Birmingham Tattoo
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham Tattoo is held annually at the National Indoor Arena
in the centre of Birmingham
, England
. The military tattoo
features massed military band
s, and spectacular displays. The event takes place for two weekend performances in November or December. The event has been held since 1989 and has attracted performers from the United States
, Europe
and Russia
as well as British bands from the Royal Marines
, Coldstream Guards
, King's Division
and Gurkha
s. The Birmingham Tattoo features traditional military music, field gun racing, dancers, gymnastics, dog display teams and one of the largest gatherings of standard bearers with over 120 standards on parade at each performance. Each year the event raises money at each performance for the Royal Star and Garter Homes who provide care homes for disabled ex-Service men and women. Over £30,000 has been donated to the charity since 2008.
The 2011 event will be a special Christmas event as the Tattoo celebrates the festive season with over 1,000 performers taking part.
The 2011 Birmingham Military Tattoo will take place at The NIA in Birmingham on Saturday 10th December 2010 at 6pm and on Sunday 11th December at 2pm. The 2011 Tattoo will feature
• The Massed International Bands including the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines and bands from Norway and The Netherlands
• The Massed Parade of Standards commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion
• The National Youth Marching Band
• Royal Air Force Cosford Queen’s Colour
• Inter-Service Field Gun Competition
• Racing Dogs ‘Flyball’ Competition
• The Gymnastic Display Team
• Scottish pipers
• United Kingdom Disco Display Team
• Birmingham International Tattoo Town Crier
• The Tattoo will culminate in a Spectacular Grand Finale featuring all the performers who will be joined by the British Tenor Tim Pitman in a spectacle of light and sound that will fill the arena.
National Indoor Arena
The National Indoor Arena is a large indoor arena and is owned by the NEC Group. It is situated in central Birmingham, England and was opened in 1991, as the largest indoor arena at the time in the UK...
in the centre of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The military tattoo
Military tattoo
The original meaning of military tattoo is a military drum performance, but nowadays it sometimes means army displays more generally.It dates from the 17th century when the British Army was fighting in the Low Countries...
features massed military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
s, and spectacular displays. The event takes place for two weekend performances in November or December. The event has been held since 1989 and has attracted performers from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as well as British bands from the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
, King's Division
King's Division
The King's Division is a British Army command, training and administrative apparatus designated for infantry regiments in the North of England. The King's Division was formed in 1968 with the union of the Lancastrian Brigade, Yorkshire Brigade and North Irish Brigade...
and Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
s. The Birmingham Tattoo features traditional military music, field gun racing, dancers, gymnastics, dog display teams and one of the largest gatherings of standard bearers with over 120 standards on parade at each performance. Each year the event raises money at each performance for the Royal Star and Garter Homes who provide care homes for disabled ex-Service men and women. Over £30,000 has been donated to the charity since 2008.
The 2011 event will be a special Christmas event as the Tattoo celebrates the festive season with over 1,000 performers taking part.
The 2011 Birmingham Military Tattoo will take place at The NIA in Birmingham on Saturday 10th December 2010 at 6pm and on Sunday 11th December at 2pm. The 2011 Tattoo will feature
• The Massed International Bands including the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines and bands from Norway and The Netherlands
• The Massed Parade of Standards commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion
• The National Youth Marching Band
• Royal Air Force Cosford Queen’s Colour
• Inter-Service Field Gun Competition
• Racing Dogs ‘Flyball’ Competition
• The Gymnastic Display Team
• Scottish pipers
• United Kingdom Disco Display Team
• Birmingham International Tattoo Town Crier
• The Tattoo will culminate in a Spectacular Grand Finale featuring all the performers who will be joined by the British Tenor Tim Pitman in a spectacle of light and sound that will fill the arena.