Inverness, Granton-on-Spey, Loch Ness and Area , Hogmanay Hooleys in the Highlands
INVERNESS HOGMANAY CANCELLED
Inverness Hogmanay Party: Due to severe weather and on the advice of the police, the Council has cancelled its Hogmanay Party at the Northern Meeting Park Arena.
Considered the "capital of the Highlands and Islands", Inverness, is a destination hotspot.
Hogmanay Inverness style 2009-2010
Inverness's Hogmanay has been historically a low-key affair,but this year things are different.
Inverness Hogmanay Party 2009 Line Up
In the past Inverness have had small Hogmanay celebrations and have often left it to Dornoch ,Drumnadrochit and Granton on Spey to put together the street parties. This year,the Highland Council have an exciting line up featuring three of Scotland’s favourite festival bands for the 2009 Hogmanay Party which will take place in Northern Meeting Park Arena in Inverness on December 31st.
The free show will open with the award winning winning group, Blazin' Fiddles, who will showcase the distinct flavour of fiddle music from various regions of the Highlands and Islands in a fiery blend that is guaranteed to get the party off to a rousing start.
Blazing Fiddles will be followed by the Skye based Peatbog Faeries who are one of Scotland’s best known names in contemporary folk music. Their music embodies many styles and influences, including rock, jazz, electronica, and folk - but their main influence is traditional Celtic music. The band's unique sound is created through a mix of programmed effects and traditional Celtic arrangements, played on bagpipes, fiddles, and whistles.
Taking the party up to the Bells will be The Red Hot Chilli Pipers who starred at the 2008 Inverness St Andrew’s Days celebrations. Winners of BBC one primetime show ‘When Will I be Famous’ and voted ‘Live Act of the Year 2007’ at the Scots Traditional Music Awards, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have a huge following in the Highlands and are guaranteed to ensure that Inverness welcomes 2010 in style.
Councillor Glynis Sinclair of the Inverness Festivals Working Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to have signed up Blazin Fiddles, The Peatbog Faeries and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers for our Hogmanay Party. All three bands are guaranteed to ensure that Inverness is going to have one of the most enjoyable traditional Hogmanay parties staged in Scotland this year and we are really looking forward to what should be a tremendous night.”
THE RED HOT HIGHLAND FLING
Bringing the second Inverness Winter Festival – and 2009 – to a close will be our Hogmanay Party in Northern Meeting Park Arena – the Red Hot Highland Fling.
We are absolutely delighted, thrilled, excited and to be perfectly honest chuffed to bits with the three bands that will be taking to the stage in Inverness and we already know that you are to.
Bagpipes with attitude. Drums with a Scottish accent. Topping our bill from the middle – more about that later – are The Red Hot Chilli Pipers – a blazing rock band with a show so hot it carries its own health warning.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing with musicianship of the highest order and when we sat down to discuss which band we wanted more than any other for our Hogmanay Party, they were at the top of a short list of one.
Now we have no idea how many of you own red coats, red scarves or red wigs but we want you to help us paint the town red by turning out in force all dressed up to enjoy a band with a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will be joined by two of Scotland’s favourite bands creating what we think will be the best Hogmanay party the Highlands has ever seen.
Opening our show at 8.30pm will be the wonderful Blazin' Fiddles, who have taken the distinct flavour of fiddle music from the various regions of the Highlands and Islands and created something very special indeed.
From solo to ensemble sets, they all come together in a fiery blend that would raise the roof at Northern Meeting Park Area if we had one. Winners of the "Best Folk Band" at the 2006 Scottish Traditional Music Awards, fiddlers Catriona Macdonald, Bruce Macgregor, Allan Henderson and Iain Macfarlane are joined by Anna Massie on guitar/fiddle and Andy Thorburn on keyboard to form one of the best live acts around today.
Now this is where it could get complicated for those of you not paying attention.
The first thing that happened when we announced that we had signed The Red Hot Chilli Pipers was that we were bombarded with messages from families all around Inverness who wanted to take their children to see the show. So we rang The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and asked them if they would mind helping us out. Not a problem. They could not remember the last time they were able to see in the New Year with a dram in their hands.
