HOGMANAY 2010
THE WHOLE HOG The New Year period is jam-packed with great things to do, but you can only be in one place at one time. Niki Boyle offers an achievable itinerary for ringing in the bells
EDINBURGH as The Coral and Kaiser Chiefs (DJ set), prior to the world-famous fireworks at midnight.
THU 30 DEC NEW YEAR’S DAY
Kick off your new year revels by heading to the temporarily renamed Resolution Square (otherwise known as The Mound precinct) at 5pm and enjoying some traditional Scots and Irish folk tunes courtesy of the Island Sessions. Then, walk up to Parliament Square for the Torchlight Procession that starts at 6.30pm. Torches can be ordered in advance online or purchased on the night. The procession will progress down the Royal Mile and finish up on Calton Hill, in time for the Son et Lumiere light show and fireworks display at 7.45pm. NEW YEAR’S EVE
You might want to take advantage of the Love F i l m , L o v e E d i n b u r g h season at the Filmhouse: a series of screenings intended to show off Edinburgh’s filmmaking history including Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave at 1.45pm. Afterwards, spend some time wandering around the German Market in Princes Street Gardens East, before heading up to St Giles at 7.45pm for a Candlelit Concert featuring the music of Mozart and Bach. The concert ends at 9pm: just in time for you to head down to the Street Party. If you’ve bought tickets for the Keilidh on the Mound or the Concert in the Gardens – the latter featuring Biffy Clyro, The Charlatans and Billy Bragg – entry to the street party is included. If not, don’t worry, there’s plenty of street party- specific entertainment on offer from acts such
If you’re particularly adventurous you could join the pack of nutters going for a Loony Dook at South Queensferry (check-in for the event begins at noon, with the Dook itself taking place at 2.30pm). However, The List would rather stay in the warm, genteel confines of the National Gallery of Scotland for A New Year’s Day Conversation with Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson, who’ll be discussing Edinburgh’s relationship with literature and art from 2pm. At 5pm the KT Tunstall-curated One Day – Resolution Concert (‘One Day’ because it falls on the numerically pleasing date 1.1.11) will feature some fine Scottish music including Stalwart Fence folkster King Creosote, country-inflected pop from Kassidy and disco treats from Silver Columns, as well as new album material from Ms Tunstall herself. SUN 2 JAN
Depending on your preference (and resistance to the weather), you can either enjoy some Edinburgh Rugby and watch the home team face off against the Glasgow Warriors; or you could opt to sit in the Filmhouse and watch a screening of 1985 comedy Restless Natives at 1.45pm, followed by a programme of short films from Edinburgh’s archives at 4pm. For more information see the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Pocket Guide with this issue or visit www.edinburghshogmanay.org
GLASGOW
there’ll be extravaganza as the bells ring. the obligatory
fireworks
THU 30 DEC NEW YEAR’S DAY
George Square has been the focal point for Glasgow’s Christmas festivities throughout the month, with live music performances from jazz, folk and choir groups, as well as the pretty darn magical Glasgow On Ice skating rink. The celebrations still centre on the Square over New Year, however Thu 30 Dec is the last day the rink will be in operation, so you’ll want to get your skates on – literally. NEW YEAR’S EVE
The ice rink bows out to make way for the Hogmanay Ceilidh, the biggest outdoor ceilidh in the country. Providing the tunes will be Latin/Celtic world fusion party band Salsa Celtica, trad-rock sextet Skerryvore, and international Celtic proponents Capercaillie. Between the bands indie-folk DJ Dolphin Boy will keep the tunes going, and of course 10 THE LIST 16 Dec 2010 – 6 Jan 2011
Hogmanay, with the emphasis on merry- making, drinking whisky, throwing an arm round your neighbour and belting out ‘Auld Land Syne’, is usually an event that favours the adult population; it’s only fitting, then, that New Year’s Day should belong to the kids. The Irn Bru Carnival at the SECC is celebrating 90 years in action, although we’re betting the massive variety of screamers, whizzers and thrillers on offer is pretty far removed from the collection of carousels present in 1910. The kids’ll love it, though – attractions are split into Kids, Family and Thrill ride categories, so you won’t end up submitting yourself to something too stomach-churning after a hard night’s revelling, and there’s a ton of stalls and games to entertain as well. For more info see glasgowloves christmas.com and irn-bru-carnival.com