The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tayside band join Hogmanay party
A Tayside band formed when its members were just 13 is set for its biggest yet to date – playing at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations.
Josef Lawrence and the Hypocrites will be one of the bands performing during the torchlight procession on December 30, which officially kicks off the capital’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The procession will see thousands of people walk down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Park.
The Hypocrites, who are unsigned, originally got together at Perth’s DIYRockShop, when they were aged just 13.
The members come from across Tayside: Josef Lawrence, 17, is from Kinross, Finlay Loveyy, 18, is from Forteviot, Gray Pennock, 16, is from Tealing, and Elliot Miln, 17, and Calum Kennedy, 19, are both from Perth.
Finlay is in his first year at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, whose lead patron is Paul McCartney.
Gray, the group’s bass player and youngest member, said: “Being asked to play at the Edinburgh Torchlight Procession is an amazing honour for the band and a great opportunity to represent the fantastic Tayside music scene at this huge event.
“It will definitely be our biggest gig to date and we can’t wait.”
During the torchlight procession itself, crowds will be entertained by pipers, including Robbie MacIsaac, who won the Piping Live 2017 competition.
A host of other pipers and drummers will also perform during the procession.
The event will also help launch Scotland’s Year of Young People in 2018.
At the climax of the procession in Holyrood Park torches will be used to spell out the one word chosen by the young people of Scotland answering the question “What makes you most proud to live in Scotland?”
Josef Lawrence and the Hypocrites will play a warm-up gig at The Green Room in Perth on December 29.
Stars including Rag ‘N’ Bone Man and The Human League will perform on Hogmanay.