The Tattoo comes to the City Chambers

The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Orchestra, one of the international acts appearing at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, played a one-off show at The City Chambers on the Royal Mile today as guests of the Rt Honourable Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Frank Ross who is Vice Patron of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Showcasing a segment from this year’s show, the band performed their unique skills on traditional Caribbean steel drums, a highlight from this year’s show. Each night, the orchestra, representing ‘yellow’, to reflect the sunshine of their islands, set the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle alight with fantastic music, colour and movement including a stilted Midnight Robber, giant butterflies, limbo dancers and some fire!.  

Running until 24 August, this year’s Tattoo celebrates the theme Kaleidoscope, the optical instrument patented by Scottish scientist Sir David Brewster in 1817, with each act taking inspiration from Sir Isaac Newton’s original seven hues (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet).

All photos by Ian Georgeson.

Brigadier David Allfrey, Chief Executive and Producer of the Tattoo, said: “As ever, it has been a delight to host the team from Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.  They have been smart, professional and are tremendous musicians.  It is fun for the performers and for the City when our international acts can get out and about.  This sort of occasion adds so much to their experience of Edinburgh and Scotland over the summer.  It is a pleasure and privilege to play for the Lord Provost – who is one of our Vice Patrons – and the staff and visitors to the City Chambers.  Everyone smiles when the steel drums start!”

The Lord Provost said: “I think it is so important to showcase the talents of the Tattoo beyond the Castle gates when we can. It is a sell-out event year after year so our annual performance gives people a snippet of the skilful military bands who travel the world to take part. This summer – with their cheerful butterfly costumes and steel drums – I was delighted to invite the wonderful Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Orchestra to bring a taste of the Caribbean to the City Chambers.”