Paolo Nutini to perform second concert at Edinburgh Hogmanay

Organisers are arranging a second night's concert for the first time in the festival's history.

Published 17th Oct 2016

Edinburgh's Hogmanay headliner Paolo Nutini is to perform in a second concert due to overwhelming demand'', organisers have said.

In September, the Paisley singer was announced along with The Charlatans as the top acts for the Concert in the Gardens on December 31 as part of the Scottish capital's new year extravaganza.

The concert sold out in a record three hours, with tickets being purchased by revellers from around the world to see Nutini, who is making his only festival appearance of 2016.

Due to the demand, organisers have decided to create a second concert for the first time in the festival's history in West Princes Street Gardens called the Night Afore Concert with Paolo Nutini'' on December 30.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday October 21 at 10am for a price of £65.

Reacting to the news, Nutini said he was incredibly grateful'' for the support.

He said: I'm up for it and I hope that we get to play to as many as we can that weekend.

It will be a time to make some music, have a dance and celebrate a lot of the good that's been done this year.''

Al Thomson, director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, said To have Paolo Nutini headline one show at Edinburgh's Hogmanay is an incredible achievement, to be adding a second show is just phenomenal, for the festival, the city and most importantly for the thousands of fans who missed out on tickets for Concert in the Gardens on Hogmanay itself.''

About 75,000 revellers are expected to attend the celebrations in Edinburgh city centre, with entertainment across seven open-air stages.

A candlelit concert will also take place in St Giles' Cathedral and the record-breaking Old Town Ceilidh will return to Parliament Square.

The event will be rounded off with the famous fireworks display from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh's Hogmanay, described as the UK's largest outdoor winter music festival, has been produced by Unique Events on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council since 1993.

It is expected to bring in 150,000 visitors from more than 80 countries across three days of celebrations, giving the city an estimated £40 million boost.

Other events confirmed include the annual torchlight procession on December 30, the Loony Dook'' dip in the Forth at South Queensferry, the Scot:Lands festival of music, art and theatre on January 1 and the Final Fling closing ceilidh, also on new year's day.