Always quick to react, the organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay have signed up Edinburgh group Young Fathers who just won the Mercury Prize for their debut album Dead, to appear on the Waverley Stage this Hogmanay. Although once the council who pay for the Hogmanay celebrations read The Guardian article over here we wonder if that will change.
Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay announced a top line-up for the ‘greatest New Year party on the planet’ – the world famous Street Party, the Concert in the Gardens and the Keilidh. Now in its 22nd year, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, produced by Unique Events for the City of Edinburgh Council, welcomes revellers from all over the world to the capital city for three days over the Hogmanay period.
The Waverley Stage at the Street Party will show off a strong, all-Scottish line-up this year with a headline performance from Scotland’s festival-favourites Twin Atlantic who have just released their second album, Great Divide. They will be joined by the winners of this year’s Mercury Prize, Edinburgh’s own alternative hip hop group Young Fathers and Indie Rock band The Twilight Sad, who have also just released their new album to critical acclaim.
Sam McTrusty from Twin Atlantic said “Very excited and honoured to be partying with the people of Edinburgh and the thousands who travel from all over to celebrate another year of survival of mankind on our beautiful planet earth. It will be one hell of a way to bring in the New Year. Music, good people and a lifetime long memorable setting. See you there party people. “
Alloysious Massaquoi from Young Fathers said “If there’s any time to play Edinburgh, then this is the best time – at the climax of the year, when emotions are high… and so are the people.”
James Graham for The Twilight Sad added “I’ve been to the Edinburgh Hogmanay party twice before to see my friends’ bands play the street party and I’ve always had a great time. So to be asked to play this year was amazing. It’s been a big year for us, we can’t think of a better way to see in the New Year and to play one last time in 2014 in Scotland.’
Audiences at the Scottish Stage will enjoy performances from Scotland’s chanteuse extraordinaire singer-songwriter Eddi Reader with special guests the internationally touring, Radio 2 Folk Award nominated Breabach and the Scottish piping phenomenon Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson. At the ever-popular Keilidh Stage revellers will be birling through the bells to The Smashers (featuring members of Rura), Hugh MacDiarmid’s Haircut and The Jimi Shandrix Experience.
Breabach said “After spending Hogmanay 2014 on the other side of the world at the Woodford Folk Festival, Australia, it feels amazing to be taking in 2015 back on home soil. We’ve always wanted to play a part of Edinburgh’s legendary New Year celebrations and we can guarantee that once the double pipes and step dance get going we’ll help the night go off with a blast!”
Joining headliner Lily Allen on the Concert in the Gardens stage will be special guests, 5 x Brit nominated, Grammy award winning dance/R&B superstars Soul II Soul, who celebrate 25 years of chart topping success this year, and to get the party started internationally acclaimed Björn Again the Australian ABBA show.
Lily Allen comes to Edinburgh on the back of high profile dates in the USA before embarking on the UK leg of her world tour, which closes with the special Edinburgh’s Hogmanay show. Lily Allen said ‘I’ve always wanted to spend Hogmanay in Scotland so the fact that I get to do it this year but performing onstage in front of a whole load of people up for the best time makes it extra special.”
Fresh from a summer playing Festivals around the country, including Parklife Weekender, LoveBox and T in the Park, Jazzie B from Soul II Soul commented “Looking forward to celebrating Hogmanay and seeing in 2015 in Edinburgh!”
With five live stages and countdown fireworks at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay once again offers an exhilarating and eclectic mix of live entertainment which will climax with the singing of the world’s largest Auld Lang Syne and the spectacular Midnight Fireworks from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle.
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festival and Events Champion at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh is the greatest place on earth to bring in the bells, and this year’s line-up has something for everyone. It is especially great that so many Scottish acts will take to the stage, including Edinburgh’s own Young Fathers. Local residents planning to celebrate New Year on their doorstep can snap up an early bird discount on tickets, but be quick – the discount will only apply until 28 November.”
Pete Irvine, Director of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said “Scotland has been central stage this year and we’re going to see it out with the best party on the planet. With a stellar Scottish line-up at the Street Party and the best party line-up at the Concert in the Gardens we’ve had in years.”
Tickets for all events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are on sale – full details can be found at www.edinburghshogmanay.com. The early bird ticket offer for Edinburgh Residents will close on Friday 28 November. Until then, anyone living in an EH postcode can buy their Street Party ticket for the reduced price of £16 plus booking fee. The full programme for all three days of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival will be announced in November.
Photo courtesy of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay / Chris Watt
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
