Celebrating the Scottish tradition of First Footing and crossing threshold into the New Year with good music, the Edinburgh's Hogmanay First Footin' programme for 2025 is the perfect way to spend January 1st.
For the first time, Scottish trad-electronic sensations Valtos will host a musical cultural exchange with acclaimed Basque Country artists Maren, Mikel Urdangarin and Olaia Inziarte at Greyfriars Kirk. The exchange, supported by the Scottish Government's Festivals EXPO Fund through Creative Scotland, sees two regions rich with cultural identity and deep musical traditions, and brings Basque artists into the fold of the First Footin' tradition.
Martyn Macdonald of Valtos said, "We were absolutely delighted to be asked by Edinburgh's Hogmanay to return to Greyfriars Kirk for First Footin' on the 1st January 2026. The event was one of our highlights last year and we’re excited to be bringing the full band this time. It’s an iconic venue and to be able to share it with, and showcase it to, our new friends from Bilbao makes us extremely proud, and we hope they love Edinburgh as much as we do.”
Elsewhere, First Footin' fills up the city's venues with some of the very best in Scottish musical talent. The Scottish Cafe will set the stage for an acoustic performance from indie duo Logan's Close, while Fruitmarket Gallery hosts an energetic, immersive day rave from Neil Landstrumm set amongst the sculptural world of Jamie Cooper's Levelling Up.
Wide Days Presents brings a showcase of homegrown voices to Virgin Hotel's Greyfriars Hall, featuring Indie Edinburgh-born Quiet Houses, alt-rock trio Her Picture and the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Goodnight Louise.
Out in Portobello, Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen and Garbage's Shirley Manson host Muckle Be The Light, an afternoon of music and writing, with Nicola Sturgeon and Norman Blake. Also in Portobello Town Hall is the home to a family friendly ceilidh with The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience playing tunes to get you moving all day long.
Other venues hosting free gigs include Leith Arches, Eve at Virgin Hotel, St Giles Cathedral and New College's Rainy Hall. With sets from artists including Sean Shibe and Aidan O'Rourke, Scotstown Dance Band, Slix, Theo Bleak, Rachel Sermanni and more, First Footin' presents a jam-packed day of the first gigs of 2026 with some of the best Scottish artists starting the new year right.
The full First Footin' line-up can be found at www.edinburghshogmanay.com
