X Factor gatecrasher Calvin Harris to DJ at Edinburgh party prior to Hogmanay

Published on Tuesday 17 November 2009 08:55

HE'S already gatecrashed The X Factor and now chart-topping Scottish singer and DJ Calvin Harris has been added to the line-up for five days of festivities to mark Hogmanay in the Capital.

The Dumfries star, who came from obscurity to the UK top ten single charts with the 2007 hit Acceptable in the Eighties and has worked with Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Dizzee Rascal, is to play a new club night on 30 December.

Organisers say they expect strong demand for tickets to the Night Afore DJ party, which runs until 3am at the HMV Picture House, when they go on sale tomorrow.

It is the first time a late-night party has been held as part of the build-up to Hogmanay on 30 December.

A new day of events "for the body, the mind and the spirit" was also announced today for New Year's Day.

The day is to feature a debate, poetry and music events that will mark the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland.

Organisers say that Harris, who gatecrashed the stage of The X Factor at the weekend with a pineapple on his head in what he yesterday claimed was designed to "make a mockery" of the show's "terrible" music, is something of a coup for the event.

Pete Irvine, creative director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, said: "He is arguably Scotland's happening artist of this year, given that a lot of the bands have tailed off a bit this year.

"He's all over the papers, radio and TV – and he was even on The X Factor at the weekend, doing a sort of Jarvis Cocker-at-the-Brits thing.

"We think it's great getting him here. He's doing the O2 in London on the 31st but, being Scottish, it's important to him to do something here over Hogmanay. In a way, the 30th is ideal because it gets him on his own.

"We're encouraging him to do a real special set."

Events for Re:Formation Day on 1 January will include a debate featuring Harry Reid, Richard Halloway and Catherine Lockerbie at the Signet Library on the Reformation in Scotland, while an hour of music, poetry and words of reflection are planned at St Giles' Cathedral.

New contemporary musicians will perform at Holyrood Palace Mews, as part of the first New Music At The Palace events.

Madness and The Noisettes are headlining the Hogmanay Concert In The Gardens, while the Street Party features artists including The Enemy and Mylo.

Mr Irvine said that, despite a reduced capacity, this year's main events can still be a success.

He said: "It is not a great reduction in capacity. The only thing different is one stage less. Otherwise, the event will be full on with the usual fireworks, stages and people."