Edinburgh's Hogmanay announces lineup with iconic 80s Scottish rock band

Pulp headlined in 2023
-Credit: (Image: Roberto Ricciuti Photographer)


It's not too early to start planning hogmanay as an exciting lineup for the iconic event has already been announced.

Scottish rock band Texas will be headlining Edinburgh's legendary hogmanay concert to bring in the bells.

Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay announced on Sunday that the music icons will headline the Concert in the Gardens on Tuesday, December 31, welcoming party-people from around the globe to dance their way into 2025 at the world-famous New Year festival.

This will mark the third time Texas, fronted by Sharleen Spiteri, will have played on the renowned stage and nearly 20 years since they last performed at the event.

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The homegrown heroes announced their hogmanay headline slot live on stage during their sold-out show at the Glasgow Hydro on September 15 and will be joined by Edinburgh's own Callum Beattie this December, with Concert in the Gardens hosted by award-winning comedian Susie McCabe.

Following a recent run of sell-out arena shows and rave reviews across the UK; including two triumphant sold-out nights at the Glasgow Hydro, Texas’ appearance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2024, makes them the first band to ever headline the festival three times, and marks their first appearance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay for almost 20 years, having last performed back in 2005.

Fronted by multi award-winning singer-songwriter Sharleen Spiteri, Texas will play beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle amidst one of the world’s greatest New Year firework displays, performing the last show of 2024 and first of 2025, bringing in the bells with a hit filled set of career spanning anthems including I Don’t Want a Lover, Say What You Want and Inner Smile.

Texas
Texas will be headlining Edinburgh's Hogmanay concert -Credit:Media Scotland

35 years since ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ exploded into the charts back in 1989, Texas have gone on to produce ten studio albums, selling over 40 million records worldwide, becoming one of the UK’s most enduring and loved bands. Their headline appearance at the Concert in the Gardens will once again make Edinburgh the best New Year party on the planet with a Scottish show like no other at the ‘Home of Hogmanay’.

Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri said: “We can’t wait to play here for a third time. So get on your glad rags and let’s party for the New Year.”

Joining Texas at the Concert in the Gardens is very special guest Callum Beattie. Edinburgh-born Callum has progressed from busking outside the city’s Usher Hall, to recently selling-out two nights at the iconic venue. A special guest slot at the country’s biggest Hogmanay party closes a triumphant year for the singer-songwriter, who’s punchy, rousing, emotive and gloriously catchy debut album scored a No.1 in The Official Scottish Albums Chart.

Callum Beattie said: “In just a few years I’ve gone from selling 30 tickets, to sold out shows including three sold out Barrowlands and two sold out Usher Halls, but being asked to play the Concert in the Gardens at Hogmanay is without a doubt the greatest highlight of my career so far, and to be doing it with Sharleen and the guys just makes it even sweeter. I can’t believe it!”

Callum Beattie
Callum Beattie will be joining Texas

Plus, award-winning comedian Susie McCabe will return to host Concert in the Gardens, leading the country in a countdown to midnight. The winner of 2024’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, Susie McCabe is one of the country’s most beloved comedians and a fitting host for the night.

Also on the 31st, the world-famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party will this year welcome 45,000 revellers into Edinburgh city centre and Princes Street, to party their way into 2025 with friends old and new from around the world, counting down to the spectacular Midnight Moment from Edinburgh Castle. Revellers will once again enjoy a feast of live music, DJs, international street theatre, thrilling funfair rides, along with delicious food and drink, creating a carnival atmosphere throughout the city centre for one massive outdoor party. Tickets are on-sale now, with full programme details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2024/25 is supported by Principal Funding Partners City of Edinburgh Council and Major Partners the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Essential Edinburgh, all working together to create spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations for Scotland.

City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker said: "The capital’s Hogmanay celebration is not only an Edinburgh tradition - it’s world renowned.

"It will be wonderful to welcome back the iconic Texas performing a career-spanning set. With Edinburgh’s own Callum Beattie joining them as a special guest, I’m delighted that this year's Concert in the Gardens has such a strong Scottish line up. It promises to be a fantastic party to welcome 2025, where gig-goers will have unequalled views of midnight fireworks over Edinburgh Castle.

“Edinburgh will continue to be THE place to welcome in the new year and I look forward to the full Hogmanay programme being unveiled.”

Directors of Unique Assembly who create and produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council said: "We are thrilled to welcome Texas back to headline Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, 25 years after their very first appearance at the festival.

“Plus, with the addition of Edinburgh's own Callum Beattie, it's fantastic to have a stellar Scottish line-up for the very last show of 2024 and the first of 2025.

“With a hit-packed show from Texas and the world-famous Midnight Moment from Edinburgh Castle, the Concert in the Gardens will kick-start 2025 with a bang, and give party-goers from around the world the perfect start to the year.”

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Concert in the Gardens with Texas and special guest Callum Beattie, takes place on Tuesday December 31 2024 in West Princes Street Gardens, from 9pm to 12.50am. Tickets go on general release Friday September 20 at 10.00am from www.edinburghshogmanay.com priced from £72.50 plus booking fees, ticket price includes £1.00 charity donation to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland). A limited Concert in the Gardens pre-sale is available to those registered with www.edinburghshogmanay.com and will begin Wednesday 18 September at 10am.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party tickets are on-sale now priced £30.00 plus fees and includes 50p charity donation. Discounted EH Postcode Resident Street Party Tickets £24.00 plus fees and includes 50p charity donation.

The full Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme and ticket details will be released in the coming weeks, but other confirmed events taking place over the 4-day Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2024/25 festival include the Night Afore Disco Party (30 Dec) beneath Edinburgh Castle, and a packed programme of free New Year’s Day events for young and old, with the return of the First Footin’ culture trail, which welcomes artists from across Scotland to perform in landmark buildings, pubs, cafes and venues throughout the city centre, and Sprogmanay family events in the Old Town.