AGAINST the spectacular backdrop of Scotland’s top tourist attraction over 1000 performers, 35 Zulu warriors, 40 fiddlers, 45 steel drummers, along with one or two surprises, are set to provide the richest of entertainment at this year’s Homecoming-themed 65th Tattoo on the floodlit esplanade of Edinburgh Castle which runs from August 1st to 23rd of the month.

Over 97% of tickets for the 24-performance, 3-week run on the Castle Esplanade have already been sold; 220,000 visitors are expected to be thrilled by the multinational extravaganza.

The 2014 theme of ‘Our Home, Friends and Family’ conveys the notion of individual and collective journeys away from home to absorb experience and then return. Scots have travelled all over the World - over a number of centuries - in search of success and adventure and have always kept their heritage and culture close at hand. The Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer, Brigadier David Allfrey, said, “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to the ends of our inhabited earth to meet our friends and allies and am always struck by the impact that Scotland has made and the warmth with which visitors are greeted. “And, nowhere is this more evident than across the countries of the Commonwealth.” Opening this summer’s proceedings is a specially-commissioned fanfare, created to celebrate the Year of Homecoming - entitled ‘Ready to Go!’ composed by Michael McDermott - which will be performed at the start of each evening by one of the largest fanfare teams ever to be gathered for the Tattoo. The extraordinary sight and sound of some of the very best pipers and drummers from around the world then cross the drawbridge through smoke and light, to take to the arena: The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Dragoon Guards, The Queen’s Royal Hussars (Queen’s Own and Royal Irish), The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.

This prodigious 260-strong pipe band is completed by The Royal Army of Oman, Australian Federal Police, Tasmanian Police, Canada’s Paris Port Dover, Manchester Scots Guards Association and Tattoo debutants The Pipers’ Trail, a new pipe band formed by the Tattoo to enable a wider community to play a part. While this dazzling opening sequence marks ‘The Departure’ from home, the audience is then taken on ‘A Journey’ around the World encompassing a number of Commonwealth nations.