The Malta Military Tattoo is for the Maltese population, the cherry on the cake and a fitting conclusion to the Maltese ‘festa’ season, in which band clubs provide the lion’s share of the entertainment. Today, the Tattoo has become an integral part of the calendar of regular activities organised primarily for the local population but also for the thousands of tourists that visit Malta. This will be the tenth edition.

The Maltese are very fond of band music. This is reflected in the fact that there are many active band clubs with more than 3,900 people as resident or trainee band players. With a total band club membership of over 30,000, these form over six per cent of the total population aged 5-84 years.

These figures prove without a doubt how popular band music is in Malta, but if taken against a background of about 1,250 band programmes performed yearly within the locality of the band clubs and even outside their locality, the Maltese population’s affinity with band music becomes even clearer. On the other hand, the active presence of tourists in band marches and musical programmes indicates that band music gives added value to our tourism product. With all this in mind, the Malta Military Tattoo gives locals and foreign guests an entertaining event that is in keeping with, and brings out the best of, our military music tradition. 

Since the first Malta Military Tattoo, Stardom Promotions Agency, the organisers, have brought over to Malta many foreign military bands. These have included the Armed Forces Band of Greece, the Wessex Military Band from the United Kingdom, the Fanfara Bersaglieri from Italy, the South Yorkshire Police Band from the United Kingdom, the Libyan Army Band, the First Royal Highland Regiment (the Black Watch) from the United Kingdom, the Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the Grenadiers and Rifles Band from the Netherlands, the Air Force Band of Spain and the Armed Forces Band of Poland.

This year will see the participation of Marktmusikkapelle Gamlitz from Germany, the Emerald Isle Irish Dance Team, the National Band of the United Kingdom Army Cadet Force, the Southern Jacobites Pipes and Drums among other international and local performers.

This year’s Malta Military Tattoo will again be held at the MFCC in Ta` Qali, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October. Both events start at 6pm. Tickets cost €20 or €30 and can be purchased online from www.ticketline.com.mt, or by calling 2141 0371, 2137 6312 or 7906 8676.