2MANYDJS, VALTOS AND HAYLEY ZALASSI TAKE OVER STREET PARTY
ASSEMBLY ROOMS FESTIVAL CLUB WELCOMES VIC GALLOWAY’S VITAMIN C CLUB NIGHT, SUSIE MCCABE, LARRY DEAN AND MORE, AS WELL AS RETURN OF TRADITIONAL CEILIDHS
PLUS, ST.GILES’ WELCOMES LAU FOR SPECIAL CANDLELIT CONCERT
Edinburgh’s Hogmanayhas today announced a music and comedy programme spannning four days of the festival, with Scottish talent topping the bill across the famous Street Party, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival Club at the Assembly Rooms and Candlelit Concerts at St.Giles’ Cathedral.
From electro-trad trailblazers Valtos to comedy mainstays Susie McCabe, Larry Dean and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, trad trio Lau, as well as Street Party headliners 2manydjs and more, there’s non-stop entertainment to end the year on a high at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY STREET PARTY
Amidst the backdrop of Edinburgh’s historic skyline, the legendary Street Party will once again transform the city centre into one of the world’s largest open-air dancefloors on 31 December, bringing in the bells with the last show of 2025 and the first of 2026.
Electronic sensations 2manydjs will headline the Party Zone, delivering a set relayed throughout Princes Street, building up to the world-famous Midnight Moment fireworks from Edinburgh Castle.
Known for their eclectic, boundary-pushing DJ sets, the Belgian duo will take to the decks for one night only, joined by special guest DJHayley Zalassi, who will kickstart the party with one of her euphoric sets.
Meanwhile, the Tartan Zone will spotlight homegrown talent, headlined by genre-bending Skye duo Valtos. Known for their powerful fusion of electronic soundscapes and contemporary folk, Martyn MacDonald and Daniel Docherty will set the tone for a high-energy night, joined by their full live band.
Partygoers can dance the night away to all-female folk outfit The Poozies and the upbeat Bella McNab’s Dance Band, creating one of the world’s largest ceilidh dances and spotlighting Scottish traditional music to end the year.
Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald of Valtos said: “We are absolutely delighted to be asked to perform at the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party this year.
“The Street Party is iconic worldwide and the opportunity to showcase our sound (and the sound of Scotland) to locals, and visitors alike, fills us with much excitement. The only thing blowing the roof off this year will be Valtos!”
ASSEMBLY ROOMS FESTIVAL CLUB
Some of Scotland’s leading comedians join the Hogmanay festivities this year with a night of non-stop laughs at Ho Ho Hogmanay on 30 December, featuring award-winning comedy from Larry Dean, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and more.
A stellar bill of Scottish acts will take to the stage including one of the UK’s leading comics and three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Larry Dean and, following a completely sold out Edinburgh Fringe run, Glaswegian stand-up Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, plus Edinburgh local and rising star Ayo Adenekan, with the night hosted by comedy legend Susie McCabe.
Susie McCabe said: “New Year is such a brilliant time to be in Edinburgh, and a night of comedy at the Assembly Rooms is the perfect starter before the main event on Hogmanay night!”
Assembly Rooms will also host a special opening-night takeover with Vic Galloway’s Vitamin C Club Night on 29 December, following the annual Torchlight Procession. Curated and hosted by BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Andy Wake (The Phantom Band), this spectacular night of live music will feature live music from local indie-rock band waverley. and a DJ set from Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai fame, for non-stop dancin’, a night of rock’n’roll, psych, cosmic disco, soul, funk and rarities – and everyone is invited.
The festival’s beloved foot-stompin’ ceilidhs also return, inviting revellers of all ages to dance their way into the New Year in true Scottish style.
An annual sell-out, the Bairns Hogmanay Ceilidh Club returns for an afternoon of family fun on 31 December with the Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience, whilst the late-night Hogmanay Ceilidh Club invites guests to dress to impress and take to the dancefloor for a night of high-energy ceilidh in traditional Hogmanay fashion, featuring Scotland’s best live ceilidh bands across two dancefloors with Ceilidhonia,Teannaich, Hugh McDiarmid’s Haircut, and Bodhran Bodhran, delicious whisky tasting and a raucous countdown to midnight and Auld Lang Syne.
CANDLELIT CONCERTS
In the Old Town, the beloved Candlelit Concert at St. Giles’ Cathedral returns on Hogmanay night, offering an evening of musical reflection in one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric settings.
This year’s concert marks the arrival of 2026 with works from classical giants Bach and Mozart, performed by the St. Giles’ Cathedral Choir, directed by new Master of Music Jack Oades, along with the St. Giles’ Camerata, and a stunning array of talented young soloists.
Brand new for 2025, St. Giles’ is also the setting for an intimate candlelit performance from acclaimed folk trio Lau on 30 December. Lau by Candlelight sees some of traditional music’s most celebrated innovators Kris Drever (guitar, vocals), Martin Green (accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), strip away their banks of electronics, loops and wild effects, for a performance less about spectacle and more about close listening and reflection.
These newly announced shows further expand a four-day programme that already features Grammy Award-winners Wet Leg at the Concert in the Gardens, joined by Scots favourites Hamish Hawk and Lucia & The Best Boys.
Scottish music legends Peat & Diesel headline the Night Afore Concert on 30 December, performing a barnstorming set underneath the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, with support from Scottish accordion sensation RuMac.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is always an unforgettable experience, and 2025 promises to be another year to remember.
“With a fantastic four-day festival lined up for the celebrated Street Party, there’s no better place in the world to welcome the New Year.
“This year’s programme truly offers something for people of all ages – whether you’re dancing to DJ sets from international icons like 2MANYDJs and local favourite Hayley Zalassi or enjoying the family-friendly fun of the beloved Bairns Hogmanay Ceilidh Club.
