INDOOR EVENTS – do check the website for any tickets…
30 December – A special Night Afore Concert of ferocious live music from indie-rock legends Idlewild, plus special guest Jill Lorean.
Formed in Edinburgh in 1995, Idlewild have endured four-decades, producing nine acclaimed albums with their ambitious and painstakingly crafted alt-rock, that was always faster and more dissonant than their indie-rock contemporaries. Don’t miss this chance to see them in an intimate venue setting.
The band’s line-up consists of Roddy Woomble (lead vocals), Rod Jones (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Newton (drums), Andrew Mitchell (bass), and Luciano Rossi (keyboards).
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/idlewild-plus-special-guests
Until 4 January – Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice. This unique pop-up bar experience has to be kept at a chilly -8°C, but we’ll make sure you’ll be cosy the whole time with jackets and gloves provided to you on arrival.
Inside the Polar Ice Bar, you’ll enjoy delicious festive alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails, served in an individual pre- carved ice glass, with your first drink included in your entry ticket.
Take in the beautiful, engraved ice walls and sculptures featuring winter forests and wildlife, providing the perfect insta- moment for you and your friends at this truly unique space.
Make sure you wrap up warm as the Polar Ice Bar is kept very cold with the temperature set at -8°C
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/the-polar-ice-bar
Until 4 January – Swamplesque
After taking Australia by storm and smashing box office records at Edinburgh Fringe 2024, everyone’s favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody is coming to Edinburgh to celebrate Christmas! Swamplesque is the award-winning, critically acclaimed, burlesque parody show from Far Far Away! This ‘outrageously fun’ (The Advertiser, Adelaide) show offers its audience a smorgasbord of performance styles.
Prepare for a night filled with belly laughs, festive surprises, and a touch of the risqué that’s sure to put you on the nice list! Don’t be green with envy. Gather your friends and grab your tickets now for this fabulously naughty night out! Whether you’re a seasoned burlesque fan or new to the scene, Swamplesque promises to leave you enchanted, entertained, and begging for more, like a kid on Christmas morning!
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/swamplesque
31 December 2024
A special Bairn’s New Year Revels allows young party-goers a chance to join the celebrations with a huge family ceilidh, live music, dancing and Hogmanay fun for all!
Don’t worry if you don’t know the moves, it’s a relaxed ‘have-a-go’ environment, where everyone can join in the fun.
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/bairns-new-year-revels
31 December 2024
A festive and tranquil celebration seeing in the New Year in the candlelit atmosphere of St Giles’ Cathedral at the end of its 900th year anniversary.
This year’s concert marks the festive season with the concluding three cantatas from J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: Bach at his most exuberant.
St Giles’ Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Harris, with the St Giles’ Camerata, leader Angus Ramsay, are joined by a stunning array of talented young soloists.
Everyone at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay extend our heartfelt thanks to Master of Music Michael Harris, and best wishes for his retirement from St. Giles’ from 31stDecember.
J.S.Bach Christmas Oratorio Parts 4,5 & 6
Carine Tinney – Soprano
Judy Brown – Mezzo-Soprano
Joseph Doody – Tenor
Jerome Knox – Bass
St Giles’ Camerata
St Giles’ Cathedral Choir
Michael Harris – Master of the Music
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/candlelit-concert-at-st-giles-cathedral
31 December 2024 – Maximum Ceilidh Edition at Assembly Rooms
The New Year’s Revels returns to the famous Assembly Rooms, with a MAXIMUM CEILIDH EDITION!
With more live ceilidh bands than ever before across two dancefloors, the New Year Revels will send you birlin’ through the bells into 2025, with a delicious feast of live ceilidh music featuring the incredible Jimi Shandrix Experience, Bella McNab’s Dance Band, Hugh MacDiarmid’s Haircut and Bodhran Bodhran!
Premium Ticket Holders can enjoy exclusive access to the Grand Drawing Rooms for a welcome glass of fizz and a Midnight Moment Dram to toast the bells. Along with comfortable seating areas to catch-your-breath between dances and engage in select Whisky Tasting Sessions. New Year Revels hosts will ensure a memorable evening.
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/new-year-revels-maximum-ceilidh-edition
Pictured: Hayley Zalassi
1 January 2025 at 9.00pm
NYD Club Night
Featuring:
HAYLEY ZALASSI
Plus Special Guests
SWATT TEAM & DISCO T*TS
Start your New Year’s Day at Leith Arches, where the celebrations continue for House and Old Skool music lovers! Join us for an unforgettable club night featuring the best of Scotland’s underground music scene, with an all-female DJ lineup guaranteed to keep you dancing into 2025.
