Edinburgh Hogmanay sold-out spectacular

USPA NEWS - Edinburgh shouts “˜We Love You´ from the rooftops as it celebrates Hogmanay in sold-out spectacular style with the world´s best New Year street party.

Franz Ferdinand´s spectacular live performance topped by 75,000 voices joining together for Auld Lang Syne.

“¢ Incredible sets from Judge Jules, Gerry Cinnamon, Snap!, Meute, Elephant Sessions and the Mac Twins put music at the heart of the party.
“¢ Illuminated horses, giant rolling madcap opera divas, live drummer mobiles hanging from the sky, colourful stilt walkers, fire artists and Europe´s best BBoys create an incredible atmosphere across the arena.
“¢ Scotland and artists from across Europe come together in a celebration of unbreakable bonds.

This year´s Street Party hosted by Johnnie Walker was spectacular! From the moment the doors opened at 7.30pm, “˜til long after the midnight bells fell silent, bands and DJs, street artists, aerialists, musicians and dancers from Scotland and mainland Europe created a party that will live long in the memories of the tens of thousands who gathered to bring in New Year in Edinburgh. Throughout the night Edinburgh´s Hogmanay´s theme, We Love You, celebrated Scotland´s shared bonds with Europe and created a great atmosphere among new friends and old across the arena.

Franz Ferdinand blew it out the park with a set including Take Me Out, Dark of the Matinee and an emotional rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Metronomy ramped up the energy in the audience with The Look and The Bay, and hair flicking, bare footed Free Love kicked off the action on the main stage. Headlining the Waverley Stage, Gerry Cinnamon´s fans chanted “˜til he took to the stage. Opening the Waverley Stage Stephanie Cheape boosted the bass with her dark pop opener. Edinburgh band Vistas ramped up the party and hands were in the air as Snap! delighted kicked our off 2019 with Rhythm is a Dancer.

Superstar DJ Judge Jules made his Edinburgh´s Hogmanay debut, taking the audiences up to the Midnight Moment with a rocking set on the stage over Castle Street. Edinburgh born, The Mac Twins kept the party goers perky throughout the
night as the official hosts of this year´s Street Party and turned up the party with a DJ set after midnight to keep them dancing through to 1am. Taking to the St Andrew Square Stage Elephant Sessions´ high energy folk and rock fusion kicked off proceedings. Acclaimed Edinburgh band Miracle Glass Company brought its vibrant, psychedelic rock “˜n´ roll. And Scotland discovered Hamburg based Meute who blew everyone away with their live drum and brass arrangements of wellknown techno and house numbers.

All around the arena entertainment came from every angle and from Scotland and nations across Europe in a celebration of our relationship with those countries. Hugely popular were the spectacular illuminated horses of Compagnie des Quidams which danced and popped up in unexpected places. Stunning crazy opera divas on giant balls rolled through Princes Street as France´s Compagnie Transe Express wowed the Street Party. Stunning colourful puppets giant dancers from Spanish-based El Carromato and massive opera singers rolling along Princes Street kept the party goers entertained. And the Dutch company Close Act´s colourful stilt walkers added a touch of magic along the reach of Princes Street. Louise Marshall returned with her all female Divas and District Pipes and Drums, Got Soul Choir returned to get everyone singing, PyroCeltica were spectacular on the podium stage, and Prizon Break Rockerz, Belgium´s most talented breakdancing troupe impressed many with their energy and moves.

Visitors from every continent tried out their Scottish dance moves with the locals and got into the spirit of a traditional Scottish Hogmanay celebration. After teaser firework hearts on the hour, this year´s midnight moment sounded and looked spectacular. Titanium Fireworks launched thousands of colourful and spectacular fireworks from Edinburgh´s iconic castle. A rousing soundtrack to the fireworks by Meute, who also performed on the St Andrew Square Stage, and Novello award-winning composer and sound designer Dan Jones recorded by the Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra sounded fantastic across the party. Johnnie Walker strode into the New Year with us giving party goers a dram to share with friends new and old at the midnight moment.

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly who produce Edinburgh´s Hogmanay on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council said: “We Love You. Scotland welcomed Europe and the World in a fantastic night of shared cultural ties. There were absolutely fantastic performances from all of our artists and there was a tremendous atmosphere across the arena. Thank you to all who made this possible. We look forward to seeing you again next year.“

Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald, Event Commander for Edinburgh´s Hogmanay, said: “We have been delighted with the behaviour and attitude of the vast majority of revellers in Edinburgh this Hogmanay. “No arrests were made by our officers and we would like to thank the public for listening to safety messages and ensuring that Edinburgh welcomed in the New Year in an entertaining, but safe environment.“

Cllr Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh´s Hogmanay has long been the envy of cities across the globe. With one of the best ever artist line-ups ever, tonight has been a truly fantastic event, bringing together 75,000 revellers from all over the world to bring in the bells in the heart of Scotland´s Capital with a fantastic fireworks finale. The events provide a massive injection into the city and the country´s economy and showcase Scottish culture to people all over the world.“

David Cutter, President of Global Supply and Procurement, Diageo said: "As hosts of Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party this year, it's been a fantastic event for Johnnie Walker to be part of. “Welcoming visitors and locals of Edinburgh to one of the world's biggest New Year celebrations, has been a brilliant way to close 2018 as we look to an exciting year
ahead. “We hope all those that attended the event enjoyed their dram of Johnnie Walker at the festivities and have a happy new year for 2019." Tonight´s Street Party hosted by Johnnie Walker came hot the heels of the iconic Torchlight Procession on the 30th December and ahead of The Loony Dook and Message from the Skies on New Year´s Day, which runs through to Burns Night in a unique cross artform collaboration with ten of Scotland´s best artists, designers and musicians, six Scottish or Scotland based writers will pen a love letter to Europe which will be projected on to buildings across the city.