This week ends with the celebration of Hogmanay which has become synonymous with the city of Edinburgh itself.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has the celebrations sewn up. The four day festival to welcome in the New Year and a new decade is highly organised and brings acts of huge calibre to our capital city.

There is a lot of information in this article! Make sure you read to the end – there is a copy of the Edinburgh Festivals Autumn Winter 2010 magazine embedded for you at the very bottom. Have a great time. Stay warm and stay safe!

The celebration kicks off on 30th December and takes shape as follows:-

Opening Night in Resolution Square

Stage live 5pm – 9pm
Mound Precinct – by the National Galleries, City Centre
Free unticketed event

Join in the fun in Resolution Square for the all-new launch event for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Enjoy a feast of music, entertainment, fire and fireworks to signal the beginning of the world famous four day festival.

Featuring:

Small Island Sessions – Traditional Scottish and Irish folk music from some of Scotland’s most exciting and critically acclaimed folk musicians, together with the dynamic percussion of Latin America.

No alcohol to be taken into Resolution Square. Hot food outlets and bars are located within the event arena.

Torchlight Procession

Thursday 30 December
Leaves Parliament Square at 6.30pm
Procession from Parliament Square to Calton Hill Finale
Free unticketed event. Torches £6

The opening event of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2011 is the spectacular Torchlight Procession. Join tens of thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to the Son et Lumiére and fireworks finale on Calton Hill.

Torches are priced £6 each in advance and will be available on the website soon or buy them on the night for £7 each.

Proceeds from the sale of torches go to both Radio Forth Cash for Kids and Barnardo’s Scotland.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2011 from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on Vimeo.

Son et Lumiere & Firework Finale

Thursday 30 December
7.45pm approx.
Calton Hill
Free unticketed event

The spectacular Son et Lumiére light and firework display, signals the beginning of the four day Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Carnival

Market Street, Edinburgh City Centre
Monday 27 December 2010 – Tuesday 4 January 2011
Open: 11am – 11pm every day

Love film, love edinburgh

Thursday 30 December 2010 – Sunday 2 January 2011
Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
www.filmhousecinema.com

An homage to Edinburgh as the inspirational city behind some of UK cinema’s most loved films.

The Illusionist
Fri 17 Dec to Thu 6 Jan (for screening times check filmhousecinema.com ) Chomet / UK / France 2010 / 1h20m / PG

An over-the-hill magician treks from Paris to the Western Isles to Edinburgh – acquiring, along the way, a young travelling companion who sincerely believes in his magical abilities.

Trainspotting
Thursday 30 December 4pm & 8.45pm Boyle / UK 1996 / 1h33m / 18

Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends. Exhilarating, funny and brutal.

Shallow Grave
Friday 31 December 1.45pm & 7pm Boyle / Britain 1994 / 1h32m / 18

When their mysterious new flatmate overdoses, David, Alex and Juliet find a fortune in bank notes stashed in his room. They decide to keep the cash, but nothing comes for free…

Hallam Foe
Saturday 1 January 1.45pm & 7pm Mackenzie / UK 2007 / 1h36m / 18

After the death of his mother, young, troubled and voyeuristic Hallam Foe sets out for Edinburgh and falls in love on the rooftops of the city.

Restless Natives
Sunday 2 January 1.45pm & 8.45pm Hoffman / UK 1985 / 1h29m / PG

A hugely enjoyable whimsical comedy following two Edinburgh losers, unemployed Will and joke shop assistant Ronnie, as they strive to improve their lifestyle by holding up tourist coaches in the Highlands.

Edinburgh From The Archives
Sunday 2 January 4pm Various / UK / 1h30m / PG

A programme of short archive films of Edinburgh, including ‘Waverley Steps’ (John Eldridge, 1948) and ‘Sean Connery’s Edinburgh’ (Murray Grigor, 1983) (TBC).

