Runrig founder pens new song for Tattoo

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 21:59

RUNRIG'S founder member is writing a new song for this year's Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

As organisers promise that the show will be the "best ever" in its 60-year history, accordion player Blair Douglas, a legend in Scots traditional music for his role in forming Runrig, has been commissioned by Tattoo chiefs to compose the centrepiece to the world-famous event.

It was also announced yesterday that the pipe-band production will be going down-under to Australia to play in Sydney's football stadium in February.

Other new additions to the programme were unveiled yesterday to mark the show's 60th anniversary.

As well as the Skye-based Douglas' new composition, the Scottish Government has put 58,000 towards new Highland dance routines and a short film for the Tattoo's lucrative official DVD.

The dance will attempt to tell the story of Robert Burns' celebrated poem, Tam O'Shanter.

Piper Gary Mowbray of the Brit Award-winning Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is also lined up to perform a new bagpipe composition.

The show, performed in front of 9,000 spectators, involves 1,000 performers including Tongan musicians, an all-male Canadian choir and sailors from the Indian navy.

Announcing the cash funding at Edinburgh Castle yesterday, culture minister Michael Russell said: "Funding a couple of new tunes will make this year's Tattoo extra special. It's important that pipe tunes are modernised and composers are encouraged to keep the Tattoo fresh."