by Graham Tutthill
gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Tickets have gone on sale for more seats for the Dover Tattoo which is being held this summer – and audiences are being promised some surprises.

Organisers say demand for tickets has been high and more seats are now available. The line-up of performers has been confirmed, and there’s something for everyone.

It takes place at the former Connaught Barracks and Fort Burgoyne on June 1 and 2.

People who enjoy the pageantry and spectacle of massed bands with a feast of music, with the Band of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, the Pipes and Drums 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, the Band of The Adjutant General’s Corps, the Band of the Army Air Corps and the Combined Cadet Force of the South East Region on parade with rousing music and precision marching drills.

Gary Chilton, lead singer of The Soldiers, the first group of serving British soldiers to have two top five and top 10 albums achieving gold and platinum status, will be performing a Michael Buble tribute.

All the performers will join together for a breath-taking finale which will include a piece of music specially commissioned for the event, synchronised to a brilliant firework display at sunset, and there will also be the traditional lone piper.

Commentary will be provided by Alasdair Hutton.

The evenings will start with the Tigers Free Fall Parachute Display Team (pictured above) literally dropping in to the arena and they promise to have a surprise in store.

The world famous White Helmets Motorcycle Display Team will be performing a variety of tricks and rides including car jumps, high speed cross-overs and their trademark fire jump.

A full-scale assault will provide an exciting and explosive insight into how the army would attack an enemy base and the programme will also include the Gurkhas’ Kukri Knife display.

The tattoo is on June 1 and 2 from 7.30 to 10pm and there is a family fun day on Saturday, June 2 where visitors can look behind the scenes, discover what life is like in the military today and travel back in time to the Roman and Napoleonic eras with re-enactments and themed events, interactive and static displays.

There will also be memorabilia and refreshment stalls.

Tickets for the fun day are £3 and tickets for the tattoo range from £12 to £25, with concessions for senior citizens and children.

They are available from the Dover Military Tattoo events office, 23 Worthington Street, Dover from 11am to 12.30pm and 2 to 3pm, Monday to Friday, or via the tattoo website www.dovertattoo.org.uk