“I have no doubt this will be one of the most memorable Hogmanay celebrations yet. It’s not to be missed.”
Directors of Unique Assembly, who create and produce the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival said: “We’re incredibly proud to unveil the next wave of events, with a feast of live music, ceilidhs and comedy across four days of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
“From rising stars to much-loved mainstays of the cultural scene, these artists and events promise to light up every corner of the city, from the exhilarating Street Party, the hilarious Ho Ho Hogmanay and our raucous traditional ceilidhs, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2025/26 is supported by Principal Funding Partners City of Edinburgh Council and Major Partners the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund all working together to create spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations for Scotland.
Follow Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on social media – Facebook and Instagram.
The Forth Awards, presented by Livingston Designer Outlet, has announced tickets are now on sale for listeners and fans to join the star-studded ceremony this autumn.
Taking place at The Usher Hall on 13th November 2025, the awards show will feature performances from top names in music and entertainment, whilst honouring and celebrating community heroes.
Tickets now on sale from £28.60 via forth1.com and The Usher Hall Box Office
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult
One of the biggest nights in Edinburgh’s music calendar, The Forth Awards honours local heroes and organisations going over and above for their community, as well as a top-secret line-up of celebrities from across music and entertainment.
Previous winners and performances include Lewis Capaldi, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald, Erasure and Simple Minds, with the line-up kept secret until the day itself.
Hosted by Boogie and Arlene from Forth 1’s breakfast show, the afternoon show is the perfect start to winter festivities, with fans, listeners and guests packing out the Capital’s Usher Hall to enjoy music, comedy and musical theatre performances.
Plus, the awards panel reviews hundreds of listener nominations for categories that recognise those who go the extra mile in communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians – from the best teachers, restaurants and workplaces as well as the Forth Cash for Kids award.
Richie Jeffrey, Commercial Events Manager from Hits Radio Scotland said, “We are so proud that The Forth Awards at The Usher Hall is back again and we can’t wait to reveal a stunning line up and, of course, some wonderful winners.
“Tickets are selling fast as always so if people want to come and join in the fun, they should act now.
“It’s always a spectacular afternoon filled with fun and laughter, and amazing celebrations of outstanding achievement from Edinburgh and the Lothians.”
The Forth Awards 2025 Categories
The Forth Best Artist Award with Victor Paris
The Forth Best Restaurant Award with Saltire
The Forth Contribution to Music Award with The Liquid Room
With just two weeks until one of Scotland’s most spectacular cultural celebrations, families from across the country are preparing to descend on Perth for 125 Live! – an extraordinary street party that promises world-class entertainment at pocket-friendly prices.
Taking place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September, 125 Live! will transform Perth’s Mill Street into Scotland’s biggest family-friendly street party, celebrating 125 years of entertainment in the historic city.
With adult tickets for the evening performances capped at just £20 and a comprehensive programme of free daytime activities for all the family, the event offers exceptional value at a time when household budgets are under pressure.
In 2025, families are increasingly seeking “celebreaktions” – celebratory experiences where adults can relax while children are entertained, and 125 Live! delivers exactly this combination.
The event’s accessibility extends beyond pricing, with Perth’s unique location placing it within 90 minutes’ travel time of 90% of Scotland’s population – making it easier than ever for families to create lasting memories without the expense of overnight stays.
“We’ve deliberately kept ticket prices low with a maximum adult price of £20, plus a family ticket offer so that the event is accessible to as many people as possible,” explains Christopher Glasgow, Director of Perth Theatre and Concert Hall.
“Our Ticket Bank with Perth Citizens Advice Bureau also gives audiences the option to buy tickets for those whose financial circumstances may not otherwise allow them to attend.”
Leading the stellar evening line-up is Walt Disco, the Glasgow glam-pop sensation whose debut album earned Scottish Album of the Year nominations. Fresh from their biggest US tour yet – over 30 dates supporting Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – the six-piece band includes three Perth-raised members, making their hometown debut extra special.
The carefully curated programme showcases Scotland’s diverse musical landscape, featuring:
Valtos – Skye’s innovative trad and electronic duo making their Perth debut;
Parliamo – Perth’s own indie darlings praised by BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music;
Ross Ainslie & The Sanctuary Band – the dynamic Perthshire piper who performed at Perth Concert Hall’s opening 20 years ago;
Jack David – Scottish DJ and songwriter with over 200 million streams;
Musical theatre stars Hannah Howie & Matthew Tomlinson alongside local students.
Understanding the needs of modern families, 125 Live! offers a full day of FREE activities before the evening ticketed performances:
Drop-in workshops and activities for all ages;
Beatles for Babies* interactive shows (perfect for 0-3 year olds);
Gig On A Truck performances sponsored by St Johnstone FC;
Family-friendly performances throughout the day;
Food stalls and festival atmosphere in the heart of Perth.
*Beatles for Babies tickets £8 (1 adult + 1 baby)
Unlike traditional festivals, the 125 Live! evening event presents a unique sequential performance across four live stages stretching from Perth Concert Hall Plaza to Perth Theatre Courtyard repeated over two nights. The evening will be enhanced by:
Dramatic projections from Catalonian visual artist Alba Corral (her first UK outdoor work);
Spectacular light show by award-winning designer Will Potts (whose credits include Disclosure and Sam Smith);
Live projections bringing Mill Street’s buildings to life;
Pyrotechnic finale to cap off each evening.
With affordable travel becoming increasingly important for Scottish families, Perth’s central location makes 125 Live! uniquely accessible. Major transport links connect the city to (travel time is an average):
Glasgow (1 hour by train)
Edinburgh (1 hour 15 minutes by train)
Stirling (45 minutes by train)
Dundee (30 minutes by train)
Aberdeen (1 hour 45 minutes by train)
Inverness (2 hours 15 minutes by train)
Free parking is available at nearby locations, with clear signage directing visitors to the Mill Street venue entrance via Perth Concert Hall Plaza.
