Rob Robertson of Tide Lines: ‘a pinch-me moment’
Bands come together for Tattoo and arts festival opens in Fife. JULENA DRUMI rounds up coming events
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings iconic Scottish bands Skerryvore, Skipinnish and Tide Lines together for a new song created for the 2026 Show, A Call To Gather.
In a fitting celebration of contemporary Scottish music, the three bands collaborate on a bespoke track, combing some of their most popular songs – featuring Skerryvore’s Live Forever, followed by Skipinnish’s Alive and then Tide Lines’ Heroes.
Everything Worth Fighting For has been arranged by the Tattoo’s resident composer, Tom Hodge, and will be performed by Tattoo Orchestra lead by Nick Grace, uplifting and inspiring audiences on the castle esplanade this summer.
Lead vocalists from the bands gathered at Glasgow’s Assumption Studios to record the vocals for the track, lending their talents to a truly unique element of this year’s show.
Alan Lane, creative director at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “The Contemporary Scottish Traditional Music scene is the most exciting cultural movement in Scotland at the moment.
“And these bands are at the forefront of that movement. We’ve worked with these artists before and some of the highlights of recent tattoos have been our collaborations. It’s a key part of the company’s creative direction and long may these friendships continue.”
Alec Dalglish, Skerryvore, said: “It’s amazing to be a part of this collaboration. Lots of the bands are also our friends, so that means a lot to us. It’s good to be involved in a project with them, as we don’t get to see each other all that much, so it was cool getting to be in the studio.”
Skipinnish’s Angus MacPhail was impressed by the “fantastic” community choir, Sing in the City, in the show last year. Robert Robertson of Tide Lines, said: “It genuinely is a pinch-me moment to look out and see the Massed Bands playing something that was written in my bedroom in my flat in Glasgow.”
Tattoo: 7-29 August, Edinburgh Castle Arena
The Pittenweem Arts Festival
This year’s Fife arts event includes work by puppet maker and sculptor Ella Mackay and storyteller, illustrator and printmaker Morvern Graham.
The Festival will also present a group exhibition featuring the Henderson-Inglis Bursary finalists, celebrating the quality of this year’s submissions and introducing some of Scotland’s most exciting emerging artistic voices.
Pittenween Arts Festival 1-8 August
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