Basel Tattoo; Are You Missing Out?

The Basel Tattoo has been established as the run-up to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for some years. It is the second largest outdoor Tattoo in the world after Edinburgh. The two Tattoos are closely linked and the Basel show arena in the historical city barracks is an exact copy in size and layout of Edinburgh's. This year, Basel does what Edinburgh doesn't: Horses. Are you missing out on something?

 

Military Bands are traveling from the far corners of the world to take part in the Edinburgh Tattoo. The costs are considerable and must somehow be met. And then there is the small work of adapting any show to the venue which is a matter of time and training. And everybody likes to get as much training as they can possibly get. That is where Basel Tattoo's timing before Edinburgh comes in and explains its lay-out.

Overseas bands and corps are routinely invited to Basel; it gives them a needed additional income on a long tour. As Basel copies the lay-out of Edinburgh, it gives these bands additional training time to adapt their shows to the Edinburgh arena. With all this, Basel is not a copy of the Edinburgh show; while some bands go to Basel first, many others don't and leave space for bands that you can't normally enjoy in Edinburgh; like bands on horses.

The two bands to be enjoyed this year are Band of The Life Guards from the United Kingdom and Mounted Fanfare Band of the Carabinieri from Italy. Which answers the question; yes, you are missing out on something. And the bad news is, if you want to see the Basel Tattoo in August 2014, you'll have to keep your eyes open for the start of the ticket sale in November 2013; they usually sell out in a couple of days.

The Basel Tattoo is the brain child of the guys behind Top Secret, the mad drums corps from Basel.If you never saw them before, watch the video. Again you missed out on something there. And just as an add on, all these guys are doing this as a hobby in their free time and holidays.

Further reading
Museum City: Basel
Lost and Found: Britannic's Organ
Europa League: Chelsea FC vs FC Basel