More than just entertainment, 125 Live! represents a genuine community celebration. Local groups, schools, and organisations are participating alongside international stars, creating an authentic Scottish festival atmosphere that reflects the venues’ 125-year history of bringing people together.
Hannah Howie, musical theatre headliner, said:“What a privilege to celebrate this iconic space here in the heart of Scotland with the very best of all things musical, theatrical and joyful; roll on the next 125.”
Tickets and Information
Evening Performance Tickets: From £15 (under 18s) to £20 (adults); Family ticket £40 (max two adults) Daytime Activities: Completely FREE* Doors: 18:00 for evening shows Venue: Mill Street, Perth (entering via Perth Concert Hall Plaza).
*Excluding Beatles for Babies priced at £8 for 1 adult + 1 baby.
Tickets are available now at perththeatreandconcerthall.com or by calling the Perth Theatre Box Office on 01738 621031 (10:00 – 18:00, Tuesday – Saturday).
For families requiring financial assistance, the Ticket Bank scheme provides opportunities to obtain tickets through Perth Citizens Advice Bureau.
This week, the globally acclaimed venue, The Famous Spiegeltent makes her grand return to St Andrew Square after almost a decade away from her spiritual home.
An iconic fixture at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 20 years since 1996, The Famous Spiegeltent has been instrumental in promoting the international careers of variety, cabaret, independent music and new circus arts.
This summer the grand dame of travelling venues opens her doors for 8 weeks of spellbinding performances, hosting the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival before delivering her own mesmerising programme of live performances, magic, enchanting melodies, and maybe a few surprise faces!
Opening its Edinburgh festival season, The Famous Spiegeltent will be hosting the renowned Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival for almost 30 concerts from 11 – 20 July.
Beginning with raconteur and brilliant jazz violinist, George Washingmachine, over 9 days, The Famous Spiegeltent will welcome performances from renowned musicians including leading force on the UK jazz scene, Joe Webb, and one of Scotland’s foremost trumpeters, Colin Steele.
Full programme and ticket details for The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival can be found here.
La Clique
2025 marks both The Famous Spiegeltent’s 105th anniversary as well as the 21st birthday of her notorious, multi-award-winning house show, La Clique!
Since its inception in 2004 in The Famous Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, La Clique has taken the world by storm.
The very essence of live entertainment, the international Oliver Award-winning sensation is a unique blend of daring acrobatics, jaw-dropping stunts, scintillating burlesque and raucous comedy. Visceral, ethereal and in-your-face, each act a masterpiece of artistry and athleticism, La Clique showcases a riotous troupe of crème de la crème artistes from around the world.
From 23 Jul – 31 Aug leave your troubles at the doors of The Famous Spiegeltent, be a part of history and come raise a glass to the 21st Birthday of this trailblazing icon of entertainment! This iteration of La Clique celebrates over two decades of cult status as the true pioneering classic within the cabaret/circus canon, bringing heritage artistes and the next generation of performers together for a spectacular six-week season of subversive revelry.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, La Clique’s birthday show promises an unforgettable night of pure wonder, joy and delight. Sexy, funny, and dangerous, the handpicked cast includes: the iconic Ursula Martinez, Captain Frodo, Tara Boom, LJ Marles, David Periera, Daredevil Chickens, Aurora Kurth, Masha Terentieva, Mikael Bres, Byron Hutton, Heather Holliday, Miranda Menzies and more
Over your head, under your skin, and below the belt! Hang on to your hat and strap yourself in, as we present … La Clique!
Bold Performances
Watch closely … are you paying attention? Introducing The Unfair Advantage (1 – 25 Aug)an intimate,unique and unprecedented hour-long theatrical event. Take a seat at the card table, sign a legal contract of secrecy and Australia’s leading sleight-of-hand magician Harry Milas will reveal the secrets behind the skill that saw him become a security weapon for the world’s top casinos.
Edinburgh’s own Captivate Theatre enter The Famous Spiegeltent to deliver two stellar musical theatre shows. Performed entirely by talented students, Les Misérables (School Edition), running from 1 – 10 Aug,has been seen by an estimated 22,000 people, with sell-out crowds, standing ovations and multiple five-star reviews.
Les Mis is the story of love, compassion and redemption, featuring hit songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home and many more – don’t be put off by School Edition! From 12 – 24 Aug, prepare to be drawn into a dark and ghoulish world as the streets of Victorian London come to life in their thrilling production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.
Mesmerising Music
The Paris icon and the Glasgow girl, Christine Bovill established her reputation as one of Europe’s finest interpreters of French song with her smash-hit Piaf. With a fresh take on this self-penned work, she now returns with Christine Bovill: Piaf Revisited on the 5, 12 & 19 Aug, to the venue of her original triumphs, looking back on her remarkable journey.
Performing for two nights only, on 11 and 18 Aug, see multi-award-winning vocalist Niki King take to the stage of The Famous Spiegeltent for Time. A deeply connecting musical experience, Time explores universal truths of loss, fear and the power of love and connection, while reflecting the concept of time itself.
What are synths? Where did they come from? And why are they synonymous with cats in space? Laurie’s got answers. Part live gig, part TedTalk, Laurie Black: Deadly Synths (12 & 19 Aug) tells the history of the sound of the future through seven decades of synth tunes.
Sounds of Scotland
Presented in association with Scary Biscuits Promotions, The Famous Spiegeltent is delighted to announce Sounds of Scotland. From African dancebeats, Americana, Folk, Roots, Funk, Blues, Rock and Indie, this strand of the 2025 programme, running outwith the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, showcases some of the best music being created in Scotland, welcoming artists and audiences to The Famous Spiegeltent for a series of intimate, one-off performances.
