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Bad weather hits Hogmanay show

Everything was ready for Pet Shop Boys' "Hogmamany Hits Extravanganza" in Edinburgh yesterday: the set list was drawn up and rehearsed, the soundcheck took place in the early afternoon and Neil and Chris were in their hotel rooms waiting to go to the concert site. At 8.40 pm, the sad news came through that the show could not go ahead because of the bad weather with rain and winds of up to 70 mph causing damage to the concert site and stage and potential injury to the audience. Similar celebrations in Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Newcastle and Stirling were cancelled for the same reason.

Neil commented last night: "We are very disappointed that the Edinburgh New Year's celebrations have been cancelled because of high winds and the danger of people getting injured. And we are sorry for everyone who has travelled to see us and also for the organisers who have spent months putting together what should have been one amazing night."

Instead of playing the concert, Chris and Neil and their singers, dancers, crew and friends went to a club to welcome in the New Year.

The full set list for the show would have been as follows...
BEFORE MIDNIGHT:
God willing/Left to my own devices, Suburbia, Can you forgive her?, Minimal/Shopping, Heart, Flamboyant, Se a vida e/Domino dancing.
AFTER MIDNIGHT:
Opportunities/Integral, Paninaro, Always on my mind, Streets have no name, West End girls, Sodom and Gomorrah Show.
So hard/It's a sin, Go West.

Refunds will be paid out to all ticket-holders, according to Edinburgh News: "People who bought tickets, packs or passes by credit or debit card online or from The Hub or box office in Princes Street Gardens will receive a refund within 28 days. Those who bought tickets from other official outlets should contact them directly."

Ironically, the worldwide New Year celebrations began with Pet Shop Boys music: the fireworks display in Sydney, Australia, which was broadcast around the world, began with the introduction to "Numb".

Pet Shop Boys will be performing in Madrid this Friday, January 5th. See TOUR section for details.


BBC News
The Scotsman
Edinburgh News