AROUND TOWN
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THE GLASGOW TATTOO Massed pipes and Highland dancers at the west’s answer to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
You’ve probably heard of a little event called the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which runs for three sell-out weeks every August. Well now Glasgow is getting in on the Scottish tattoo action, with Glasgow Tattoo running for three dates at the Hydro in January. Belfast Tattoo Limited are organising the
event, which will showcase performers from Scotland, Ulster and across Europe. Unlike other tattoos, there are no military pipe bands on the bill. The three Scottish pipe bands taking part in the Massed Pipes and Drums all compete at Grade 2: the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Pipe Band; the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe
Band; and Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band. Other bands include flute bands Pride of
Ballinran Flute Band and Black Skull Fife and Drum Band; silver bands Murley Silver Band and Dungannon Silver Band; and accordion bands Dunloy Accordion Band and Vow Accordion Band. From Europe there is Dublin’s the Artane Band, Madrid’s Lume de Biqueira Pipe Band and Germany’s Fascinating Drums, who mix drum techniques from Germany, Scotland and Switzerland with choreographed marching in a similar vein to Basel’s Top Secret Drum Corps. It wouldn’t be a tattoo without some pointed toes and swirling skirts, and Glasgow Tattoo
has both Highland and Irish dancing with performances from the Glasgow Tattoo Highland Dance Troupe, choreographed by David Wilton and Innova Irish Dance Troupe, who were semi- finalists in Britain’s Got Talent in 2014.
It isn’t yet known what Glasgow Tattoo will use as a backdrop. Tattoos favour an impressive setting, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo setting a high standard as performers emerge across a smoky drawbridge from the ancient Edinburgh Castle. And with Glasgow’s plethora of impressive sites, the choices are numerous. (Rowena McIntosh) ■ The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Thu 19–Sat 21 Jan.
78 THE LIST 3 Nov 2016–31 Jan 2017
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