Enjoy an evening of exuberant Afrobeat, Mbalax, Ska, Reggae dance grooves with double-bill Samba Sene & Diwan + Makossa (28 Jul). Samba Sene & Diwan is an eclectic mix of musicians, led by charismatic Dakar-born singer Samba Sene.
The music is a thrilling fusion of funky mbalax/Afrobeat grooves, with undercurrents of ska, rock and Senegalese soul. Makossa is a long-standing Edinburgh institution, a feelgood band, led by Peter Akyeampong, with influences from African to Latin, Funk, Reggae and Classic Rock.
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award nominee, and daughter of Proclaimer Craig Reid,Roseanne Reid, takes to the stage of The Famous Spiegeltent on 29 Jul supported by The Rezillos’ Fay Fife, with her alt country Countess of Fife band member, guitarist Brian McFie.
In a night that promises to be musical medicine for the soul, acclaimed Edinburgh singer-songwriter and one of the brightest stars of the UK roots music scene Adam Holmes performs with some very special guests on 30 Jul.
On 4 Aug enjoy a stunning double bill with Liz Jones & Broken Windows and Steve Ray Ladson. Taking tones dynamically from blues, folk-rock and psychedelia for a classic stage buzzing live performance, Broken Windows will be led by force of nature singer Liz Jones. After blowing audiences and judges (including Simon Cowell) away on his recent performance on America’s Got Talent, singer Steve Ray Ladson brings his specialty Blackgrass Brothercana to the tent.
Award winning troubadour and proud Leither Dean Owens occupies the unlikely common ground between post-industrial Scotland, America’s desert states and the lush Italian hills. On Aug 6, he will be accompanied by his band The Sinners – expect a joyous, melancholy mix of songs and stories from Dean’s 12 album international career.
A darkly magnetic experience as blues meets alternative rock in a cinematic descent through Edinburgh’s shadowy underbelly The Filthy Tongues on13 Aug. Spawned from Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, expect pounding rhythms, brooding melodies, and razor-sharp storytelling.
On 20 Aug, Main Street Blues bring their popular show Kings of the Blues to The Famous Spiegeltent celebrating the music of blues legends BB King, Albert King, and Freddie King. Following their forthcoming sell-out show at The Famous Spiegeltent as part of The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2025, Black Cat Bone bring their raucous, blues infused rock’n’roll to the tent again on 26 Aug.
Experience the primal force of their music: thunderous guitar riffs, pounding drums, prowling, fuzzing basslines and a haunting voice that carries the ecstasy and agony of a lifetime.
Award winning Kirsten Adamson (daughter of rock legend Stuart Adamson Big Country/Skids) is performing double duties on 26 Aug. She headlines with her band The Tanagers, who have just finished recording the highly anticipated follow up album to her widely acclaimed Landing Place album. She’ll also play a short opening set with her duo band, The Marriage.
Closing the Sounds of Scotland music programme in style, get ready for a night of fearless funk, creative jazzy fire, and groove-soaked energy from Edinburgh- based collective James Brown is Annie on 27 Aug.
Keep an eye out for more special events and some surprise faces yet to be revealed in The Famous Spiegeltent’s grand return to Edinburgh!
Creative producer and Spiegelmaestro David Batessaid: “Leave your troubles at the gates to St Andrew Square and step into our world to discover our specially curated spellbinding programme.
“After almost a decade away, we are delighted to return to Edinburgh, where it all began, to salute The Famous Spiegeltent’s 105th anniversary and the coming of age 21st birthday of the one and only La Clique.
“We are honoured to share this celebration with the people and the place that has forever changed all our lives. To our Edinburgh devotees and newcomers alike, we can’t wait for you to join us and raise a glass to this historic season!”
BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K-Pop documentary heading to Vue venues in Edinburgh
It’s been a big week for BTS fans around the globe, as the K-Pop sensation announced they will return next spring with a new studio album (their first since 2020’s Be) and an accompanying world tour.
For those itching for new content from the band, arriving somewhat sooner than the reunion is BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom.
Screening at Vue venues in Edinburgh from Wednesday 30 July to Sunday 3 August, tickets for the screenings are on sale now. Not only that, fans will also be able to buy limited edition merch for the film – a themed reusable drinks cup and popcorn tin.
The film travels the globe, showcasing fans at a BTS-focused ReactorCon in Lewisville, Texas; a dance instructor in Seoul who only teaches BTS choreography; and fans who’ve been organising since 2013 to help BTS dominate the charts.
Defying stereotypes of the typical K-Pop fan, BTS Army: Forever We Are Young explores the intergenerational, culturally savvy, and socially active world of the band’s fans.
Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “Without fail, our BTS screenings have captured the hearts of audiences, with thousands of fans up and down the country coming to Vue to celebrate the K-Pop mega-band.
“This documentary will spin the camera, focusing on the amazing fan base that has made BTS the global sensation they are today – we can’t wait to share it with our customers.”
Over 200 people attended an international fun football tournament in North Edinburgh recently, whilst also learning about the important work carried out by Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.
An excited crowd watched as 10 teams, made up of staff from State Street Corporation – the American global financial services and bank holding company – from across the globe joined teams from Poppyscotland and Passion4Fusion to compete in the competition at Ainslie Park, the home of Spartans Community Football Club.
Players had descended on the capital city from Scotland, England, France, Luxembourg, Poland, Ireland, Italy and Germany, with the home team of State Street Edinburgh crowned the champions.
As well as the football, over the course of the afternoon spectators also enjoyed a fully licenced bar, a ‘braai’ (South African BBQ), DJ’s and musicians providing some top entertainment. Poppyscotland’s interactive mobile museum, BUD, was also on location sharing the charity’s archive, veterans’ stories and the poppy’s heritage.
Damian Doran-Timson, Corporate Fundraiser at Poppyscotland said: “We are extremely grateful to State Street for hosting this annual tournament and we would like to thank both them and Spartans for making the event happen.