So please tell everybody that you know that The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will be on stage at around 9.45 pm which is about an hour earlier than some of you might have expected.
Which leads us to the band who have been given the job of bringing our Festival and 2009 to a memorable close.
Based on the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries have become one of Scotlands best known names in contemporary folk music. They have taken their own individual brand of Scottish tunes to audiences around the world, from European Festivals, to Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
The Peatbog Faeries are a celtic fusion band. Formed in 1994, they are based on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Their music embodies many styles and influences, including rock, jazz, electronica, and folk - but their main influence is traditional celtic music. The band's unique sound is created through a mix of programmed effects and traditional celtic arrangements, played on bagpipes, fiddles, and whistles.
Peatbogs won 'Live Band of the Year 2008' at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and we expect them to have you dancing your way in 2010.
Our show will be hosted by Moray Firth Radio’s legendary DJ Ken Kelman which leads us finally to the question that is on the lips of every single member of the 10,000 Hogmanay 2008 party goers.
Will the Councillors be back to dance “The Time Warp” again?
To discover the answer to that question you are going to have to come to The Red Hot Highland Fling.
Our gates will open at 8.00pm and you don’t need a ticket, just a smile, to get in.
with thanks to
http://www.invernessfestivals.com
Hogmanay Celebrations are being designed as a Family Friendly gathering and children will be welcome to attend the event which will be free to one and all. To cater for the younger audience on the night, a number of additional attractions with a Highland Fun and Games theme will be provided on the night. The Northern Constabulary Pipes and Drums Band will be performing on the night ah.
Grantown on Spey - Strip the Willow One of the highlights of the year, eagerly looked forward to by locals and visitors alike, is the Grantown on Spey HOGMANAY Party in the Square! Bring in 2009 in great style with one of the largest Hogmanay crowds in the Highlands. Join in the Hogmanay Fun
PARTY IN THE SQUARE Grantown-on-Spey 11pm 2007 - 1am 2008 A great family tradition- seeing out the Auld Year and bringing in the New Year with friends and strangers/friends-to-be –over three thousand revellers attend This year we are beginning rehearsals for an eventual attempt at a Strip the Willow World Record. We need as many dancers as possible to join in the post midnight fun. If you know how to dance Strip the Willow, we would like to hear from you in advance - we need you to help those who are new to the dance. Hogmanay -- 31st December One of the highlights of the year, eagerly looked forward to by locals and visitors alike, is the Grantown on Spey Hogmanay Party in the Square ! Bring in the New Year in great style with one of the largest Hogmanay crowds in the Highlands. From 11pm until 1am enjoy music, dancing, the haggis and mulled wine, watch the Millennium Beacon and the midnight flares. Each year now they make an attempt at Strip the Willow World Record. As many dancers as possible are needed to join in the post midnight fun. If you know how to dance Strip the Willow, we would like to hear from you in advance - we need you to help those who are new to the dance. Phone David Elder on 01479 872260 and leave your name and number - do it now please, we need you! Any questions, call Hogmanay Committee member Norman Grant on 01479 851215 Grantown on Spey website Boat of Garten Village Celebrations 31 December - Service for Last Day of the Year A good way to begin Hogmanay St. Columba’s Church, Boat of Garten 10:00AM Mon 31 December to Tuesday 01 January - Traditional Highland Ceilidh Dance see out the old year and welcome the new with dancing to a Ceilidh Band. Boat of Garten Village Hall 8:00PM. Admission: £12.00 Adults, £6.00 children - licensed bar available.
Loch Ness Hogmanay See Loch Ness Hogmanay Our 5th Annual Hogmanay Gathering, held in the Tourist Information Car Park - starts at 10.30pm with a Torch light parade following the Zurich Pipeband, from the Drum’ Hotel to the carpark. Where this years music, headed by Gary Innes & The Darian Project, take over the party atmosphere to see in the New Year, finishing approx 1.30pm
Vital info
Hogmanay FAQs
What is Hogmanay?
What are its origins?
These and other questions answered.
What is Hogmanay?
What are its origins?
These and other questions answered.
Designated driver
So you drew the short straw. Here's some tips for surviving the night with your sanity intact.
