The Tattoo Massed Pipes & Drums are comprised of units across Canada who keep the highland music traditions alive! This year, the Tattoo Massed Pipes & Drums will feature the Dartmouth and District Pipe Band, 12 Wing Shearwater Pipes & Drums, 14 Wing Greenwood Pipes & Drums, The Royal Canadian Regiment Pipes & Drums, the Nova Scotia Highlanders Pipes & Drums, the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes & Drums, and the Black Watch Association (Atlantic) Pipes & Drums.
In 1965 a small group of boys formed the Dartmouth Boys Pipe Band. Sixty years later the organization is continuing its tradition of teaching people of all ages the bagpipes and drums, and fielding strong competitive bands. The organization currently consists of a grade five and grade two competition band, a parade band, and a well-established bagpipe and drumming school. Recent competitive success includes 2024 Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association champion supreme in Grade 5 and 3, 2nd place in Grade 3A at the 2024 World Pipe Band Championships, and 2023 Grade 4 North American Champions.
12 WING SHEARWATER PIPES & DRUMS
12 Wing Pipes & Drums was established in 1995 as a pipe band based at the Shearwater base and is comprised of both active and retired military musicians as well as civilian volunteers. They perform all over the world at military and community events and have performed in the Tattoo for years!
14 WING GREENWOOD PIPES & DRUMS
14 Wing Pipes & Drums, based out of Greenwood, Nova Scotia, was formed back in 1979 and performs throughout the Annapolis Valley region while also travelling throughout Nova Scotia and the world in support of the military. These talented musicians are both military service personnel and volunteers!
THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT PIPES & DRUMS
The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) Pipes & Drums is comprised of regular force infantry soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment based out of CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, who have volunteered their time and effort to maintaining a traditional military pipe band.
NOVA SCOTIA HIGHLANDERS PIPES & DRUMS
The Nova Scotia Highlanders Pipes & Drums is a reserve band comprised of trained musicians, active and retired military personnel and volunteer military members that performs around the province and the world at remembrance and commemorative events.
CANADIAN SCOTTISH REGIMENT PIPES & DRUMS
Based out of Victoria, British Columbia, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) is Vancouver Island’s infantry regiment while the Regimental Pipes and Drums has a long and distinguished military history that dates back to before the First World War.
BLACK WATCH ASSOCIATION (ATLANTIC) PIPES & DRUMS
The Black Watch Association (Atlantic) Pipes & Drums is the Tattoo’s own pipe band and perform annually in the show and at special Tattoo events. Its musicians come together each summer, all talented performers from around Canada to support the Tattoo!
“It was incredible. Took my wife and grandkids and we all loved it.”
Photos by Stoo Metz, David Baillieul, Hamish Gordon & others.