For further details contact the Filmhouse Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or visit www.filmhousecinema.com.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
Stages live 9pm – 1am
Edinburgh City Centre
£15 administration fee per ticket
Not recommended for under 16’s

Four stages of incredible live music and entertainment, DJ’s, giant screens, outdoor bars and the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks.

(c) Chris Watt

CONCERT IN THE GARDENS – The music and fireworks spectacular

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
Stage live 9pm – 1am
West Princes Street Gardens
Enclosure tickets SOLD-OUT
Tickets for Gardens £35 + booking fee
Not recommended for under 16’s

BIFFY CLYRO
Plus very special guests THE CHARLATANS and BILLY BRAGG

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are pleased to announce that Scottish rock giants BIFFY CLYRO are set to headline the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens; the music and fireworks spectacular, alongside indie legends THE CHARLATANS. Both will perform at the last gig of 2010 and the first of 2011 set beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, welcoming the New Year with the famous Midnight Fireworks at one of the world’s most stunning New Year events.

THE KEILIDH IN RESOLUTION SQUARE

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
Stage live 9pm – 1am
Mound Precinct
Tickets £30 + booking fee
Not recommended for under 16’s

Welcome 2011 in style as you birl through the bells at the The Keilidh, the outdoor ceilidh experience set within an exclusive area of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. Featuring the very best in traditional Scottish music, a Ceilidh Caller to teach you the moves, exclusive food and drink area and incredible views of the spectacular Midnight Fireworks.

Featuring

HEUCH,  HUGH MACDIARMID’S HAIRCUT,  BRECHIN CITY ROLLERS

MUSIKA – EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY OFFICIAL AFTER SHOW PARTY

Friday 31 December 2010 – Saturday 1 January 2011
10pm – 5am
@ The HMV Picture House
Early bird tickets now available priced £28.50

Featuring
BOOKA SHADE – LIVE
TIM GREEN (Cocoon / Get Physical Records)
GARY BECK (Soma)
ALAN DOBSON / DEREK MARTIN / KIRK DOUGLAS

For the 2nd year running, MUSIKA hosts the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Official After Show Party, adding their touch to the program and keeping underground electronic music a key part of the world famous celebrations.

The headline act this year is huge, with German festival headliners BOOKA SHADE performing their renowned full live show exclusive to Musika for NYE with the help of one our favourite guests of 2010, TIM GREEN and Scottish techno success story of the year GARY BECK. Full line-up to follow.

The only club to be at this Hogmanay!

Tickets available now from http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/

Also available from from Ticket Scotland, Rippin Records or no booking fee from the HMV Picture House direct.

candlelit concert

Concert 7.30pm – 9pm
St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile
Tickets £16 plus booking fee
Please note: This event is not suitable for babies or young children

A festive celebration in the candlelit atmosphere of St Giles’ Cathedral.

This year’s concert celebrates the music of J.S. Bach and Mozart. Two seasonal cantatas, ‘Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ’ and ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’, from the Baroque master are partnered
by Mozart’s Coronation Mass.

St Giles’ Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Harris, with the St Giles’ Camerata leader Angus Ramsay, are joined by a stunning array of young soloists.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay this year joined forces with those creative geniuses at 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 was the first new band competition to be held by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and the triumphant band who will be opening the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party are KITTY THE LION.

Kitty the Lion fought off competition from over 150 amazing bands from across Scotland and you can catch them opening The Waverley Stage at 9pm on 31st December.

Special thanks to our panel of Scottish music industry stalwarts; including Ed Stack from Ten Tracks, Dave Kerr from The Skinny, Vic Galloway BBC Radio DJ and  special guest judge Dee Bahl, manager of Biffy Clyro.

Midnight
Visible across the skies of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Fireworks are best seen from a distance so it is recommended that you select a suitable vantage point.
Please do not approach the launch sites, which will be cordoned off.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay welcomes 2011 in spectacular fashion as the world famous Midnight Fireworks light up the skies above the city from Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill.

