Tradition meets the contemporary in a diverse programme of events for the capital’s Hogmanay, finds Allan Radcliffe Scotland is famed across the world for its New Year celebrations, and the capital‘s Hogmanay programme is wrdely regarded as the biggest and most Vibrant party of them all. This year's four- day festival. from Saturday 29 December to 'luesday 1 January. is expected to attract in excess of 1.00.000 Visitors from around the globe.
The festival kicks off With a bang thanks to the now~famrlrar Torchlight Procession (29 Dec. (3.30pm). Beginning With a spectacular firew0rk display in Parliament Sguare. the processmn then wrnds along the Royal Mile to Calton Hill, culminating in the cerernonral burning of a Viking longship and Wicker effigy. a reminder of the festival's origins as a pagan celebration. This event is free and unticketed but proceeds from sales of torches twhich can be purchased online at wwwedinburghsliogmanaycoml go to One City Trust and Radio Forth's Help a Child Appeal.
The Night Afore's Monster Ceilidh (30 Dec. from 8pm) takes over the Assembly Rooms and rnosl of George Street. offering an ambitious mix of music. street theatre and storytelling. wrth giant performing monsters thrown in for good measure. and it's all free. There's something for everyone here. from Kerlidh-oke. hosted by Chewrng the fat star Karen Dunbar and storytelling from comedians Phil Kay and Craig Hill to a llllX of traditional and contemporary dance on the AllDancrn' stage and music from some of the hottest names on the traditional music scene. including the \llllll Shandrtx experience. Other highlights include The Massed Pipes and Drums. who will be skrrlrn', brrlin' and dirlin' their way down the MOund. while the Pertobello Ceilidh Band wrll be leading off another world record breaking Strip the Willow on George Street from 9pm.
For those looking for a gentle start. St Giles Cathedral's Candlelit Concert (31 Dec. 7.30pm) features music from Bach and Mozart performed by some of Scotland's finest yoong soI0rsts. including a rendition of Mozart's 'EXSultate Jubilate' from Kate Valentine. The musrc shifts up a gear for The Hoog (Assembly Rooms. from 7.30pm) and H009 Royale (Queens Hall. from 7.30pm). a pair of indoor Hogmanay ceilidhs featuring energetic music from the Belle Star Band. Teannaich. Blaze in the Bothy and John Cowan‘s Lairds of Dixieland to take you through to the wee small hours. >
Christmas ClaSSICS
Paul Dale casts an approving eye over the seasonal programme at Edinburgh's Filmhouse
or the last three .\ear\ the l‘ilmlrouxe has
unrked in eoniunetion \xith l:dinhtrrgh\
llogmana} to hring a lilmie dimension to the l'extixitiex. Last _\ear the programme \\a\ eurated h} the (ioethe lttsllllll and the theme “its liarl} (ierman Sound l‘llltts. to tie in \iith Night .r\l'ore'\ (iernran theme. This year the teens is on eelehrating llighland ('ulture through the medium of. cinema. with l-ilmhouse and l'nigue li\ent\ learning tip to present an eeleetie and entertaining selection ol‘ films \et in and around the lllgltlitlttls and l\lillltl\ ol' Seotland.
’l‘liis \L‘Lhttlt ol~ teir lllllt\ ltle'lx\ oll \\ ith Stephen \Vltittaker‘x likeahle drama The Rot/wt I’m! (3002). Set in the llehr'idex in l‘Bn. the film is based on the true stor} ol~ (ierman rocket seientist (ierhard [treker' \\ ho was ernplo} ed h} the British in 19% to link a remote Scottish eornmunit} to the mainland h} a roeket propelled post \L‘t'VlCL‘.
l’rorn here on in exer} film in lltls season is a
\\ inner. 'l'here'x a rare otrting lor .lohn \laeken/re and .lohn .\le(irath\ I‘l74 lligltland elearanee grimanee drama The ('ltt'i'tul. Illt’ Slug rim! li/rrt‘A. lilac/t ()r/ llit'sl dewloped \\ itli .\le( iratli'x legendar} 7:84 touring theatre eompan} t and t\\o \er} precious gems t‘rom l’ou ell and l’t'esxltltt'gt‘t'
/ Krimr‘ Where I'm (inure ( l‘HSl and Hit lat/er oft/Iv llin‘lr/ ttlreir ht'illiant WW lilm detailing the exaeuation ol' St Kildai. ()ther ltlgltligltts inelude l)a\id .\lael)onald\ 1047 adaptation ot Leonard Strong's pouerl'ul rioer 'l'lri' HINI/ll‘l'\ txereening here with John (iray‘x l_\rieal \lltit’l West Highland) [illts time honoured Scottish related Classlt‘s ll'ltt'x/xr (iii/(inn Ii’rietu/mnr and The ll'rr'lu'r Hun ( Ill-[3 \ersiont. l’roeeedingx are then hrought hang tip to date with (losing lilm Scar/Id: '/'/t(’ lllttt‘t't'ut/t/v I’lltlttlt'lt'. Silttttll .\liller\ lo\'el_\ (iaelie language paean to the art ol' stor}telling. SUNf’lH/ \\lll he introduced h} Donald Smith. director of' the Scottish Storyelling (‘entre. and writer arid \ttir‘)teller' Martin .\laelnt_\re and \kill he l'olloxxed h} a li\e storytelling pertormanee dram ing on some of the tales featured in the lilm. As the great e\\a_\l\l and eultural historian llarold (ioddard onee noted. "l‘he destin} ol' the uorld is determined less hy the hattles that are lost arid \xon than h) the stories it lo\ ex and heliews in.‘
Highland Reels, Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 26 Dec-Thu 3 Jan. www.filmhousecinema.com
:
be“, Z’r’u' -1 J:;' 7/18 THE LIST 13