When all the outdoor events on 29, 30 and 31 December were cancelled due to the weather, some fast thinking allowed more events to be staged inside to entertain revellers in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay began properly on 30 December, (after the cancellation of the Torchlight Procession due to safety concerns) with Idlewild’s sold out Night Afore Concert in Assembly Room and on 31 December the sold-out New Year Revels: Maximum Ceilidh Edition, featuring more ceilidh bands than ever before, rang in the bells in true Scottish style.
With performances from Jimi Shandrix Experience, Bella McNab’s Dance Band, Hugh MacDiarmid’s Haircut and Bodhran Bodhran, New Year Revels provided non-stop tunes, whisky tasting and dancing for ceilidh-goers who brought in the bells in traditional Scots fashion.
Children and families also joined the celebrations, with Bairns New Year Revels taking place at Assembly Rooms on the afternoon of 31 December with more than 850 from all age groups, locals and visitors alike dancing the day away.
Aussie DJ phenomenon Tom Lowndes put together a very special Hogmanay show following the cancellation of his planned outdoor shows (Night Afore Concert (on 30th Dec) and Street Party (on 31st) with partygoers flocking to Assembly Hall on The Mound for Hot Dub Time Machine – IT IS ON!
Tom took partygoers on a musical journey through the decades, bringing in 2025 with some of the best tunes out there. The night culminated in an electric Midnight Moment as ‘No Scotland, No Party’ rang out throughout Assembly Hall.
For those seeking a festive yet tranquil way to begin the New Year, the Candlelit Concert at St. Giles’ Cathedral was a special evening, as the St. Giles’ Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Harris, with the St. Giles’ Camerata leader Angus Ramsay, were joined by a stunning array of talented young soloists performing the concluding three cantatas from J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. The sold-out event included music by Bach with his most exuberant compositions performed in an atmospheric setting, as the Cathedral finished it celebration of the 900th anniversary.
A spokesperson for the organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, UniqueAssembly, said: “We were thrilled to be able to keep the party going indoors this year, despite the adverse weather conditions and cancellations facing Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor events. It’s been a challenging week for everyone involved – from tourists and locals who planned to ring in the New Year at the famous Street Party, and staff who have been working hard to ensure events can still take place. Thanks to the support of our event partners across the city, we were still able to host celebrations indoors from ceilidhs to Hot Dub’s non-stop party. We’re looking forward to keeping the party going well into 2025 with our First Footin’ programme of music taking place throughout the city today 1st January. There’s no better place to ring in the New Year than the Home of Hogmanay, and we’re proud to show the world you can’t stop the party where Edinburgh is concerned.”
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“I’d like to wish everyone in the Capital a great start to 2025. While this year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations were a little different from usual, with the outdoor events sadly cancelled, tonight has been a memorable one for local people and visitors to the city alike.
“A huge amount of work has gone into the planning of this year’s programme, and I would like to thank council staff, Unique Assembly, the emergency services, and all our other partners for the huge effort especially over the last few days in very challenging circumstances.”
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