HAYLEY ZALASSI
If you’ve been anywhere near the UK’s underground music scene, you’ve probably heard the name Hayley Zalassi. Known for her infectious energy and expert command of the decks, Hayley’s sets blend deep, soulful house with influences of minimal, trance, and techno. Dubbed the Queen of Scottish House Music, expect powerful vocals, piano hooks, and an euphoria-inducing vibe.
2024 has been a landmark year for Hayley, recognized by DJ Mag as “One to Watch.” Her journey began at the iconic venue, The Arches, where she rose from pouring pints to dominating the DJ booth. Since then, she’s performed alongside Kerri Chandler (even going back-to-back at Sub Club’s legendary New Year’s Day party!), Ricardo Villalobos, Mr. G, and Fatboy Slim, cementing her place in the scene.
SWATT TEAM
Formed in Edinburgh in 2022, SWATT TEAM emerged from a shared passion for hard house, speed garage, and Old Skool vibes. As a female duo in a male-dominated scene, they promote diversity and inclusivity in their curated FLY Club shows. Their mission is to create safe and welcoming spaces for all club-goers, while delivering unforgettable high-energy sets.
DISCO T*TS
Edinburgh-based female DJ duo Disco T*TS, Emily and Ellie, bring their love of house and disco to parties all over Scotland and beyond. From UK festivals to Ibiza gigs, they are known for their infectious party-starting sets and are ready to make 2025 one to remember.
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/nyd-club-night
1 January 2025 at Portobello Town Hall at 7.30pm
On New Year’s Day, take a trip to the seaside, where Edinburgh’s Hogmanay keeps the party going with a welcome boost of VITAMIN C at Portobello Town Hall. The Vitamin C club night hosted by Vic Galloway (BBC Radio Scotland) and Andy Wake (The Phantom Band), will kick-start 2025 with a night of rock’n’roll, cosmic disco, soul and everything in between, including full band live sets from alt-rock legends The Vaselines, the infectious indie-pop rhythms of Glasgow’s Sacred Paws, and a night of dancefloor classics with DJ sets from Django Django’s Dave Maclean, and Vic Galloway & Andy Wake themselves.
DJ & Vitamin C host Vic Galloway said, “Andy and I have been spinning the ‘platters that matter’ and hosting our VITAMIN C nights since the start of 2023, but it’s a real thrill for us to put on our biggest night yet in Porty Town Hall as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. It’s a brilliant venue and promises to be the very best way to start 2025, with alternative legends The Vaselines headlining, joyous support from Sacred Paws, and a party DJ set from Django Django. Shake off the night before, and indeed the year before, with a proper Porty knees-up and some fun, festival vibes by the sea. See you down the front!”
Eugene Kelly, The Vaselines said, “The Vaselines are chuffed and excited to be starting 2025 with a gig as part of the Vitamin C Club at the fantastic Portobello Town Hall. It’ll be our first visit to Portobello and to play in such a beautiful venue which has become beacon for local arts and culture will be a New Year’s Day thrill. See you on the beach!”
A free Family Ceilidh takes place in Portobello Town Hall throughout the afternoon, with Bella McNab’s Dance Band providing the dancing tunes, and a special performance from Edinburgh community Street Band collective Oi Musica!
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/vitamin-c-music-is-the-answer
First Footin
On New Year’s Day First Footin’ is a FREE unticketed live music trail, which invites audiences to explore landmark building and venues in the city, discovering a feast of live music and performance by artists from across Scotland and beyond.
Please note, unless listed with a specific time, performances take place on-the-hour at 2pm / 3pm / 4pm & 5pm, and last approx. 30 – 40mins.
Please note spaces for each venue are available on a first-come-first-served basis, should a venue be full, you are welcome to wait until the next performance, or are only ever a short walk to enjoy music at another venue.
You can download the First Footin’ Trail Map here with all venues and performance times.
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/first-footin-come-away-in
The full programme of music on New Year’s Day (did we say it was free?) is at the link below.