Hangover cures
Don't wait 'til the morning after to consider your post-party recuperation possibilities.
Auld Lang Syne lyrics
Don't be left speechless at midnight.
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The Highland 2007 on 12 January 2007
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party events taking place in Inverness on 12 January 2007. Marking an t-Seann Bhliadhn’ Ùr, the Old New Year, the Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party is the first major event in the programme for Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture.
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party are open – and free – to everyone, providing family entertainment from 7pm until 10pm on 12 January 2007.
The first part of the evening, the Highland 2007 Launch, will commence at 7pm with First Minister Jack McConnell guest of honour at the celebrations. The event will feature:
* a dazzling display of fireworks by Pyro1, winners of the UK firework company of the year;
* the award winning Inverness Gaelic Choir in a dramatic presentation against the backdrop of Inverness Castle;
* the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Highlands in a stunning arrangement overlooking the River Ness;
* many other spectacular surprises!
Viewing areas for the Highland 2007 Launch event are situated on the west bank of the River Ness on Huntly Street, Ness Walk and Young Street. Those attending the Highland 2007 Launch are advised to access the viewing areas from the west where possible and to allow sufficient time to travel to the event.
The Lifescan Monster Street Party follows immediately after the Highland 2007 Launch event and features the thrilling Transe Expresse from Marseilles. The highlight of their performance will be a breathtaking aerial ballet performance – The Music of Angels – which will include an extraordinary rendition of the Mingulay Boat Song.
As the home of Nessie, the world’s most famous monster, the Highland capital will welcome a host of monster cousins to the Lifescan Monster Street Party. Weird and wonderful creatures of all shapes and sizes from far and wide will travel to Inverness to excite and enthrall their Highland audience. Over a dozen companies from Holland, France, Spain and England will provide entertainment in the main streets of the city centre which will all be closed to traffic. This will be one of the biggest gatherings of international street theatre ever seen in the UK.
The launch and the street party have been created and devised by Unique Events, producers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and many of Scotland’s major festival programmes.
As a result of the Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party there will be a number of road closures in Inverness city centre on 12 January, coming into effect at 6.30pm. The road closures will create a safe, vehicle free, public area in the city centre.
Public car parks will remain open for the event on both sides of the river. All motorists are advised to allow sufficient travel time and to be aware the city centre roads will be closed to vehicles from 6.30pm.
Temporary bus stops and taxi ranks will be situated on Academy Street and Millburn Road for the duration of the event closures (please check with local bus companies for details).
Full details of all road closures and parking restrictions can be found on below.
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party are outdoor events – please dress for the weather.
Councillor Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, said: “Highland 2007 represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise awareness of our culture not just here in the Highlands but across Scotland, the UK and beyond. The exciting programme for the Highland 2007 Launch and the Lifescan Monster Street Party sets the tone for the year ahead, combining elements of our traditional culture with contemporary influences as we showcase the cultural importance of the Highlands on a international stage.”
Pete Irvine of Unique Events said: “It’s a real pleasure and privilege to be involved at the beginning of this brilliant year for the Highlands and Islands. It’s also a challenge. We know a wee wind can blow down the Ness and though most of what we plan can go ahead in almost any weather, we would advise people to wrap up well. When we planned this event we did think of Hogmanay or even later in the spring but we wanted this to be a very significant night unaffected by anything anywhere else and at the very beginning of a year where there is so much happening. Of course we wanted to invite Nessie him/herself but it proved impossible to make contact. However all the other monsters were delighted to accept our invitations. It’s going to be a ball and a real night to remember.”
Michael Crowe, Managing Director of Lifescan said: “This is going to be an amazing event and LifeScan Scotland is proud to be associated with such an innovative and creative show. This is a really exciting time for Inverness and the Highlands and we will be continuing our support throughout 2007.”
David Williams, Chief Executive of EventScotland said: “The launch of Highland 2007 provides a terrific platform for the celebration of Highland culture and for Scotland’s reputation as a premier events destination. Our investment of £1.76 million in the year long celebration is helping to deliver a programme of events that will help to promote Highland and Scottish culture."
The Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party was made possible through funding from EventScotland and Lifescan (Scotland).