Hundreds of musicians from around the world are tuning up for Bermuda’s biggest showcase of military music to celebrate the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s golden anniversary.

Bands from Bermuda, Britain, Canada, Jamaica and the United States will join forces for a glittering display in the historic Keep Yard at Dockyard from tomorrow night until Saturday.

The climax of the pageant of music will be the massed bands with a stunning fireworks display backed by artillery fire.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment’s director of music, Major Dwight Robinson, said: “It’s been a very busy couple of days but it’s been lots of fun hosting the different bands and meeting with familiar faces from all the jurisdictions.

“The Keep Yard is one of Bermuda’s most historical venues and it lends itself very well to a performance of this size.

“It will be a spectacular show and the scope adds an extra dynamic to this celebration of the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s 50th anniversary.”

Maj Robinson was speaking as the massed bands, involving nearly 400 musicians, practised at Warwick Camp in preparation for the opening night.

Drum Major Christopher Gillespie, of the pipes and drums of the British Army’s Scottish Gunners — 19 Regiment, Royal Artillery — said: “The audience will love it. Any country we go to in the world loves the culture pipe bands bring. You don’t need to be Scottish to love the pipes, as this Tattoo proves.”

The 12-year veteran, originally from Edinburgh, added: “We’re going to do the massed pipes and drums with all the other guys. The sound you produce is so much better when a lot of bands come together.”

Major Dionne Smalling is with the combined bands of the Jamaica Defence Force.

Maj Smalling said: “It’s my first time in Bermuda, although I’ve met the Royal Bermuda Regiment in Jamaica. Our soldiers are very happy — it’s like a reunion for them. It’s people they have met in Jamaica or trained with in the UK and it’s not just Bermuda, it’s the other bands as well.

“Bermuda is very nice — it’s beautiful and I’ve done quite a bit of touring.

“I’m sure people will enjoy the shows. At the rehearsal we did in the Keep Yard, there were a few people who came in to watch and they seemed to enjoy it.”

Serjeant Teresa Bulmer, who plays with the Waterloo Band of the Rifles, the regiment of Regiment Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Foster-Brown, said: “Dockyard is a magnificent setting.

“In a way, it’s a bit like the dockyard in Plymouth in Devon and I’m sure Bermuda will enjoy this incredible mix of different types of music.”

Peter Allen, Pipe Major of the 36th Halifax Pipes and Drums, part of a Canadian Army reserve regiment, added: “I’ve seen the beach across the road from Warwick Camp and it was beautiful, but once we get into the shows we will have some time to do some sightseeing.

“The Tattoo is coming together nicely, especially considering how many people are here from around the world.

“This is definitely going to be one of the better Tattoos I’ve been involved in.”

From the US, the United States Marine Corps has sent the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band from Cherry Point in North Carolina, the airport used by the Regiment when en route to training at the USMC base at Camp Lejeune.

Staff Sergeant Anna Cole, who plays the piccolo, said: “We’ve been to Dockyard to do one of our run throughs and it was absolutely beautiful.

“We were all tripping about the water being so clear — and the people are so friendly.

“Anyone who goes to the Tattoo will enjoy it.”

Lance Corporal Jonathan Sproule, who plays the euphonium in the Band of the Royal Logistic Corps, said: “Bermuda is beautiful — a proper paradise.

“This is my idea of heaven — pink sand and the light green water.

“The Tattoo is sounding really good. We’ve done the Edinburgh Military Tattoo but this is a different setting, a different place and different groups. It’s going to be brilliant.”

Major Stephen Caton (Ret’d), chairman of the Royal Bermuda Regiment 50th anniversary and Tattoo Committee, said: “It’s been fantastic — 300-plus performers from overseas working well with their 100 Bermuda counterparts and the sound of sweet music is beginning to flow.”

Maj Caton added that there were still some tickets available for all three performances, which start at 7.30pm each night.

He said extra ferries from Hamilton to Dockyard had been scheduled to help people to get to the shows.

Tickets, which cost between $40 and $100, are available online at bdatix.com, at Pulp and Circumstance in Hamilton and Fabulous Fashions at Heron Bay Plaza, Southampton