Edinburgh’s Hogmanay – Tennis – Charity Fashion Show – National Museum of Scotland
Yes folks the Festival Fireworks have not yet taken place but here is Edinburgh’s Hogmanay news already!
Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are delighted to announce that Pet Shop Boys, one of the most successful UK acts of all time, will headline the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2013/14 ‘Concert in the Gardens’. Unique Events on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council announce Pet Shop Boys’ only UK performance, ending the pop duos hugely successful ‘Electric’ world tour which has performed 45 shows and festivals in 25 countries throughout 2013 attracting rave reviews and ecstatic audience reactions.
The band will be performing a set of greatest hits along with tracks from their critically acclaimed twelfth album ‘Electric’ in West Princes Street Gardens. This exclusive UK performance celebrates a landmark 21st anniversary for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and is the long awaited return to the capital for Pet Shop Boys following the cancellation of New Year celebrations across the UK in 2006/07. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a signature event of the Year of Homecoming Scotland 2014, launching a packed programme of events throughout the year.
With over 50 million records sales worldwide Pet Shop Boys are listed as the most successful duo in UK music history by The Guinness Book of Records. Three-time Brit Award winners and six-time Grammy nominees, since 1985 they have achieved 42 Top 30 singles and 22 Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart, including four number ones: ‘West End Girls’, ‘It’s a Sin’, ‘Always on My Mind’ and ‘Heart’.
At the 2009 BRIT Awards, Pet Shop Boys received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. The band’s latest studio albumElectric was released July 2013 and reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart —their highest album position since the release of Very in 1993.
Pet Shop Boys will bring in the New Year at the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay joined by some very special guests to be announced shortly.
Neil Tennant, Pet Shop Boys said “We are delighted to bring this show to Scotland on New Year’s Eve. We’ve always felt we’ve had some unfinished Hogmanay business in Edinburgh after the weather put a stop to the planned 2006 show and this is going to be a fantastic way to see in the New Year!”
Cllr Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This year, we are celebrating 21 years of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and, of course, the Year of the Homecoming Scotland 2014 and I am delighted that we have an act of the Pet Shop Boys’ calibre to help us bring in the New Year. Like Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, the duo continues to stay fresh and exciting, thrilling audiences year after year.”
Pete Irvine, Artistic Director of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said “The Pet Shop Boys are on top of the world at the moment, and with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay being the only UK appearance of their spectacular new show, they are the perfect band to help us celebrate our 21st Anniversary at the very cusp of Scotland’s most eventful year.”
Revellers can purchase tickets for Concert in the Gardens from 10am Friday 30 August at www.edinburghshogmanay.com, by calling Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office on 0844 573 8455 or by calling into the Hogmanay Box Office at The Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh.
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With Andy Murray back on court it may be time to pick up your racquet again…at Joppa Tennis Courts. Councillor Maureen Child tells us about them.
One of the first acts of Portobello Community Council when it started in the 1980s was to take over the running of Joppa Tennis Courts from the then Edinburgh District Council. The Courts have continued to flourish and are very much a community led and community run facility. They have open sessions during the summer, but the backbone is its loyal members who have fundraised, maintained and improved the courts over the years. Annual membership is only £35 for an adult and £60 a family. Coaching is also available through Andrew Haw, Rolling Ball Coaching on 0781905422 spin@rollingballtennis.com Joppa Tennis Courts Contact: 07905 705 279 or look at the website for more information. http://www.lta.org.uk/Places-To-Play/Details/Overview/?p2p=1-MG8RVC
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Budding fashionistas from the north east of Edinburgh are coming together to hold a charity fashion show for adults with learning disabilities.
The event, which will take place in South Leith Parish Church Halls on the 29 August has become a popular annual event held by the North East Edinburgh Community Arts Group.
Organisers (NECAG) are hoping to build on the success of last year’s show which helped to raise funds for the group which holds weekly classes for adults with learning disabilities.
The costumes have been donated by the charity shop, All Together Edinburgh and will be modelled by service users. This year the outfits will be inspired by themes such as music, science, comedy and TV, with makeup and hair styling provided by volunteers.
The fashion show is being held at the South Leith Parish Church Halls at 7:00pm. Doors open from 6pm and tickets cost £4 on the night. There will also be a variety of stalls selling gifts and refreshments.
Convener of Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Ricky Henderson, said: “Community groups like NECAG do a fantastic job of bringing local people together and if last year’s show is anything to go by, this event will also be a tremendous success.”
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The Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition runs at the National Museum of Scotland until 17 November 2013
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Cost: Adult £9, Concession £7.50, Child (12-15) £6, Under 12s free, National Museums Scotland Members free, National Art Pass holders receive 50% discount.
Arguably one of the most enigmatic figures in Scottish history, the story of Mary, Queen of Scots can still arouse strong emotions: was she betrayed by those she trusted, condemned to die a Catholic martyr, or a murdering adulteress with her husband’s blood on her hands? This major exhibition, only showing in Edinburgh, provides a unique opportunity to re-evaluate much that has been written and speculated about this charismatic monarch, drawing together surviving relics intimately connected with Mary and wider Renaissance material, such as documents, portraits, jewellery, furniture and textiles.
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