“I would also like to thank all of those who represented Poppyscotland and those who came along and supported us despite some awful weather – it was very much appreciated and greatly strengthened the excellent relationship we have with State Street.
“Every year they hold this event in a different country around the world and in support of a different charity, so it was really special that this year’s tournament was here in Scotland and allowed us to demonstrate the excellent work we do at Poppyscotland in supporting serving and ex-servicemen and women at times of need, including help with housing, debt, mental health, and mobility.”
For more information on the charity and how your donations help the Armed Forces community please visit poppyscotland.org.uk
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend this August as Edinburgh’s Conifox Adventure Park brings you FoxFest 2025 – and it’s shaping up to be the biggest and best yet!
Mark your calendars for Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August and prepare for two days packed with live music, top-class entertainment and fun for the whole family.
Calling all Swifties—live out your wildest dreams as the ultimate Taylor Swift tribute act takes the stage on both days. It’s time to shake it off and sing along to all your favourite hits!
Adding even more star power to the line-up, organisers are thrilled to announce a high-energy Robbie Williams tribute will take to the stage on Sunday. With classic anthems like Angels, Rock DJ, and Let Me Entertain You, it’s set to be an unmissable performance for Robbie fans of all ages.
FoxFest 2025 brings together the best in tribute music, live shows, and family entertainment. From massive pop tunes, to mesmerising magic to hands-in-the-air singalongs, don’t miss out on the ultimate summer celebration!
What’s in Store at FoxFest 2025?
Saturday 2nd August
🎤 Totally Taylor – Taylor Swift Tribute 🎤 Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran Tribute
🎤 Sweet like Sabrina – Sabrina Carpenter Tribute 🎤 Steptastic – A tribute to pop icons Steps 🎶 Songs from Musicals Live 🎈 Dizzy O Dare – The Giant Balloon Show 🫧 The World’s Tallest Bubbleologist
Sunday 3rd August
🎤 Totally Taylor – Taylor Swift Tribute
🎤 Liam as Robbie – Robbie Williams Tribute 🎤 A Tribute to Pink 🎤 Little Mix Magic – The ultimate tribute to Little Mix 🎶 Disney Sing-Along – A magical musical journey for all ages
🎈 Dizzy O Dare – The Giant Balloon Show 🎭 Magic Gareth – A spellbinding magical performance
And that’s not all! Festival goers can also enjoy all the exciting activities that Conifox Adventure Park has to offer, including access to the outdoor Adventure Park, delicious food stalls, refreshing drinks, and an onsite funfair with rides and face painting (additional cost applies).
Event Details
📍 Location: Conifox Adventure Park, Kirkliston, Edinburgh 📅 Dates: Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd August ⏰ Doors Open: 9:30 AM 🎤 Hosted by: Mark Martin
Get Ready for an Unmissable Weekend!
Conifox Managing Director James Gammell said: “FoxFest is all about creating unforgettable moments for families. We’re bringing together some of the UK’s best tribute performers, spectacular live acts, and entertainment that everyone can enjoy.
“It’s going to be a fantastic weekend full of music, laughter, and magic, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back!”
General sale ticket prices are £14.95 per adult, £19.95 per child (2-16 years), £11.75 per toddler (12-24 months), babies go free!
For the latest updates, full lineups, and ticket information, visit www.conifox.co.uk.
Musselburgh Racecourse is preparing for one of its most competitive race days of the summer season – The Edinburgh Cup in partnership with Edinburgh Gin – on Saturday 7 June.
A thrilling day of top-class horse racing, live entertainment, and premium hospitality is on the cards at the seven-race meeting with prize money of almost £160,000 on offer.
The feature race, the £50,000 Edinburgh Cup, run over 1 mile 1 furlong, is complemented by the equally prestigious £50,000 Edinburgh Gin British EBF Queen of Scots Stakes, which showcases the finest fillies and mares over seven furlongs.
The Queen of Scots event – a Class 1 Listed race – has become a key stepping stone for horses targeting Royal Ascot and the major summer festivals during the flat racing season and this year’s renewal is expected to attract another stellar field.
Musselburgh Racecourse director, Bill Farnsworth, said: “The Edinburgh Cup has established itself as one of the standout fixtures in Scotland’s racing calendar, consistently attracting high-quality fields from leading trainers across the UK, and this year promises to deliver the same exceptional standard of racing that has made this meeting so popular with both racing enthusiasts and social racegoers alike.”
For racing fans keen to keep up with the action at the Betfred Derby, screens around the course will show the world’s greatest Flat race live from Epsom Downs.
Away from the track, Musselburgh’s Main Stage will feature live music entertainment, building up to the legendary After Racing Party hosted by Forth One’s popular Boogie in the Morning, which is open to all racegoers after the final race.
Best dressed racegoer of the day could win a £500 clothing voucher and four Pimm’s Enclosure tickets to Musselburgh’s sell-out Ladies Day on 8 August, courtesy of Slater Menswear, who are the official Men’s Fashion Partner to The Edinburgh Cup Raceday.
Open to both ladies and gents, other prizes include £250 and £150 Slater gift vouchers and admission tickets to the popular Oktoberfest Raceday or Friday Night at the Races events. Head to the Style Standout fashion wall by the Main Stage to enter and the winner will be announced before the final race by radio presenter Boogie.
Food enthusiasts can indulge in offerings from Scotland’s finest street food vendors, with options carefully selected to cater to all dietary requirements and The Edinburgh Gin Botanical Bar will serve refreshing, botanical-inspired cocktails, perfectly complementing the summer racing atmosphere.
“We’ve created an event that appeals to everyone – from serious racing fans who appreciate the quality of our racing, to groups of friends looking for a fantastic day out,” added Bill Farnsworth.
“The combination of top-class sport, excellent food and drink, live entertainment, and our beautiful Links setting makes for an unbeatable experience.”
