2008 Edinburgh Military Tattoo Edinburgh

About 2008 Edinburgh Military Tattoo: The 58th Edinburgh Tattoo celebrates the Army in Scotland and features the largest gathering of Pipes & Drums ever to grace the floodlit esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.

They will be joined by the Regimental Bands of The Scots Guards and the Coldstream Guards, Switzerland's awesome Top Secret Drum Corps, the ever-popular New Zealand Army Band, the haunting sound of the Lone Piper together with display teams and dance troupes from around the world.

After 11 years at the helm of Britain's most spectacular - and arguably most popular - outdoor event, Brigadier Mel Jameson, 62, is set to stand-down as the Edinburgh Tattoo's Chief Executive & Producer at the year's end.

The Brigadier said that he had decided in the autumn that the time was right to go.

"I have had a fabulous time at the Tattoo but retirement comes to us all and the moment has now arrived for me to pass the baton to a successor," he said.

His impressive track record over the past decade sees the Tattoo in rude health.

Since taking on the role of Chief Executive & Producer, the Tattoo has become an incredible success story with inspired productions - both at home and overseas - and record high ticket sales.

Edinburgh's Lord Provost and Chair of the Board of the Military Tattoo, Lesley Hinds, last night praised the highly regarded Producer.

Lord Provost Hinds said: "The flair and imagination which Brigadier Mel has brought to the Tattoo over the years has fashioned a remarkably successful transformation, both artistically and commercially, and I am confident that his style could well influence productions for years to come."

"The challenge of finding Mel’s successor now begins in earnest," concluded the Provost.

From 2007 Brigadier Jameson intends spending more time helping to run his Perthshire home while continuing in his prestigious role as honorary Colonel of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Meanwhile, ticket sales for the 2006 Tattoo (3-25 August) have surged to an all-time high. In little more than 4 trading weeks since sales began over 185,000 tickets have been snapped up for August’s military showpiece event.

This represents 85% of the available 217,000 tickets for the 2006 production and £4 million in gross box office receipts. And compared with the same period last year, over 18,000 additional seats have been sold and some £0.75 million in extra revenue banked - figures which could well mark the early arrival of the Company's fastest sell-out yet.

Over 1,000 performers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom will combine with highly sophisticated 21st century production technology for this summer's Castle Esplanade spectacular for which some good seats are still available.