STONEHAVEN HOGMANAY FESTIVAL - MEDIA RELEASE
ROCK LEGENDS TO PERFORM AT STONEHAVEN SHINDIG
A small town with big ideas has signed up Scots rock giants Simple Minds to headline its Hogmanay party.
The chart toppers are to play in the New Year at Stonehaven's hugely-popular Open Air In The Square event
on December 31st.
The Market Square party - which runs in tandem with Stonehaven's world famous Fireballs ceremony in
the nearby Old Town - attracted 5,000 revellers from home and abroad last year when the
Red Hot Chilli Pipers topped the bill.
This year it is hoped the stadium stars, boasting a career which spans more than three decades,
will attract even more people to the Aberdeenshire seaside town that has a population of around 10,000.
A Simple Minds spokesman said the group were looking forward to celebrating New Year
with their fans at the home of the unique Fireballs swinging festival.
Spokesman for Stonehaven Festivals and Events Committee, David Lawman, said: "This
is simply a dream come true for us. We are thrilled and delighted these music legends have agreed to
come to Stonehaven for our big Hogmanay party."
"Last year when we revealed our plans, they said it couldn't be done. But with a great deal of
effort from our small but dedicated team of volunteers, we pulled it off in grand style, staging
a Hogmanay party that was a complete sell-out and second only to Edinburgh."
"This year we will be bigger and better ... and once again help boost Stonehaven's economy. Already
two of the town's hotels are fully booked and requests for tickets have been received from the USA
and Europe and we hope to provide all age groups with a memorable night."
The event will cost more than £200,000 to stage and this year the organisers are looking for
as much sponsorship as possible from local and national businesses, including the chance of
company VIP packages.
From June 7th general release tickets will be available online at
www.stonehavenevents.org
and from Celtic Chords music shop in Stonehaven's Barclay Street.
Adult tickets are £30 and under 12's are £15.
The organisers also intend having support acts to keep the party swinging until
Simple Minds take the stage. This year the family festival will be
spread over two days with a celidh on New Year's Day and other events. It is also hoped
to lay on bus transport from various outlying areas from Aberdeen to Montrose.
Simple Minds are frontman Jim Kerr,
Charlie Burchill,
Mel Gaynor,
Andy Gillespie and
Ged Grimes.
Best known for their 1985 number one hit Don't You (Forget About Me)
from the film The Breakfast Club, Simple Minds evolved from a
post-punk art rock band influenced by Roxy Music into a grand, epic-sounding pop
group along the lines of U2.
The Glasgow band have achieved six No.1 albums in the UK as well hitting the top spot in countless
other countries including Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Boasting a career
which spans more than three decades, they recently released
Celebrate - Greatest Hits + which includes hit singles
Alive and Kicking,
Don't You (Forget About Me),
Belfast Child,
Waterfront and
Promised You A Miracle.
A recent concert review said: "There are no flashy instrument changes, no self-indulgent solos,
just hit after hit from a career spanning more than 35 years. Highlights for the fans came thick
and fast. The tempo was relentless. It was a night to savour a band who can still deliver
in magnificent style."
"This builds on the success of last year and the long standing spectacular tradition of the Hogmanay Fireballs."
William Munro, Aberdeenshire Council's Area Manager for Kincardine & Mearns said: "I
commend Stonehaven Festival and Events organisers for their vision with such an ambitious high profile
event, really putting their town on a national stage. We look forward to working together with
the community on this and other projects."

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