In news that will delight fans of sexy geography teachers everywhere, Pulp have been announced as the headline act for 2023’s Concert In The Gardens, Edinburgh’s annual Hogmanay celebrations. Tickets for Pulp’s performance, which will take place on Sunday 31 December 2023 in West Princes Street Gardens, go on sale at 10am on Friday 29 September, priced from £75. 

The gig comes after a successful summer of sold out reunion shows for Jarvis Cocker’s long-running band, including headline appearances at TRNSMT Festival and Finsbury Park. 

Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker said, ‘When your grandkids ask “Do you remember the first time Pulp played Edinburgh’s Hogmanay?” What will your answer be? Come along and start 2024 in the very best way possible. Oh yes.’

Reviewing Pulp’s appearance at TRNSMT in 2023, we wrote, ‘Cocker’s eccentric demeanour was bolstered by the fact that Pulp’s tunes aren’t, unlike other exemplars of Britpop, trapped in the amber of the 90s. The vicious stabs of ‘This Is Hardcore’, the jangly melancholy of ‘Disco 2000’, the righteous fury of ‘Mis-Shapes’, the frantic gallop of ‘Common People’ – if only rock music was as smart, kitsch and powerful as this all the time.’ Read the full review here. 

This year will mark the 31st anniversary of the Concert In The Gardens series, which will welcome 40,000 revellers into Edinburgh city centre and Princes Street from Friday 29 December 2023 until Monday 1 January 2024. Joining Pulp across four days of celebration will be award-winning Elephant Sessions, Scottish folk Kinnaris Quintet, and ceilidh aficionados the Hannah Fisher Band, alongside a variety of events across the city. 

Directors of Unique Assembly who create and produce Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council said, ‘Reaching the milestone 30th anniversary for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a phenomenal achievement, which since 1993 has welcomed millions of party people to celebrate at the Home of Hogmanay. We wanted to make sure that this year was extra special for our audiences and are thrilled to welcome Pulp to the party. This will be the hottest ticket in town, and we recommend people grab their tickets fast to make sure they don’t miss out.’

Tickets for Pulp’s Concert In the Gardens performance go on sale at 10am on Friday 29 September.