SEARCH THIS SITE

• Business and trade
• Community life and leisure
• Council and government
• Education and learning
• Housing
• Jobs and careers
• Law and licensing
• Planning and the environment
• Social care and health
• Tourism and visitor attractions
• Transport and streets

Council news  >  Press Releases  >  Aberdeen’s line-up guarantees a great Hogmanay

Aberdeen’s line-up guarantees a great Hogmanay

09/12/08

The line-up for this year’s Hogmanay party in Aberdeen will guarantee people travel far and wide to see out the old year and bring in the New Year at the city’s Castlegate. 

Scottish singing and song-writing sensations Amy Macdonald and Sandi Thom will lead a wonderful night of live music and entertainment. Any Dream Will Do finalist Keith Jack, currently starring in Peter Pan, at His Majesty's Theatre, will add to a fantastic night of live music and entertainment.

Born in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, Amy Macdonald's debut album This is the life was released in July 2007 and has sold over 1.8 million copies worldwide. She has played at the major music festivals including T in the Park, Glastonbury, V Festival and Hyde Park. Macdonald started playing on-stage acoustic gigs at the age of 15.

Sandi Thom is from Macduff, Aberdeenshire and has sold over one million albums and one million singles worldwide. Thom became famous after being promoted as an unknown webcasting gigs from her basement flat in Tooting, London.

Both Amy and Sandi are among a host of Scottish stars encouraging Scotland's people to take part in next year's Homecoming celebrations.

Keith Jack from Dalkeith, near Edinburgh was a finalist on BBC television show Any Dream will do which offered the chance to the next West End Joseph for the hit musical Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. He was the last contestant to leave the series, losing to Lee Mead in the final in June 2007. Before his appearance on Any Dream will do Keith was a customer assistant at Tesco.

Leader of Aberdeen City Council, Kate Dean, said: "With such a fantastic line-up Aberdeen's Hogmanay party is the place to see in the New Year. It is always a fabulous event with a great party atmosphere."

Depute Leader of Aberdeen City Council, Kevin Stewart, said: "At the beginning of Homecoming year I am absolutely thrilled that we have secured three immense Scottish artists for our Hogmanay celebrations.

"In particular it is phenomenal that we have Sandi Thom, the voice of Homecoming singing here in Aberdeen."

Luke McCullough, managing director of Northsound Radio, said: "All the team at Northsound Radio are delighted to be working in partnership again with Aberdeen City Council for this year's Hogmanay celebrations. We're proud to be able to bring the best of Scottish talent live to all our North-East listeners, for a free event this New Year."

Aberdeen City Council's marketing and events manager, Dawn Schultz said: "Attracting musicians of this calibre continues to reinforce Aberdeen's reputation as a key destination to celebrate Hogmanay.

Thanks must go to Northsound on being able to secure such an impressive programme for the city.

This line up is the perfect way to start the year of Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth with a year-long programme of events across the country Showcasing Scotland's rich culture and heritage.

City Council staff have been working closely with Northsound Radio, and with representatives from a wide range of organisations across the city including the police, fire and ambulance services, to ensure the event takes place safely and successfully. We thank them all for their support which is vital in putting together
an event of this scale."

Event details
Gates open at 8.00pm, bands on stage from 9.00pm, event finishes approx 12.30am.

Entry to the event is free on a first come first served basis via gates at the junction of Union Street and Market Street. A wristband will be issued on entry and you are requested to return it on exit to allow maximum attendance. Barriers will be erected around the event arena, and numbers admitted will be monitored to ensure crowd safety at all times.

Please do not bring glass, bottles or cans into the event, you will be asked to exchange them for plastic glasses. Archibald Simpsons, Old Blackfriars, Five and Henry's Bar will be open for the purchase of alcohol throughout the event.

The event is not suitable for small children or animals.

There is a viewing platform for disabled party goers on the steps of the High Court – Mercat Gate on a first come first served basis.

Union Terrace at Union Bridge right round to East North Street will be closed to traffic from 4pm on Wednesday, 31 December 2008 to allow the event to be set up. All buses will be on divert during this time and for further information please contact Busline on (01224) 650065. The street will reopen at 6am on Thursday, 01 January 2009.

Further information is available at:
www.aberdeencityandshire.com/web/site/whatson/winter_festival.asp

If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.