THE Scottish Fiddle Orchestra is to make a return to the stage with a celebratory Edinburgh concert.

The group will make a long-awaited return with their annual Hogmanay Celebration at Usher Hall in Edinburgh on December 30, with thousands of guests expected to flock to the special gig.

The event will be the orchestra’s first indoor concert since February 2020 and will provide an evening of entertainment that will get toes tapping and herald the new year.

The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra will perform at Scotland’s only five-star concert hall with conductor Blair Parham at the helm. There will be pipers welcoming guests on arrival, stunning vocals from mezzo soprano Colette Ruddy and a 80-strong flock of fiddlers and other musicians to raise the roof of the Usher Hall.

People of all ages can enjoy lively toe-tapping jigs and reels, poignant slow airs, and a sprinkling of well-known songs at the seated gig.

The orchestra, who have been tradition bearers for Scottish music for more than 40 years, held their last Hogmanay Celebration in 2019 with a 1800-strong audience. This summer, they held a number of outdoor concerts, which were hailed as a great success.

Bob Diament, chairman of Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, said: “We’re delighted to be able to make an emotional return to the stage for our first indoor performance since before the pandemic began. Everyone involved can’t wait to put on a special show and it will certainly be a great way to celebrate ahead of the new year after a two-year hiatus.

“The Hogmanay Celebration is a concert that can really be enjoyed by all – couples and families looking to do something special during the festive season, friends wanting to enjoy moving performances together, and visitors interested in soaking up Scottish culture.

"It will be an incredible night with some dazzling displays. The joyful and enthusiastic audience reaction we received at our outdoor concerts in the summer showed us just how much live music has been missed. Folk have a profound desire for the unique shared experience of major concerts.”