Gates open at 11.15am, and the first and last races are scheduled for 1.20pm and 4.55pm, respectively.
Today, Tuesday 03 June, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to launch the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme. The programme celebrates the diverse selection of work at the Fringe, with performers from across the world and work from 58 countries.
This year’s programme features work from 3,352 shows across 265 venues, with themes tackling some of the most topical issues in the world today.
From rebellious women to the paranormal; the apocalypse to nostalgia; queer joy to life with illness; rave and club culture to science and technology.
Edinburgh Fringe Programme Launch 2025
Launching the 2025 Fringe programme, Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen.
“Thank you to all the Fringe-makers – the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their un-matched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August.
‘This year’s Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you’re excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children’s shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August.
“Jump right in, book your favourites, shows that intrigue you and take a chance on something new.’
At Traverse Theatre,Gary McNair’s ‘award-winning show’ A Gambler’s Guide to Dying returns ‘back home for a special run to mark its 10th anniversary’.
‘Four generations of Northern Irish women, reunited’ in Consumed (Traverse Theatre), ‘a tale of twisted family dynamics and national boundaries’.
‘Inspired by his involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, and experience of the counter-revolution that followed, Khalid Abdalla brings together the personal and the political’ in Nowhere (Traverse Theatre).
At Scottish Storytelling Centre, join the Loud Poetsfor ‘fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching fusion of poetry and live music’ or ‘Scottish and Welsh traditional storytellers Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips as they weave folk music, language and story across these isles and between worlds’ in Aderyn/Bird.
Also at Scottish Storytelling Centre, Cassandra ‘blends Greek myth, Scottish folklore and personal narrative to explore prophecy, protest and survival across time and space’.
At Summerhall, Amazons is a ‘gripping new solo show about the Amazon rainforest and the generations of women who have fought to protect it’.
‘From Parisian hysteria to the glowing Radium Girls’, Fragile Creatures at theSpaceUK ‘reveals gripping stories of women’s rebellion, resilience and their relentless fight for bodily autonomy and equality’.
In Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, ‘Peter Barratt gives a stirring and passionate account of his great-grandmother’s hard-fought campaign for the vote’ while VOTE the Musical at Paradise Green takes a ‘gripping look at the Suffragette movement exploring imprisonment, activism and the fight for electoral freedom’.
Three resilient Scottish sex workers, dream of escaping the lives they’ve been trapped in, but the patriarchy stands in their way in Happy Ending Street at Leith Arches.
In Well Behaved Women at Gilded Balloon, in 1888 ‘three chaotic twentysomething women decide to host a séance’ and make ‘a bit of a mess of things.’
‘Get ready for a powerful performance’ at Women in Socks and Sandals at ZOO, ‘filled with quirky stunts, mental courage and celebration of the right to be oneself’.
With ‘history, sermons and singalong’, Church of the Clitori at Paradise Green aims to ‘satirise and crash-tackle anatomy, religious ads and female sexuality politics’.
At Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge, Fallen Angel by Liam Rudden tells the story of Angel, who’s been ‘tortured’ by angels for ‘500 years’, while ‘startling revelations about Edy Hurst’s relations have set him on vision quest to contact his ancestors’ in Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself at Assembly.
Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? is a ‘one-man (and one puppet) musical journey through a zombie outbreak, combining live performance, puppetry and animation’ at ZOO.
‘Get to know Frankenstein’s Monster like you’ve never been able to before’ at Fatherless Monster (Paradise Green), ‘face to face with only a mic and some stage lights between you and him.’
0.1% Accurate: Magdalena the Fortune Teller Show ‘will predict the future, summon the spirits, answer your life questions and send you home smiling’ at Alchemist Cocktail Bar and Restaurant.
Listen to the tales of Haunted Edinburgh at Arthur Conan Doyle Centre ‘and discover a host of terrifying stories of hauntings from the city’s dark past’ or visit The Mother Superior to ‘unveil women’s role in shaping the history of alcohol, including sharing how some were framed as witches’ in Whisky & Witches.
A Haunted House at Assembly is a ‘hysterical, terrifying and surreal tale, about one hair-raising night in a haunted house’ ‘for those who like their laughs big and their scares spine-chilling!’
‘The world-renowned paranormal expert Baron Vordenburg and his helpers, Gothic and Grotesque, give away trade secrets and expertise on hunting the unknown’ in Baron Vordenburg’s Guide to the Paranormal at theSpaceUK.
‘A man commits the ultimate act of cowardice’ and ‘a woman’s spirit gains terrifying embodiment’ in ‘dark, twisted folk horror tale’ Tom Hiccup’s Well at Greenside.
At theSpaceUK, ‘apocalyptic anti-romcom’ Horny for the End of the World follows ‘Gen Z, try-hard, pick-me Ebeth gets dumped by the man of her dreams the day before everyone realizes the world is going to end’.
Apocalipsync is a ‘high-energy solo show blending physical theatre, mime, dance and lip-sync mastery’ ‘exploring themes of isolation, hyper-connectivity and human expression’ at Assembly.
Original musical The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse at Greenside asks if the ‘OGs of reality TV’ can ‘survive the hordes, and each other, and self-produce their way to the end?’ while 4’s a Crowd (Or What Not to Do When Stuck in a Bunker During the Apocalypse) at theSpaceUK ‘follows the idiots left behind after the world ends’.
Apocalypse Cabaret: Songs for the End of the World (Underbelly) is a ‘powerhouse Fringe debut packed with original songs, pop bangers, audience interaction, and existential musings’ following ‘a lonely karaoke jockey is the sole survivor at the end of the world and decides to go out singing.’
Scenes of Unfathomable Horror brings ‘absurd, twisted and entertaining take on modernity, celebrity and existential dread’ to Just the Tonic.
