“As exciting as it is, it means that this, our fifth season, will sadly be our last here in Joburg for the foreseeable future,” adds Carter.

The SA Tattoo takes place at the Montecasino Outdoor Events Area from Thursday, 5 to Sunday, 8 September. Presented by Jacaranda FM and DStv, the show features the traditional massed pipes and drums as well as highland dancers. In addition to these and a host of other favourite local acts such as drum majorettes, a massed choir, the SAPS Tshwane Band, the National Ceremonial Guard Band, the Code Red Drum Corps and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, 2013 also sees the popular SA band Just Jinjer performing.

Adding to the fanfare and the thrills of the 2013 line-up, there are also remarkable unique international acts featuring the Ten Drum Percussion Group from Taiwan; the French Paratrooper army band, Musique des Parachutistes from France and the Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland.

The Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland previously performed at the 2008 Tattoo to critical acclaim. Renowned the world over for their unique blend of American-Scottish-Basel styles, the “Corps” is a top international act that has won the hearts of global audiences for more than 20 years. As the group’s touring schedule is now limited to only a few select events, the organisers regard the return of this global entertainment phenomenon as a major coup.

Formed in 2000, the Ten Drum Percussion Group from Taiwan performed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia; the opening of the 2002 World Cup soccer finals in Korea, and more than 300 performances across Taiwan. In 2004 the Group broke a Guinness world record when 1899 people played 1951 drums for 30 minutes in the Tainan Municipal Stadium. The Ten Drum Percussion Group scored a 2009 Grammy nomination in the Best Traditional World Music Category.

More than 90 000 people have enjoyed the multi-cultural and multi-national performances that bring diverse mass entertainment to Montecasino for the past five years. “This year's fifth and last season at Montecasino will be bigger and better with our best international line-up ever," says Carter.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.satattoo.co.za. Alternatively, visit the Facebook page.