South African TATTOO

Tattoo has returned to South Africa for another years run and I was privileged enough to receive complimentary tickets from Alphabet Soup Media. The show is an open air format that see's various Scottish pipe bands attempt to out (blow?) one another.

The shows tag line Blending the traditional spectacle of massed pipe bands with a uniquely African flavor rung true as the mainly local ensemble gave a world class performance that climaxed with the singing of the national anthem as a huge South African flag was pulled across the arena. 

This years show also featured the Johannesburg Harley Davidson owners club who gave a syncronised display to AC/DC's Thunderstruck. The sight of burly leather clad mustaches weaving deftly between each other in a controlled show of grace brought tears to more than a few eyes.

Also on display was the Affies girl's choir and Benoni rock band Haggis and Bong who's out of control rock antics contrasted beautifully with the precision of all the other acts. Seeing these hooligans attempt to march along with the Transvaal Scottish proved to be the highlight of the day. 

Due to the open air nature of the event combined with freak weather in Joburg over the previous few days, organizers have been forced to cancel a number of shows. In a statement on their website the organizers apologized for events out of their control and offered a refund of tickets - something that is not done at many other open air events.