On 1st January 2011 you can take part in

the one o’clock run

Check-in 11am–12.30pm
Warm-up from 12.30pm
Leaves from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at 1pm
Tickets £8 includes event t-shirt
Suitable for all the family

Beginning at the Castle, runners head down the Royal Mile, past the Palace of Holyrood House and on to the finish in Holyrood Park. Families, friends and those looking to blow away the night afore are all welcome. This is a run with the emphasis on fun.

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

USEFUL INFORMATION: Exchange your ticket for an event t-shirt at the Castle Esplanade on 1 January. Event t-shirts must be worn for the event. All runners must check-in between 11am and 12.30pm when registration closes. Warm-up and event briefing will take place from 12.30pm. The run starts at 1pm. Any remaining tickets will be sold on the day at the Castle Esplanade up to 12.30pm.

resolution square

Saturday 1 January 2011
Stage live 1pm – 6pm
Mound Precinct by the National Galleries
Free event

One Day to remember with Scotland’s finest in our Resolution Square. Enjoy new music and poetry on New Year’s Day and the chance to include your own resolutions for 2011.

New Year Haikus

Screens live 1pm – 6pm
Specially commissioned Haikus – one-versed poems evoking single moments – from some of Scotland’s leading writers and poets on screens on the Royal Scottish Academy.

Don Paterson
John Burnside
Kathleen Jamie
A L Kennedy
Janice Galloway
Alan Spence
Andrew Greig
Robert Crawford
Jackie Kay
Ron Butlin
Voice Of The People
competition winner with The Scotsman

Scotland’s Number Ones

Main Stage 2pm – 4.45pm
Exclusive performances from Scotland’s 2010 award-winning musicians.

Lau
BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winners – ‘Best Group’
Julie Fowlis
BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winner ‘Folk Singer of the Year’
Brian Kellock
BBC Radio Jazz Award Winner – ‘Best Instrumentalist’ & ‘Best Album’
Boghall & Bathgate Pipe Band
Scotland’s No.1 Pipe Band
Scottish Guitar Quartet
Award-winning acoustic group
Daniel Thorpe
BBC Radio Scotland ‘Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2010’


Resolution Songs

Main Stage 1pm – 2pm &
4.45pm – 6pm
Five of Scotland’s foremost singer-songwriters perform specially written Resolution Songs for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay along with some of their well known work.

Dougie MacLean
Roddy Hart
Roddy Woomble
Tommy Reilly
Dick Gaughan

a new year’s day conversation

Hawthornden Lecture Theatre 2pm–3.15pm
National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound
Tickets £10

The hugely popular New Year’s Day Conversation welcomes Scotland’s award-winning crime writers Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson to talk about Edinburgh, an inspirational city to literature and art, in the past, the present and the future.

This event is part of Edinburgh’s Lectures ‘Talking Cities’ series.

the loony dook

Check-in 12pm–2pm at RNLI base
Grand Parade departs 2.30pm
Dook takes place at end of parade
South Queensferry
£6 Entry Fee in advance only – donation going to the RNLI

Celebrate the New Year by taking part in the Loony Dook, the annual splash in the River Forth in the shadow of the world-famous Forth Rail Bridge.

Over the past 24 years, thousands of people have taken the plunge at the Loony Dook generating hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity. Can you take up the challenge?

If you don’t fancy dooking, line the High Street and watch the Grand Parade led by the brave Loony Dookers as they make their way along South Queensferry to dook under the gaze of the iconic bridges.

USEFUL INFORMATION: South Queensferry has a variety of pubs, cafés and restaurants all open on New Year’s Day.

PLEASE NOTE – To take part in The Loony Dook you must buy a ticket in advance of event day, places are limited. All ticket holders must register on arrival at RNLI (Lifeboat Station at the event). No entry on the day. Please note: stony beach, trainers or similar advised.

one day – resolution concert

Stage live 5pm – 8pm / Doors open 4pm
West Princes Street Gardens
Tickets £11 + booking fee

One Day presents a special event for New Year’s Day. KT Tunstall headlines and curates Resolution Concert, presenting a selection of her favourite artists along with a headlining performance of her biggest hits.You can check out KT Tunstall on her website.

