On August 31 this year Lithuania celebrates the 30th anniversary of the invader Russian Army withdrawal from the Lithuanian territory, the occasion will be marked, among other events, with Military Tattoo Lithuania 2023 armed forces band festival organized in Lithuania for the second time. On August 26-27 the Cathedral Square of Vilnius will ring with different musical pieces played for the public by military bands from the United States, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Netherlands, France and Germany.
Like the first festival in 2022, Military Tattoo Lithuania 2023 will take place for two days. It will open on August 26 with a celebration parade of the 12 NATO military bands from Lukiškės Square to the Cathedral where the event will be based. The concert will begin at 8.30 p.m. offering unique performances, choreography and music fusion and different formation elements. The bands will play national and internationally popular pieces, march and fall in to form living images. The main concert Saturday, as well as Sunday, will invite the audience to enjoy The Crazy Drummers dance and drummers band from Odessa (Ukraine) loved for its performances in numerous festivals across the globe.
On the second day, Augsut 27, at 1.30 p.m. the 30th anniversary of defence cooperation between the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard will be commemorated at the Cathedral Square and a cooperation contract update signed by both forces’ Commanders at a ceremony. NATO military bands will follow from 2.00 p.m. with short musical programs.
There will be amphitheater seating available for approx. 4000-5000, the festival will be taped and available on LRT television from August 30 as well.
Military Tattoo History
While associated with body art in English-speaking countries, the word “tattoo” derives from a Dutch phrase doe den tap toe, meaning “time to turn off the taps” and standing for a signal to tavern owners and soldiers to go back to the barracks after the night in town. Eventually the word for return call issued by drummers and trumpeters lost its original sense and started meaning the name of military band festivals with light effects organized during the summertime and especially widely popular across Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States as of the 20th century. Such events became particularly frequent during the World War I and II.
Military Tattoo Lithuania 2023 NATO military band festival is organized under the auspices of President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda. Partner of the event is Vilnius City Council, media partner: LRT.
Festival programme:
26 August 2023, Saturday
7.00 p.m. NATO military band parade from Lukiškės Square to the Cathedral
8.30 p.m. The main concert of Military Tattoo Lithuania 2023
27 Sunday 2023, Sunday
1.30 p.m.– 2.00 p.m. Signature of the Lithuanian Armed Forces – PANG cooperation agreement update
2:00 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Musical programs of the NATO military bands