DANCING QUEENS BJÖRN AGAIN TO HEADLINE NIGHT AFORE DISCO PARTY & NEW YEAR’S REVELS RETURNS TO EDINBURGH’S NEW TOWN
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay organisers UniqueAssembly, who produce the festival on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, has released further details of this year’s 30th anniversary New Year’s celebration, with the news that ABBA tribute sensations Björn Again will headline the Night Afore Disco Party beneath Edinburgh Castle.
The New Year’s Revels also makes a triumphant return to the New Town Assembly Rooms.
A set list of pop classics and disco hits will be the name of the game when Björn Again takes to the Princes Street Gardens stage at the Night Afore Disco Party on Saturday 30 December. With over 5,500 performances across 72 countries, it is a return to Scotland capital’s celebrations for the Australian ABBA show who first played Edinburgh’s Hogmanay in 2000/01.
Björn Again will be supported by the original sing-along live band Massaoke, celebrating 30 years of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay with the best hairbrush anthems down the decades, making sure that the audience is the star of the show. Along with breakfast show presenter and DJ Ewen Cameron from Greatest Hits Radio, Night Afore Disco Party promises a spectacular sing-a-long party for all the family.
On returning to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Björn Again founding member Rod Stephen said: “I have toured the Björn Again show around the world since the late 1980s. There have been many shows with amazingly responsive audiences but I don’t think you can ever top an Edinburgh Hogmanay crowd.
“These guys are just on a whole different level. I can’t wait to see this again!”
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “It’s fantastic to see another great addition to this year’s already stellar lineup for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
“I’m sure that Björn Again will make sure that there are no shortage of dancing queens when they take to the stage for the Night Afore Disco Party in Princes Street Gardens.
“This year there is a new 4-day programme of events for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay at the Assembly Rooms which is really exciting. I’m really proud that we’re able to offer such an exciting and eclectic programme for our residents and visitors as part of our Winter Festivals celebrations.”
The New Year cheer will spread across the city centre with a new four-day programme of indoor events in collaboration with the famous Assembly Rooms on George Street. The New Town venue will be transformed into the ‘Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival Club’, presenting a packed programme of live music, comedy, dancing and family events.
The return of New Year’s Revels on the 31st December, will see revellers birlin’ through the bells courtesy of Edinburgh’s finest ceilidh bands, live DJs, and festival favourites Massaoke providing a sing-a-long soundtrack and the Final Countdown to a spectacular Midnight Moment.
A special Bairns New Year Revels event will take place earlier in the day, allowing young party-goers a chance to join the celebrations, with a family-friendly Massaoke and ceilidh extravaganza.
The Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival Club events kick-off on Friday 29 December with Ho-Ho-Hogmanay, a live comedy show featuring some of the very best acts from the comedy circuit.
The Night Afore Hoolie on Saturday 30 December, presents an evening of incredible live music with the award-winning Blue Rose Code, AKA Edinburgh born singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, with a selection of very special guests musicians and vocalists. And on New Year’s Day, the fun continues we a programme of free live music and ceilidh dancing presented as part of the First Footin’ culture trail, expanding the free culture trail further into the New Town.
In the Old Town, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay present the ever-popular Candlelit Concert at St. Giles’ Cathedral on Sunday 31 December. This tranquil and spiritual experience in the gorgeous building in the heart of the Old Town is an annual sellout and this year’s concert heralds the arrival of 2024 and St. Giles’ Cathedral’s 900th Anniversary celebrations with the first three cantatas from J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: Bach at his most exuberant.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24 is supported by Principal Funding Partners City of Edinburgh Council and Major Partners EventScotland, Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Essential Edinburgh, all working together to create spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30th Anniversary celebrations for Scotland.
The Night Afore Disco Party with Björn Again and Massaoke will take place on Saturday 30 December, 18:30 – 22:00 in West Princes Street Gardens, Doors 17:30.
At the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival Club, Ho-Ho-Hogmanay take place on Friday 29 December; Night Afore Hoolie Saturday 30 December; Bairns New Year Revels and New Year’s Revels Sunday 31 December, and free First Footin’ events on New Year’s Day all at the Assembly Rooms on George Street.
The Candlelit Concert in St Giles’ Cathedral takes place 18:30 – 20:00 on Sunday 31 December, Doors 18:00.
Tickets and further information for these 30th Anniversary events will be available from 10:00 Friday 6 October.
Tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay world-famous Street Party and Concert in the Gardens with Pulp are available now from www.edinburghshogmanay.com.
Details of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay free New Year’s Day activity including Sprogmanay and First Footin’ Culture Trail will be announced in early November.