Capital gets into the groove as top pop acts to bring in the new year

Published on Tuesday 4 November 2008 01:09

A HOST of big-name performers has been announced to headline Edinburgh's Hogmanay programme for 2008.

Groove Armada, one of Britain's biggest dance acts, will be joined by Paolo Nutini, from Glasgow, at the Concert in the Gardens on 31 December.

West-coast band Glasvegas will play on the Waverley Stage, while the Scott Monument stage will concentrate on more traditional Scottish music, with the Peatbog Faeries, Moishe's Bagel and Burach.

Andy Cato, of Groove Armada, said: "What appeals to me about Edinburgh's Hogmanay is that it is the most famous celebration of its type in the world. I've never been to it and I want to be there.

"We'll be getting the Glastonbury lightshow out again, because this is going to be the last time we perform a lot of those older songs."

The full programme of events for this year's celebrations will be launched at Edinburgh's Dance Base today at an event that will include a display from aerial performers taking part in Feet First, a new street theatre and circus event, on 1 January. This year's Street Party starts at the earlier time of 9pm and features a new stage in the West End that will focus on dance music, with DJ sets from Hot Chip and Belle and Sebastian.

Boogie Wonderland, a new ticketed event on the Mound, will showcase seventies tribute bands.

Pop Idol winner Michele McManus will also perform on the Mound stage.

Pete Irvine, creative director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, said: "With the best emerging and established music acts and exciting new events we've added a new dimension to the event that brings an explosive mix of energetic music and arts."

Chloe Dear, creative director of Feet First, the free outdoor event on the Royal Mile to take place on New Year's Day, said she hoped the event would attract around 10,000 people.

The show features 13 new works from more than 120 artists and performers who are almost all either Scottish or based in Scotland.

Ms Dear said: "We are hoping people will be surprised and stimulated – the theme is hope for the New Year."

The performances on the High Street will include aerial artists suspended by a crane.

Hogmanay celebrations will start with the Torchlit Procession on 29 December, which this year will raise money for the One City Trust. The following day will see ceilidh-themed events in the Grassmarket and the Assembly Rooms.

This year's Street Party will mark the official beginning of the Year of Homecoming, with the premiere of a specially commissioned film. Organisers hope a crowd of 100,000 will become the world's biggest choir when they join a chorus of Auld Lang Syne.