Edinburghs Hogmanay Reveals First Footin Line Up
The full line up for the new First Footin’ celebrations on New Year's Day was announced today with free performances from 25 leading Scottish musicians.
Article Source: Edinburgh's Hogmanay
Last Updated: 13 December 2022 11:15
EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY SAYS FÀILTE GU ALBA ON NEW YEAR’S DAY WITH FREE FIRST FOOTIN’ MUSIC TRAIL
The full line up for the new First Footin’ celebrations on New Year's Day, part of the three-day Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival, was announced today with free performances from 25 leading Scottish musicians from the worlds of indie, folk, jazz, RnB and hip hop to be enjoyed in fourteen venues in the Old and New Towns. Organisers UniqueAssembly unveiled artists including Callum Beattie, Roseanne Reid, Withered Hand, Swim School and Stina Marie Claire performing in bars, cafes and event spaces across the city from Rose Street to the Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirk to The Huxley.
William Burdett-Coutts and Penny Dougherty, Directors of UniqueAssembly who produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said: “Our new First Footin’ celebrations echo the historic Scottish tradition of First Footing – welcoming strangers across the threshold on New Year’s Day to bring good fortune for the year ahead. We’ve invited some of Scotland’s best emerging music acts to kick start 2023 and we welcome friends and strangers alike to come First Footin’ with us, to discover something new or different and explore the city – all for free.”
Commenting on headlining the First Footin’ music trail, Callum Beattie said: “I can’t wait to play in Edinburgh. We’ve had no shows there all year, and it’s just such an honour to be back in my home city. Myself and the band are all buzzing.”
Joining the line-up are one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging new bands, Swim School; solo sets from critically acclaimed indie-rock songwriter Stina Marie Claire (Honeyblood solo) and Scottish music cult figure Withered Hand (solo acoustic set); Glasgow based sonic aggressors Dead Pony; stunning Highland singer-songwriter Katie Gregson-Macleod; and the exceptional and ethereal- voiced Siobhan Wilson.
Swim School are one of Scotland's most exciting emerging new bands. Their recent single Kill You has been played frequently on BBC Radio 1 and was BBC Scotland’s track of the week. Speaking about kicking off 2023 at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Swim School said: “We are so excited to be playing Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, First Footin’. We always love playing in our hometown and this is the perfect way to start a busy year for Swim School.”
Withered Hand is the creative output of Edinburgh-based musician Dan Willson. A cult figure in the Scottish music scene since 2009, Dan has released two widely acclaimed albums, New Gods (2014) and Good News (2009) and several lo-fi EPs and has toured extensively, both solo and with his band, and with the likes of King Creosote, Kris Drever, James Yorkston, Scott Hutchison/Frightened Rabbit.
Stina Marie Claire is the newest solo moniker for the critically acclaimed indie-rock songwriter, Honeyblood. Heavily championed by press and radio alike, Stina has released three critically acclaimed albums – each Nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – and has long-time fans in BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 1, Q and The Guardian to name but a few. Looking ahead to the First Footin’ music trail, Stina Marie Claire said: “As a native to Edinburgh it is always my pleasure to be asked to perform at Hogmanay. What a perfect way to start 2023!”
In addition to these headline acts, audiences can enjoy performances from Edinburgh-born rapper and previous SAMA nominee Billy Got Waves; seasoned modern folk singer Annie Booth; Afrobeat, soul, gospel and R&B star and 2022 SAY Award nominee Aiitee; 2022 Sound of Young Scotland Award winner Berta Kennedy; Glasgow born singer-songwriter Michael McGovern; gig-scene regular Conor Fyfe; and Edinburgh musician Dennis Kennedy.
The centre of Edinburgh will be abuzz with live music on New Year’s Day, with the free gigs taking place in venues across the city. Artists will perform sets throughout the afternoon, encouraging audiences to move around the city to experience the full trail. Venues participating in the First Footin’ music trail include The Auld Hundred, Rose Street; The Black Bull, Grassmarket; The Boozy Cow, Frederick Street; Cold Town House, Grassmarket; Copper Blossom, George Street; Element, Rose Street; Eve, Virgin Edinburgh, Cowgate; Greyfriars Hall, Virgin Edinburgh, Cowgate; Greyfriars Kirk, Candlemaker Row; KOMYUNITI, Yotel Edinburgh, Queen Street; The Huxley, Rutland Street; Rainy Hall, New College, The Mound and The Scottish Cafe at Scottish National Gallery, The Mound.
First Footin’ is supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund and produced in partnership with Essential Edinburgh.
The First Footin’ music trail will lead into Edinburgh’s Hogmanay climax event, Final Fling. Headliners Tide Lines will be joined by special guests Elephant Sessions and Edinburgh’s own Hamish Hawk in an all-Scottish line-up at the outdoor concert on Sunday 1 January 2023. Tickets for the Final Fling are priced at £35.00 inc fees for the Enclosure and £27.50 inc fees for the Gardens. Doors open for Final Fling at 4.00pm.
Glasgow based Tide Lines, whose members all hail from the Highlands and Hebrides, have built up a strong Scottish following since their debut single in 2016. They recently announced a new album ‘An Ocean Full of Islands’ is to be released on 24th February 2023. Selling out venues across the UK, their appearance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is the culmination of three-days of events and celebrations to welcome in the New Year.
For younger and family audiences, Edinburgh’s Sprogmanay returns to the National Museum of Scotland. This afternoon of fun for children of all ages is free and unticketed and families can drop in to enjoy a programme of live music, comedy, magic and arts and crafts in addition to the National Museum’s galleries which are packed with fascinating exhibits. The Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh with the Edinburgh Ceilidh Club takes place only a short walk from the museum at Assembly Roxy offering a free afternoon of ceilidh dancing in a fun, relaxed ‘have-a-go’ environment suitable for all levels of experience. This is a great way to introduce kids to the joys of ceilidh dancing and music.
Full details and booking information for all the events taking place at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay can be found at www.edinburghshogmanay.com
Image: Katie Gregson-Macleod
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