Altered Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations took place last night, December 31, as the capital ushered in 2025, with a run of sold-out New Year events in indoor venues across Edinburgh city centre, where the spirit of Hogmanay and a sense of community was alive and well.
Earlier this week, organisers Unique Assembly announced cancellations across the four-day programme due to adverse weather warnings, with all outdoor events sadly being cancelled, including the world-famous Torchlight Procession and Concert in the Gardens.
Due to high winds and inclement weather across Edinburgh city centre, the outdoor events scheduled for December 29-31 were unable to go ahead on the grounds of public safety.
Despite this, all planned indoor events for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations were able to continue, plus a new event Hot Dub Time Machine: IT IS ON! took over Assembly Hall and brought in 2025 with a special new year show and indoor Midnight Moment.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay began on Monday, December 30, with Idlewild’s sold out Night Afore Concert in Assembly Room, whilst yesterday the sold-out New Year Revels: Maximum Ceilidh Edition, featuring more ceilidh bands than ever before, rang in the bells in true Scottish style.
With performances from Jimi Shandrix Experience, Bella McNab’s Dance Band, Hugh MacDiarmid’s Haircut and Bodhran Bodhran, New Year Revels provided non-stop tunes, whisky tasting and dancing for ceilidh-goers who brought in the bells in traditional Scots fashion.
Children and families also joined the celebrations yesterday, with Bairns New Year Revels taking place at Assembly Rooms on the afternoon of December 31 with over 850 people from all age groups, locals and visitors alike dancing the day away.
For those seeking a festive yet tranquil way to begin the New Year, the Candlelit Concert at St. Giles’ Cathedral was a special evening, as the St. Giles' Cathedral Choir were joined by a stunning array of talented young soloists performing the concluding three cantatas from J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.
With the First Footin’ music trail going ahead in venues across the city centre on New Year’s Day, there’s even more to celebrate as Edinburgh welcomes 2025. With artists including Karine Polwart & Community Choir, Valtos, Dara Dubh, Bee Asha, and more taking to stages in venues and pubs across Edinburgh, the First Footin’ trail celebrates the Scottish first footing tradition with good music and good vibes across the capital.
First Footin’ spreads further than ever before this year with ticketed shows in Leith and Portobello. New venue Leith Arches presents some of Scotland hottest new acts during the day including Mama Terra; Glaswegian pianist, composer and producer Marco Cafolla and saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski, Mama Terra are hotly tipped by JazzFM, Loch Lomond folk-pop singer-songwriter Liv Dawn, Edinburgh rock band Low Tide, and grunge-fuelled rock from Dutch Wine.
Portobello Town Hall is home to a free afternoon of ceilidh dancing with Bella McNab’s Dance Band, with Brazilian and Cuban big-band flair from community street band Shunpike Social Club.
In the evening, BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Andy Wake (The Phantom Band) bring their club night Vitamin C out to Portobello Town Hall on New Year’s Day featuring alt-rock legends The Vaselines, infectious indie-dance from Sacred Paws and Django Django’s Dave Maclean with an epic DJ set.
Meanwhile, Leith Arches hosts a celebration of House and Old Skool, with an all-female line-up led by DJ Hayley Zalassi, and special guests SWATT TEAM and Disco T*TS, Leith Arches is guaranteed to keep you dancing into 2025.
5. Put your hands in the air!
Tom took partygoers on a musical journey through the decades, bringing in 2025 with some of the best tunes out there. The night culminated in an electric Midnight Moment as ‘No Scotland, No Party’ rang out throughout the Assembly Hall. | Cameron Brisbane Photo: Unique Assembly
6. The crowd goes wild
The Edinburgh crowd lapped up Hot Dub Time Machine's performance at Assembly Hall on December 31 to see in the New Year of 2025. | Cameron Brisbane Photo: Unique Assembly
7. Keeping the party going
Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Unique Assembly spokesperson said: “We were thrilled to be able to keep the party going indoors this year, despite the adverse weather conditions and cancellations facing Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor events. It’s been a challenging week for everyone involved – from tourists and locals who planned to ring in the New Year at the famous Street Party, and staff who have been working hard to ensure events can still take place." | Cameron Brisbane Photo: Unique Assembly
8. You can't stop the party
The Edinburgh Hogmanay organisers added: "Thanks to the support of our event partners across the city, we were still able to host celebrations indoors from ceilidhs to Hot Dub’s non-stop party. We’re looking forward to keeping the party going well into 2025 with our First Footin’ programme of music taking place throughout the city today, January 1. There’s no better place to ring in the New Year than the Home of Hogmanay, and we’re proud to show the world you can’t stop the party where Edinburgh is concerned.” | Cameron Brisbane Photo: Unique Assembly