Hog the Stage : The Results

Kitty the Lion triumphed at the Final of Hog The Stage, the new bands competition which has seen Scotland’s best new acts vie for the chance to Hog the Stage at the world’s greatest New Year party, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Five bands, from an entry of over 200, made the shortlist and performed at the live final held at the HMV Picture House earlier this month. Kitty The Lion will now kick start the Street Party and join headliners The Coral, Newton Faulkner and Treacherous Orchestra on the Waverley Stage, one of four stages in and around Princes Street at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party on Friday 31 December.

Kitty The Lion started life with singer/songwriter Anna Meldrum. In 2009 the band became a five-piece with the addition of Joe Rattray on bass, Nick Roan on drums, Sorren MacLean on guitar and Callum Wiseman on mandolin. The bank has gigged up and down the country, including a coveted slot at T in the Park.

Anna Meldrum said “We are happy as hogs to be part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations! No Scot could aspire to more and it will be the perfect way to round off what has been an exciting year for us. Can’t wait to get into the celebration spirit!”

Stuart Nisbet, Music Programme, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay said “5 top bands made the final –every one of them was a winner a far as I’m concerned, and we would have been happy to present any of them at the Waverley. We’re delighted to have Kitty – they’ve got some great songs.”

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay joined forces with Leith Records and Scotland’s largest independent listings and events magazine, The Skinny, to find the cream of the crop of unsigned Scottish music to kick start the world’s biggest New Year celebrations. Hog the Stage is the first new band competition to be held by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, which has long since championed new Scottish talent,each year presenting the very best up-and-coming acts. Over the years the event has provided a launch platform for some of the country’s biggest artists including KT Tunstall and Franz Ferdinand.

Leith Records is the latest project to come out of The Leith Agency, providing a stage for new music and home-grown artists across Scotland. In just over a year, more than 100 bands have been featured.

Kenny Nicholson, Co-Founder, Leith Records, said: “It’s been a pig of a competition, with a massive number of entries covering a diverse range of music and genres – it’s been great to see so much great new music coming out of Scotland. In the end, the band that went the whole hog are young, original, musically-talented, great-sounding and Scottish. Result.”

The Skinny provides Scotland with an informed, street level voice on the most inspiring cultural events, alongside daily listings.

The Edinburgh Reporter brought you the news about Hog The Stage in an earlier article.