This is an all standing, outdoor event so please dress for the weather. No alcohol to be taken into Resolution Concert. Hot food outlets and bars are located within the event arena. No pass-outs permitted.

Rugby

The derby rugby match between Edinburgh and Glasgow is the oldest inter-district fixture in world rugby, with the first game played in 1872. The game takes on even greater significance now, as ten Magners League points are up for grabs over the two games. Both “Big Bash” matches attract the biggest crowds for both teams, so get yours early! Glasgow are at home first, on the 27th December, then it’s over to Murrayfield on the 2nd January for the return leg. You can book your tickets here.

You can go skiiing here on your own doorstep in Edinburgh at the Midlothian Ski Centre. Open from 9.30 am. More details here.

Hogmanay Hoots is on at The Storytelling Centre. Festive family fun with New Year guises, first and last fits and Robin Hood! Mac-A-Story present tales, songs and panto-esque madness for the daft days between Christmas and Hogmanay. Age 6+ (Family ticket £12 for 4 people). More details here. On Hogmanay itself there is a special ‘Guid Crack’ to start your Hogmanay celebrations in style, with laughter and good company at the Waverley Bar with host raconteur Jack Martin.Details of this event here.

At The Usher Hall they present The Glenn Miller Orchestra  on 28th December at 7.30pm. Legendary bandleader Ray McVay swings into Edinburgh to direct the UK’s most renowned big band for a nostalgic journey back to the forties with chart topping war time hits such as….633 SQUADRON, WE´LL MEET AGAIN, MR. BOJANGLES, THAT´S AMORE, JOY TO THE WORLD, I´VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN, WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR. Tickets available here.

10am on Monday mornings is when the Art Cart starts in the National Museum of Scotland.  Free creative fun for children of all ages. And this Monday the  art competition is back in Hawthornden Court, Level 1! Explore the National Museum of Scotland galleries and the Shining Lights exhibition to find a favourite object to draw or paint. Paper, pencils and drawing boards are provided in this challenge suitable for all ages and abilities.

On Friday 31 December at The National Museum of Scotland at 14:00 and lasts for 1.5hrs. Entry Free. Join the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band for a lively, fun afternoon of traditional music, song and dance to bring in the New Year. It’s enthusiasm not experience that counts! Remember that the Museum is open on 1 January from 12 noon till 5pm.

Master of Mimicry Alistair McGowan leads an all-star cast of Savoyards in a semi-staged concert performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s hilarious masterpiece, Mikado, at The Usher Hall on 29th December at 7.30pm.

Set in the land of Titipu, poking delicious fun at politics and politicians, the bountiful score with its witty lyrics is full of toe-tapping greats.

And again at The Usher Hall on Thursday 30th December at 7.30pm The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra gives a Celebration Concert in the Usher Hall. This year’s celebration will be a truly Scottish family event. The show will be full of the kind of music, song, dancing and humour which we associate with Hogmanay. Two of Scotland’s finest singers, Debra Stuart and James Nicol will be featured, along with the Myra Shuttleworth School of Dance and piper Andrew Brodlie. Special guests, The Craigmount High School Pipe Band, will join with the SFO in “Rose of Galloway” and “Highland Cathedral” (with the Usher Hall organ). Tickets available here.

On Saturday 1st January The Scottish Chamber Orchestra stages the New Year in Vienna concert at 7.00pm. Tickets available here.

Remember there are free buses laid on courtesy of The Royal Bank of Scotland. You can find out more here about the buses which run to 4 am.

Here is the magazine which gives you the low down on a lot of what is on this week…. probably too much for you to go to everything in fact.

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.

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