CONCERT IN THE GARDENS Celebrating The First 20 Years of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Simple Minds to Headline Concert in the Gardens and a New Look to the World Famous Street Party The City of Edinburgh Council and Unique Events today announced a sparkling line-up to celebrate the first 20 years of Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Within the new look Street Party and the ever-popular Concert in the Gardens, some of Scotland’s top bands will be rocking the world’s greatest New Year Party. Headlining Concert in the Gardens are one of the most successful Scottish bands of all time – Simple Minds - who will be performing a set of their greatest hits in West Princes Street Gardens before they embark on a UK tour in the spring. Jim Kerr said "We've played some iconic venues around the world – and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is right up there with the best of them. We are so excited to be coming home to Scotland, and Edinburgh, for this great celebration of the first 20 years of Hogmanay. It’s going to be a fantastic experience for us, and for the audience."

"When you have been playing concerts for as long as we have, it is quite rare to come across a live experience that you can genuinely describe as novel. Performing, as we will, in Edinburgh on Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve.) is however destined to be one of those situations."

"It's all got to do with the fact that our set will start at 11:30pm and end around one hour later. Meaning then, that this most special of gigs will be both our last of 2012 and simultaneously our first show of 2013. In terms of unique gigs, if that is not quite novel, then I am not sure what is?"

"I don't recall previously ever having played on New Year's Eve, although I know we have been asked many times to do so. The upcoming Edinburgh Hogmanay Show, at Princess Gardens is however one of those iconic events that was impossible for us to turn down. It was an honour to be asked, in fact."

"We are frequently asked which country we enjoy playing in the most. The simple answer is that we have yet to play anywhere and not find it enjoyable. The welcome we get the world over from those who go to great lengths in supporting us make that so. However, being a Scottish band as we are, performing in Scotland will always be extra special, more so when you are playing in the nation's capital at Hogmanay." - Jim, 25th December 2012