There’s the packed out high street, the backdrop of the castle, the midnight fireworks and the tens of thousands of strangers, many of whom you’re bound to be best mates with by the end of the night.
The thing is, that the night has such a reputation that the organizers could chuck any old bands or capable DJs up on their various stages and it’d be a success, but to the credit of them, they keep going bigger and better. And this year looks like it could be one of the best.
The Waverley Stage line up is what has really been catching eyes since the posters went up around the city. Young Fathers, the brilliant Mercury Award winning hip-hop trio, will be playing their hometown from 9pm, The Twilight Sad are set to follow at 10pm, and Scottish rock superstars Twin Atlantic will take over the show at 11.30pm – playing both before and after the fireworks.
We can’t wait to ring in the New Year to such an unbelievable line up...
Of course, if you’re travelling from abroad or simply after a more traditional element – the famous ceilidh will be in full flow on the street and the Scottish Stage boasts an admirable line up on Frederik Street as well.
Anyone who has been to the Edinburgh Fringe favourite will know what this means – unfortunately not jacuzzis that take you back in time – but a “funk filled” adventure that takes you chronologically from the 60s right back to 2014, before the bells for 2015 ring in. Quite fitting we must admit.
As we’ve said above though, the line ups and the music are the cherry on top of the event at these parties. What really makes it is the people. It’s a mix of thousands of locals and thousands of travellers – each getting in each other’s ways and pissing each other off, but occasionally stopping and becoming friends for the night.
It’s bring your own booze and it’s consistently memorable (unless you capitalise too much on the aforementioned BYOB rules of course and forget the whole night).
So stay tuned to the site for pictures and reviews from the event, but until then, Merry Christmas, and we’ll say Happy New Year in person if we catch you by the Time Machine on December 31st...
For more information and to buy tickets for the event, click here for the official website.