Hog the Stage entries open to new bands

The full line-ups for Edinburgh Hogmanay parties Concert in the Gardens (31 Dec) and the all new Night Afore Concert (30 Dec), both headlined and curated by Paolo Nutini, have been revealed. 

The Paisley singer-songwriter will be joined by fellow Scots Frightened Rabbit at the Night Afore event. "We're thrilled to have been invited to play with Paolo in the incredible setting of Princes Street Gardens,” said the much-loved band. “Looking forward to getting everyone ramped up for Hogmanay!"

On Hogmanay night, it’s Liverpudlian veterans The Lightning Seeds who lend support. “I’ve often seen Hogmanay in Edinburgh on the TV,” said the band’s frontman, Ian Broudie, “and the atmosphere looks amazing. It’s going to be brilliant to sample it for myself on the night. “

Nutini says he chose the 90s favourites because he’s noticed a revival in their records recently: "Me and my friends have been having house parties, which I tend to do more now. There's been a big renaissance of The Lightning Seeds, not sure how it came about, I think just someone put a song on and everyone remembered it. The songs make you so happy.”

Paolo Nutini gives two unknown Scottish acts the chance to perform

Also playing both nights are on-the-rise Paisley band The Vegan Leather, but they won’t be the only emerging act on the bill. Competition Hog the Stage will give two of Scotland’s best new bands the chance to open one of these Edinburgh’s Hogmanay concerts.

Acts from across Scotland are being asked to submit new music and a top five shortlist will be hand-picked by Nutini and entered into an online public vote to select the winners; one will open the Night Afore Concert, the other will open the Concert in the Gardens.

"It doesn't have to be the music I make or a certain sound,” says Nutini of the competition. “If someone gets loads of votes you can’t deny that. If people want me to pick that's what I’ll do, it's trying to help a band. The main thing is it has to be a band who are new and fresh and wouldn't otherwise find themselves in that situation. I am a believer and supporter of new music; I am trying more so than ever to support anything good."

Submissions to enter the Hog the Stage competition are now open at edinburghshogmanay.com and close 25 Nov at 5pm. Nutini’s shortlist will then go to an online vote to find the winners, who’ll be announced 14 Dec.

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More on Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2016: read the lineup for New Year's Day festival Scot:Lands