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Inverness Beating Retreat mini tattoo set to wow leisure centre audience


By Neil MacPhail

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A spectacular mini Inverness Tattoo with young pipers, drummers, dancers and four bands from across the Highlands is being staged this weekend.

Beating Retreat by High Life Highland’s Highland Young Musicians promises to be a multi-sensory marvel at Inverness Leisure this Sunday June 4 with doors opening at 3pm sharp.

In addition to the pipes, drums and dancers, members of Lochaber High School Senior Wind Band, East Highland Concert Band, and Inverness Schools Wind Band, plus High Life Highland’s regional ceilidh band, ’Snas, will also perform.

Beating Retreat or "beating the retreat" as it is also known, is an iconic military parade dating back to the 1690s when drums were used to order troops to break off fighting and withdraw, but it later signified the closing of camp gates and calling troops back to base at the end of the day.

These days, it is strictly ceremonial, but remains a popular element of events such as the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the monarch’s official birthday celebrations.

Norman Bolton, head of music development for High Life Highland, a leisure and culture charity, said: “This is an extension of last year’s successful inaugural event, offering pipers and drummers from across the Highlands a fun opportunity to play together in a format they otherwise wouldn’t have access to in their local areas.

“Our instructors and bands have been rehearsing independently, and will gather on the morning of the event to complete the final parts of what promises to be a programme not to miss – it will be like a miniature Inverness Tattoo!”

Dancers coached by Cheryl Heggie will add finishing touches to the spectacle in the Main Hall from 3.30pm onwards, creating a multi-sensory experience you simply do not want to miss.

Norman continued: “The concert will include separate and joint performances from all the groups involved, closing with Steve Walsh, CEO of High Life Highland, taking the salute.”

Tickets are available to buy at the door on the day, but please bring the correct change as it will be a cash-only event. Under 18 tickets are £5, over 18 tickets are £10.

Alternatively, tickets can be pre-booked online by heading to: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/highlandyoungmusicians/921778

Donations are welcomed both online and at the event towards funding more Highland Young Musician opportunities like Beating Retreat.

For further information contact:

James Martin on 07774 225976 or by email: james.martin@highlifehighland.com

Additional information for Editors:

High Life Highland is a charity registered in Scotland, formed in October 2011 by The Highland Council.

HLH develops and promotes opportunities in culture, learning, sport, leisure, health and wellbeing across nine services throughout the whole of the Highlands, for both residents and visitors.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund sees investment in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. Under the banner of the Inverness Zero Carbon Cultural Regeneration Project – the bid brought together three projects that, when combined, will drive the environmental, cultural and economic regeneration of Inverness. This includes: £7.5 million for Inverness Castle Hill creating an innovative Waste-Water Heat Recovery Energy Centre for the Castle and to supply other nearby properties; £5.2 million for the Northern Meeting Park to create a new pavilion with ground source heating; and £7.1 million for the Bught Park Stadium Complex for a refurbished grandstand, interactive museum of shinty and improved infrastructure for more large-scale outdoor events.


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