Pop on your tartan and get your singing voice ready for The Maitland Tattoo on Saturday, July 30.
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Inspired by The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the event will be held at Maitland Town Hall, and is bigger and better than the inaugural festival held two years ago.
The night will incorporate pipe bands from Maitland, Lithgow, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, a group of Celtic fiddle players from East Maitland – The Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band, singing by Amanda Barrass as well as Irish and Scottish dancers.
The 308 Squadron Cadets will also perform an armed forces battle re-enactment.
The hall will be set up the same as the Edinburgh Tattoo, with tables and chairs set up around a big space in the middle for the performers.
The idea for the event came about as the Maitland Pipe Band used to run a similar but smaller affair many years ago.
Wanting to bring the event back to life, they approached The Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band to be involved in the festival two years ago.
The 2014 event attracted about 250 people, and The Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band’s Jennifer Blissett said they expected about the same this year, having almost sold all of the seats at tables already.
Ms Blissett said it is a friendly event, with attendees being allowed to bring their own food and drinks.
She said there will be audience interaction so people can get involved in the fun, and they encourage people to wear their tartan and kilts on the night, with prizes to be given out for best dressed.
“It’s sort of a bit party,” Ms Blissett said.
The event is not-for-profit with the entertainers doing it out of the love they have for performing.
“We just do it because it’s really fun,” Ms Blisset said.
Ms Blissett said there was a lot of Celtic people in the Hunter, and many of them hold Celtic music quite close to their hearts.
“[This event] is to encourage people not to lose their culture,” she said.
The fun starts at 6.30pm. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children, which includes a light supper, and are available at www.maitlandpipeband.com.au or by calling Dianne on 0408 664 796.