New Year revellers party like it’s 2012

More than 80,000 party goers jigged, reeled and boogied the night away in the shadow of the Capital’s most famous landmark.

This year’s theme was the Olympic-inspired Let’s Play and the good-natured crowd took this to heart with only three arrests for minor breaches of the peace being made within the arena and the ERI’s A&E department also treating very low numbers with minor injuries.

The weather even played its part, staying dry throughout until a downpour around half-past midnight helped organisers in ushering the crowd towards the exits.

Scots rockers Primal Scream, Bombay Bicycle Club and Sons & Daughters wowed the crowds at the sell-out Concert in the Gardens, while leading Scottish and international artists also entertained revellers on five stages along the length of Princes Street.

The highlight of Edinburgh folk band Matt Norris and the Moon’s year no doubt came in the last few hours before midnight as they opened the Concert in the Gardens stage.

The unsigned winners of this year’s Hog the Stage competition, which saw bands battling it out for a slot on the line-up, delivered a fine performance.

Among the other highlights were The Vaccines, Friendly Fires, DJ Mark Ronson and, on the new Scott Monument Stage, Peatbog Faeries and Capercaillie.

The Keilidh saw around 2750 revellers enjoying Scottish artists including Hugh McDiarmid’s Haircut and Ceilidhdonia, but the biggest spectacle came at midnight, as 2800 individual fireworks provided a breathtaking six-minute show to welcome in 2012.

This was the longest display in the 19-year history of the event and drew admiring gasps from the crowd.

A rousing mass rendition of Auld Lang Syne followed.

Festivals and events champion, Councillor Steve Cardownie, said: “It has been a fantastic event.”