The Pet Shop Boys and Paolo Nutini have accepted invitations to appear at this year’s Concert in the Gardens at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay party.

The Concert in the Gardens with Pet Shop Boys and Paolo Nutini will be one of the highlights of this year’s Royal Bank Street Party, which takes place in Edinburgh City Centre on 31 December 2006. In addition to the artists playing on the main stage at the Concert in the Gardens there will be another three stages within the arena featuring other live acts from 10pm.

Paolo Nutini said: “I am over the moon to be asked to play at the Hogmanay festivities in Scotland. It’s a thrill to be playing at home on the most special night of the year. I hope that we can really pull out all the stops and make sure the crowd has a roaring good night.”

Neil Tennant from the Pet Shop Boys added: “It’s great to be invited to play the party of the year in Edinburgh and we are really looking forward to putting on a memorable show.”

Pete Irvine, director of Unique Events, said: ”We are finalising a brilliant programme for Hogmanay this year but we are delighted to make a first announcement today of the artists for Concert in the Gardens. Paolo Nutini, Scotland’s new sensation has seen his debut album, These Streets, go platinum. The Pet Shop Boys are one of the most consistently successful artists in pop music. Their album Fundamental has been received as a career high and their new live album, Concrete, was just released, while their live show has been the huge hit of this year’s European festivals and is currently getting rave reviews in the USA. They promise a special Hogmanay Hits Extravaganza and with the excitement of Paolo Nutini, this year’s Concert in the Gardens will be the best yet.”

Lord Provost, Lesley Hinds of the City of Edinburgh added: “This year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay will entertain an audience of 100,000 party goers. The announcement of these two artists kicks off the list of the many names we have playing this year.”

Tickets for the Concert in the Gardens which are priced at £40.00 and £32.50 (plus £2.50 booking fee) go on sale on Saturday 28 October at 10am and are available in person from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay box office: The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE, by telephone on +44 (0) 131 473 2000 or by online at www.hubtickets.co.uk.

Other tickets which are currently available include: Royal Bank Street Party pass; The Royal Bank Street Party Packs; Ceilidh in the Gardens; the New Year Revels; Candlelit Concert tickets; vouchers for Torchlight Procession; the One O’Clock Run.