Hogmanay 2009: Edinburgh highlights

Published on Thursday 3 December 2009 15:32

FOR the year of Homecoming, Edinburgh's legendary Hogmanay celebrations are set to extend over 5 days, from 29 December until 2 January.

&#149 Edinburgh's Hogmanay is renowned the world over

Festivities begin in earnest on 29th with a bagpipe-accompanied Torchlight Procession up Calton Hill. At the top there will be a ceremonial burning of a wicker man, followed by a Son et Lumiere, a choreographed sound and light display. The procession starts in Parliament Square at 6.30pm. Attendance is free, but torches should be purchased in advance.

Wednesday 30th, or The Night Afore, is Light Night. Venues along the Royal Mile are opening their doors to host specially created light installations, while performance artists Carabosse present their newly commissioned show Firelight. Featuring four metre wide fireballs, projections and a smoke-billowing furnace wheel, it should be a spectacle the likes of which the city has never seen.

At the HMV Picture House, chart-topping Scots DJ star Calvin Harris plays a special club night to get the crowds in the mood.

The jewel in the crown of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the Street Party is expected to attract 80,000 partygoers from Scotland and around the world all hoping to see in the New Year in style without too much interference from the weather. This year there will be music on three stages and 4.5 tonnes of fireworks set to go off with the bells.

On the Waverley stage, hosted by DJ Vic Galloway, bill toppers The Enemy will be supported by some of Scotland's most exciting young bands. Popular Glasgow 5-piece Frightened Rabbit will be joined by rising stars We Were Promised Jetpacks and Edinburgh newcomers Stanley Odd. The West End stage has DJ sets from Scottish favourite Mylo, Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and Tom Simpson and Belle and Sebastian's Richard Colburn. There'll be dancing at the Mound stage as Hogmanay regular DJ The Great Calverto presents a line-up including Glitter Banditz and The Cuban Brothers. The party starts at 9pm, and goes on until 1am.

&#149 Madness are headlining in the Gardens

The Concert in the Gardens is headlined by cockney legends Madness, with support from pop sensations Noisettes and local band Codeine Velvet Club. Recently voted the most stylish new band in Scotland, Codeine Velvet Club is the side project of Fratellis frontman Jon Lawler.

The world famous midnight firework display is set to feature state of the art effects including a mysterious-sounding 'dark effect', said to create an expanding galaxy of exploding stars. Midnight will also see revellers linking arms to sing in the New Year with the world's biggest performance of Auld Lang Syne.

The official after party is being held in the Picture House on Lothian Road, with another DJ set from Mylo along with some special guests.

New Year's Day has been renamed Re:Formation day, in reference to 2010 being the 450th anniversary of the Reformation of the church in Scotland. Events are designed to renew and refresh the mind and body, and include discussions on the reformation itself, music in Holyrood Palace, and a Re:Solution wall where people can post and share their New Year's resolutions.

&#149 For ticket details, go to www.edinburghshogmanay.com