ALTERED Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations took place tonight (31st December) as the capital ushered in 2025, with a run of sold-out New Year events in indoor venues across Edinburgh city centre, where the spirit of Hogmanay and a sense of community was alive and well.
Earlier this week, organisers Unique Assembly announced cancellations across the four-day programme due to adverse weather warnings, with all outdoor events sadly being cancelled, including the world-famous Torchlight Procession and Concert in the Gardens. Due to high winds and inclement weather across Edinburgh city centre, the outdoor events scheduled for 29th – 31st December were unable to go ahead on the grounds of public safety. Despite this, all planned indoor events for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations were able to continue plus a new event Hot Dub Time Machine: IT IS ON! took over Assembly Hall and brought in 2025 with a special new year show and indoor Midnight Moment.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay began last night, 30th December, with Idlewild’s sold out Night Afore Concert in Assembly Room whilst today 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 today, with Bairns New Year Revels taking place at Assembly Rooms on the afternoon of 31st December with over 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 (30th Dec) and Street Party (31st)) with revellers flocking to Assembly Hall 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 saw stunning performances of Bach’s music, with his most exuberant compositions performed in an atmospheric setting, as the beloved Cathedral celebrates its 900th anniversary.
Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Unique Assembly spokesperson 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.”
With the First Footin’ music trail going ahead in venues across the city centre on New Year’s Day, there’s even more to celebrate as Edinburgh welcomes 2025. With artists including Karine Polwart & Community Choir, Valtos, Dara Dubh, Bee Asha, and more taking to stages in venues and pubs across Edinburgh, the First Footin’ trail celebrates the Scottish first footing tradition with good music and good vibes across the capital. First Footin’ spreads further than ever before this year with ticketed shows in Leith and Portobello.
New venue Leith Arches presents some of Scotland hottest new acts during the day including Mama Terra; Glaswegian Pianist, Composer & Producer Marco Cafolla & Saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski, Mama Terra are hotly tipped by JazzFM, Loch Lomond folk-pop singer-songwriter Liv Dawn, Edinburgh rock band Low Tide, and grunge-fuelled rock from Dutch Wine.
Portobello Town Hall is home to a free afternoon of ceilidh dancing with Bella McNab’s Dance Band, with Brazilian and Cuban big-band flair from community street band Shunpike Social Club.
In the evening, BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Andy Wake (The Phantom Band) bring their spectacular club night Vitamin C out to Portobello Town Hall on New Year’s Day featuring alt-rock legends The Vaselines, infectious indie-dance from Sacred Paws and Django Django’s Dave Maclean for an epic DJ set. Meanwhile, Leith Arches hosts a celebration of House and Old Skool, with an all-female line-up led by DJ Hayley Zalassi, and special guests SWATT TEAM and Disco T*TS, Leith Arches is guaranteed to keep you dancing into 2025.
