The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is to extend its reach beyond Edinburgh, with a series of four events to be staged across Scotland, it was announced yesterday.

Few cities undergo such a transformation as Scotland's capital city in the month of August.

The normally easy-going, historic city suddenly jolts to life as thousands of actors, artists,

Over 1,000 performers from America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United Kingdom will appear at this year's 59th Edinburgh Tattoo (1-23 August). The programme announced yesterday includes all the traditional ingredients of massed pipes & drums, massed bands, overseas contingents, and the Lone Piper on the floodlit Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle at the end.

At the end of their run playing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Royal Marine Band and star guests will be performing

For scale, no show in Edinburgh can rival the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Literally hundreds of performers, both from Scotland and bands and organisations from abroad, gather under the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The series of displays combines breathtaking shows of military precision, often a battle re-enactment, military bands, including the mass pipes and drums.

The good news, for those with tickets, is that this is a fantastic evening and well up to the high standards of previous Edinburgh Tattoos. The bad news is that the tickets are all sold out - returns are the only answer for those who want to go.