This year, the organizers of the Basel Tattoo are once again focusing on bagpipe music and
traditional elements. In addition to the Massed Pipes & Drums, whose members come from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Switzerland, Malta and Great Britain, the well-known Highland Dancers will be performing. They too come from all over the world, namely Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Great Britain.
The Swiss Army Brass Band is one of the figureheads of Swiss military music and will be taking part in the Basel Tattoo for the first time this year. Three other European formations will also be presented for the first time. These include the Orchestra of the Royal Marechaussee from Holland, the Guard Music from Vienna and the Greek Hellenic Navy Band.
Each of these formations brings something special to the table: The Marechaussee Orchestra was founded in 1814 by King Wilhelm I and will rock the Kaserne Basel with powerful brass music. The Viennese will enchant the audience with their Viennese waltzes, taking the arena back to the age of Empress Sissi. Even if there is no Greek wine to drink, it will still be played: The Hellenic Navy Band will also perform the famous Sirtaki dance, bringing a piece of Greece to Basel with their white uniforms.
The performance by the Wind Band and Dancers of the Water Supply and Drainage Company of Shijiazhuang will be exotic: the musicians, dancers and acrobats will present the audience with a colorful spectacle, including a performance of the "Lion Dance". An auspicious ritual that is now increasingly popular outside of China.
In addition to traditional bagpipe music, real rock is also on offer when the Red Hot Chili Pipers take up their bagpipes. After celebrating great success last year, they are now returning to the Basel Tattoo with even more musicians and will once again make the arena shake. Erik Julliard, producer of the Basel Tattoo, explains: "Last year's experience has shown that we are on the right track with our concept of 'even more bagpipe music'."