At Underbelly, A Small Town Northern Tale is a ‘Y2K coming-of-age story, charting life in a small Northern town as a mixed-race boy’ and WANTED tells the story of ‘two girls from opposite worlds’ ‘fated to meet on the 00s queer scene’.
At Club NVRLND (Assembly), ‘where the party goes on till morning’, ‘Wendy and Peter reunite for an unforgettable night of adventure, nostalgia and staying forever young, featuring the biggest 2000s anthems’
‘All set to the soundtrack of the 2000s’ Jake Donaldson Is The Fifth Weezer at Laughing Horse is set to be ‘packed with nostalgia, punchy jokes and stories about finding your place in the world’.
‘The perfect nostalgic show for pop fanatics and chart aficionados’, Margot and Martha’s Chart Show Mixtape at theSpaceUK will ‘take you on a journey from mixtapes to Spotify wrapped, celebrating pop music through what was in the charts on the 18th of August – the very week they’re performing at the Fringe’.
‘Party like it’s 1999’ at MASSAOKE: 90s Live (Underbelly) with ‘an epic 90s sing-along’.
‘Through everyday conversation, hilarious comedy, and music-hall style songs’ at The Steamie (Gilded Balloon) ‘we learn from four working-class women about their lives, husbands, technology and the approaching New Year in this time capsule of Glasgow in the 1950s’.
A ‘love letter to the queers, the weirdoes, the trailblazers, the fringes and the night-walkers’, Anatomy of a Night at Summerhall isan ‘exploration of personal identity through a reflection of memories from queer and club spaces’.
‘Queer, chic and outrageous’ – head to the Big Gay Afterparty at Just the Tonic for the ‘biggest, gayest party at the Fringe (fun straights allowed)’.
‘A queer love story but no one dies at the end? Welcome to the world of’ Blooming at Greenside.
Join a ‘plus-sized, 72-year-old lesbian’ sharing ‘intimate stories celebrating inclusivity’ at Tales From Your Queer Elder (Greenside).
At Carpet Muncher at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, ‘the contemporary folklore of the Mothman is brought to life, using vibrant surrealist costuming to explore themes of queer alienation, metamorphosis, cross-border solidarity and homoerotic hot-hub encounters’.
Follow a young trans girl as she navigates the hilarity of rural Argentina during the 1900s at Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink at Underbelly.
‘Expect chaos, drag, stand-up, glitter, queer joy and an ever-changing line-up of LGBTQIA+ acts’ at Comedy Queers (Laughing Horse) or check out Midnight at the Palace (Gilded Balloon) for a ‘night of radical joy and glitter-encrusted anarchy’.
3 Kidneys No Colon at Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge is ‘the medical diaries (or rather… diarrheas) of Dave who suffers from chronic kidney disease, ulcerative colitis and has had multiple organ transplants’.
Learn about ‘narcolepsy from a true-life perspective’ at theSpaceUK, Fragments of Fatigue is a ‘coming-of-age story to transform your world and prove just how much fight is required to beat the fatigue’.
‘Artfully weaving between generational trauma and chronic illness’, Robyn Reynolds: What Doesn’t Kill You at Assembly will have you ‘roaring with laughter’.
In The Nature of Forgetting at Pleasance, ‘Tom is living with early onset dementia’ and ‘we meet him as he prepares for his 55th birthday party and past memories come flooding back’. At theSpaceUK, Ah-Ma is ‘a hauntingly beautiful new play, weaving together natural and social disasters, bodily deterioration and family sorrow’.
At Assembly, Ohio tells the story of ‘when Shaun turned his back on the church’ and ‘found a new home in music’ before he is ‘confronted now with acute degenerative hearing loss’.
Yvonne Hughes: Absolutely Riddled is ‘a fresh and bold dive into the reality of living with cystic fibrosis (CF) – a journey that’s as phlegmy as it is funny’ at Gilded Balloon.
At Summerhall,TheButterfly Who Flew Into The Rave is ‘the atmosphere and culture of a three-day rave condensed into an hour’ while PUMP ‘drops you in the middle of a nightclub dance floor in a desperate search for validation, intimacy and identity’.
Her Raving Mind is ‘a Greco-British rave tragicomedy unravelling the complex mind of an abuse survivor’ at Just the Tonic.
‘Loud, lawless, and laced with naughty bits’, Watch Me Die! is ‘rave theatre: performance, film, stand-up and pounding basslines, dragging Shakespeare into a civil war where star-crossed love and vengeance make their scene’ at theSpaceUK.
At Rave, Colin and Rosie ‘are battling through their own worlds of crisis using the music of the rave club to help, encourage and solve their problems’ at Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge.
Created by an AI researcher, AI: Save Our Souls at Greenside features ‘an immersive future world of AI, polystylistic music and a dynamic plot’ while at Paradise Green, Rise of the Solar Punks asks ‘what can we learn from ancient cultures regarding climate adaptation, and how can we fuse this with technology and AI?’
As part of the Made in Scotland showcase, MUO Live at the French Institute in Scotland is ‘a unique fusion of music, science and unseen cosmic forces.’
Head to Just the Tonic, Excel Comedy and Mathem-antics for a ‘themed stand-up show for spreadsheet experts and rookies alike’ or check out Sci-larious – Science Stand-up at Laughing Horse for ‘bi-lol-ogy or pharm-ha-cy’.
Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show at Gilded Balloon is ‘science like you have never seen it before’ exploring ‘the magical properties of matter’.
At PBH’s Free Fringe, Freya McGhee: Experimental blends ‘science, comedy and dating into one unforgettable experiment’ investigating ‘the chemistry of attraction to the mechanics of mixed signals’.
Check out Hot Rubber (Gilded Balloon) to see ‘eight comedians pit their homemade remote-control cars against one another in the world’s smallest demolition derby’ or ‘form a team, select a knockoff Roomba, customise it, then pit it against a dozen rivals’ at Robot Vacuum Fight Club (Outhouse Bar).
Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge ‘on busy George Street’ is new with a number of shows this August, including well-known musicals Little Shop of Horrors, High School Musical and Footloose, as well as a range of theatre, cabaret and children’s shows.
Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine, ‘a mini-festival to celebrate Palestinian art and culture’, takes place in new venue Portobello Town Hall.
Citadel Youth Centre is ‘hosting two fundraisers for the Citadel’s valuable work with young people and families in Leith’ Storm in the Citadel and Punchline on Leith.
The Bowlers Rest in Leith is home to Beggared, ‘the story of a privileged white South African whose life collapses into homelessness’.
Easter Road Stadium joins the Fringe as a venue, hosting two shows: Dropped, in which ‘former Chelsea FC trainee Alfie Cain tells his moving story of dashed football dreams and explores the darkness and pressures young men go through trying to make it as professional footballers’ and Frankie Mack Showman – The Next Stage: The Leith San Siro ‘a high-energy, show-stopping night of swing, rock’n’roll and modern classics’.
All the way from Italy is Mirage Spiegeltent at Gyle Shopping Centre, hosting Spirit of the Favela, a ‘dynamic fusion of circus and theatre showcasing Rio de Janeiro’s vibrant culture and communities’.
Gilded Balloon have introduced a new space at Appleton Tower for twenty shows, including Frances Floats and Not My Grandmother’s Daughter.
Now in St. Andrew’s Square, The Famous Spiegeltent returns, offering theatre, cabaret, music and musicals, including La Clique – ‘the global phenomenon that redefined a genre, with its mélange of cabaret and circus’.
Josie Long: Now Is the Time of Monsters is ‘a new show about extinct, gigantic, charismatic megafauna from three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee’ at Pleasance.
Gilded Balloon marks their fortieth anniversary with ‘a series of special in-conversations featuring comedy greats’ including Jenny Eclair and Michelle McManus.
Also at Gilded Balloon, Rosie O’Donnell: Here & Now ‘reflects on her life in the present, including why she moved to Ireland from the USA, and how that shift has shaped her future’ and Michelle Brasier: It’s a Shame We Won’t Be Friends Next Year is a ‘show for the theatre kids, the freaks, the queers; for anyone who’s spiralled about something they did years ago’.
Fringe favourite Nina Conti: Whose Face Is It Anyway? is back at Underbelly, with ‘an unparalleled, unscripted show that delves deep into who we are, hijacking faces to spark a bold, hysterical reality warp’.
‘Direct from a sell-out West End season’, Bill Bailey is at Edinburgh Playhouse with Thoughtifier while Miriam Margolyes brings ‘more characters, more Dickens and more fascinating stories about the man behind the classics’ to Pleasancewith Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits.
‘The talented comedian, writer and host of A24 late-night variety sketch show’ Ziwe brings Ziwe’s America to Pleasance.
At The Stand Comedy Club, ‘expect to hear the glorious mess of being a professional polymath – from medical school to quiz championships, comedy clubs to Parkinson’s advocacy’ at In Conversation with… Paul Sinha or ‘jokes, rants, politics, swearing and possible nudity’ at Mark Thomas: WD40.
At Monkey Barrel, there’s ‘new material from the Rose d’Or, Southbank Sky Arts and Edinburgh Comedy Award winner’ Bridget Christie. Also at Monkey Barrel, ‘the Taskmaster treasure, Live at the Apollo star and voice of Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle presents a new hour about our bodies corporeal and politic, and what remains through ascension and destruction’ with Desiree Burch: The Golden Wrath.
‘A love letter to people pleasers everywhere’, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares at Underbelly is ‘a hilarious, heartfelt and sometimes brutally honest tribute to recovering ingenues, mothers and anybody working on themselves’.
‘Comedy veteran’ Karen Dunbar ‘returns to the Fringe for a limited run of her stand-up tour’ at Just the Tonic.
At Assembly, David O’Doherty: Highway to the David Zone has ‘has got the lot’ with ‘talking, songs, talking during songs, talking while walking around’.
There are 325 free shows and 529 Pay What You Can/Want shows in this year’s programme.
10,001 Ideas by Robyn Perkins at Laughing Horse offers a ‘uniquely different hour of critically acclaimed stand-up and storytelling’.
Huge Davies: Free Work in Progress is at PBH’s Free Fringe with ‘his wearable keyboard for a free hour-long work in progress’. Also at PBH’s Free Fringe, Escape the Rat Race is a ‘a must-see for anyone who has ever worked in an office’.
At Laughing Horse, Three Bad Sisters is a ‘cacophony of the best and darkest materials from these three female rising stars of Irish comedy: Aideen McQueen, Shinanne Higgins and Louise O’Toole’.
‘Imagine an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman in the same bar as a therapist’ and you’ll imagine 5 Mugs, No Tea at Leith Depot. At the Mother Superior, you can ‘expect a fever-dream of love, loss, and existential dread’ at Crying at the Meat Raffle.
Disco Picnic at The Three Sisters is a ‘Fringe fiesta serves up a delicious mix of toe-tapping disco tunes’.
The Fringe Society are grateful to the many partners, supporters, funders and sponsors this year. In particular, they would like to thank the official Education Partner of the Fringe Anthropic, the official Beer of the Fringe Innis and Gunn, Cirrus Logic and Baillie Gifford.
They would like to thank the UK Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their Keep it Fringe Fund support, the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council for strategic funding support, the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund support for the Made in Scotland programme; and Screen Scotland for supporting Screen Fringe.
The Fringe Society would also like to thank accommodation partners who provide much needed affordable accommodation to artists – Queen Margaret University and the University of Edinburgh, Theatre Digs Booker. Health in Mind are also returning in 2025 to support the delivery of mental health and wellbeing services within Fringe Central, which is once again kindly delivered in partnership with Grassmarket Community Project.