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/first-footin
The acts include:
- Afterlands at Cold Town House
- Bee Asha at Greyfriars Hall, Virgin Hotels
- Bella McNab’s Dance Band at Portobello Town Hall
- Broken Chanter at Greyfriars Hall, Virgin Hotels
- Fiona Winning and Christian Elliot at Fruitmarket
- Dara Dubh at The Huxley
- Dead Pony at Greyfriars Hall, Virgin Hotels
- Dowally at Coorie Inn on George Street
- Éamonn Coyne and Friends at Black Bull
- EYVE at Eve Virgin Hotel
- Grayling at Eve Virgin Hotel
- Karine Polwart at St Giles’ Cathedral
- Kate Young at Greyfriars Kirk
- Kohla at Cold Town House
- Lewis McLaughlin at Greyfriars Kirk
- Liv Dawn at Leith Arches
- Low Tide at Leith Arches
- Mama Terra at Leith Arches
- Mike McKenzie at Scottish Café
- Nati at Greyfriars Kirk
- Norman&Corrie and Special guests at The Piccolo
- Shuna Lovelle at Copper Blossom
- Shunpike Social Club at Portobello Town Hall
- Spyres at Greyfriars Hall Virgin
- The Lonely Together at Element
- Thundermoon at Boozy Cow
- VALTOS at Greyfriars Kirk
- Zoe Graham at Eve, Virgin
- Dutch Wine at Leith Arches
- Cahalen Morrison with Kim Oehme at Auld Hundred
- AFTERLANDS – Born as a way of staving off madness during lockdown and patiently nurtured into one of the most exciting projects either of its architects have turned their hands to, Afterlands is Rick Anthony (The Phantom Band / Rick Redbeard) and David McAulay (Strike the Colours / From Scotland With Love).
- DEAD PONY White noise. Information overload. The inescapable sense that your voice is being lost in the crowd. For rising Scottish stars Dead Pony, the realisation that keeping heads above water in a soul-suckingly oversaturated modern music industry was stopping them from chasing the sort of singular sounds that had led here in the first place was a moment to pump brakes and take stock. They’d done what they were told. They’d tried to fit in. And all they’d gotten in return was dull-eyed apathy and shitty broken promises. So why keep flogging the dead horse of other people’s expectations? Why not bet on themselves with a debut album that’s all about standing out?!
- Norman&Corrie are a Scottish musical duo challenging traditional notions of folk and jazz with new pieces translated from ancestral melodies. These melodies were recently discovered by them during a residency in Shetland where they spent time learning from tradition-bearers and explored the music archives of the Shetland Museum (some of which had to be smuggled out, some of which are presented for the first time on this album).
- Cahalen Morrison with Kim Oehme. Originally hailing from the high desert of Northern New Mexico, Cahalen has been touring solo, as a duo with Eli West, and with his band Western Centuries over the past 15 years. Cahalen has performed on stage with the likes of Tim O’Brien, Kelly Joe Phelps, Hot Rize, David Grisman, Dirk Powell, Crooked Still, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain and Kris Drever.
SPROGMANAY from 2pm
This is for the children – and there are three venues – Sprogmanay at the museum and Portobello Town Hall, and a family Ceilidh at Assembly Roxy
At the National Museum of Scotland, presented in partnership with the museum, kids can kick-start 2025 with a bumper afternoon of music, arts, and crafts for all ages, plus the traditional Family Ceilidh event is only a short walk at Assembly Roxy.
Featuring the return of the incredible Unicorn Dance Party, and a special street theatre performance from international artists Close Act.
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/sprogmanay
SPROGMANAY AT PORTOBELLO TOWN HALL
Sprogmanay is a free programme of family activities for New Year’s Day.
Come join the party at our Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh events, for an afternoon of live music and ceilidh dancing fun on New Year’s Day.
The Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh presents a fun, relaxed, ‘have-a-go’ sessions suitable for all levels of experience, and a great way to introduce kids to the joys of ceilidh dancing and music
Family Ceilidh Sessions: Bella McNab’s Dance Band
Portobello Town Hall
12.30 – 14:00 & 14:30 – 16:00
Free Event
2025 sees Bella McNab’s Dance Band celebrating its 30th anniversary – thirty years of playing for dancing in village halls, marquees, castles for celebrations of all kinds, fund-raisers, and festivals. Their fiddle-led line-up featuring some of Scotland’s top fiddlers puts an emphasis on swing while caller David Francis gets everyone moving in the right direction at the right time.
Shunpike Social Club
Porty Prom: 12:30 – 13:30
Portobello Town Hall: 14:00 – 14:30
Free Event
Brass, reeds & rhythm section on a big scale! Shunpike Social Club is a community street band that brings Cumbia, Afrobeat, Brazilian and Cuban music alive with big band flair – always ensuring dancing and good vibes, whether playing on a stage or in the streets!
Shunpike’s celebratory music enlivens parties and street festivals across the city, while providing opportunities for players of all levels to get involved in fun, non-formal music making that is seriously joyful! It is an Oi Musica project, directed by Marcus Britton (brass) and Sam Ward-Hardy (drums & percussion).
https://edwinterfest.com/hogmanay/whats-on/sprogmanay-at-portobello
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
