicians Tonga; Shetland Fiddlers from UK; The Lochiel Marching Drill Team from New

Zealand; Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland, New Zealand Army Band; New Zealand's

Kapa Haka; and the UK Highland Dancers

Australian bands include:

The City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band; Tasmania Police Band; Pipes & Drums of the Royal

Caledonian Society, South Australia; Western Australia Police Band; South Australia Police

Band; Manly Warringah Pipe Band; Australian Federal Police Pipes & Drums; The Rats of

Tobruk Memorial Pipes & Drums; Melbourne University Choral Society and Melbourne Scottish

Fiddlers; and the OzScot Australia Highland Dancers

Plus yet to be announced bands from the UK.

Friday 12 February 7pm, Saturday 13 February 1pm & 7pm,

Sunday 14 February 1pm & 7pm

Tickets at Ticketmaster Phone 136 100 ticketmaster.com.au

For travel packages go to Flight Centre

www.edinburghtattoo.com.au

To post a comment, you must register and login.