Hogman-eh! 2023 Director’s Reflections

By Donald Macdonald

Photo Credit: Graham Bond

I was privileged to manage Hogman-eh! 2023 and had lots of fun doing so.  Old friends from the Scottish Society of Ottawa and new friends getting to know the SSO got to work together on the finest and perhaps largest New Year’s Eve party in Ottawa… one that delighted over 1500 guests.  

The music got rolling in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park in the early evening of December 31, straight through to 1 AM on January 1, 2024.  (Did we mention that this is the largest Hogmanay celebration outside of Scotland?!)

Given it was our 12th year and second in-person Hogman-eh! since Covid, we wanted to highlight the great musical talent of our region, with some sparkling performers - old and new.  We welcomed 54 wonderful artists.

Anna Ludlow, the fiddling sensation from Antigonish N.S. who is now in Ottawa, and who is an acclaimed veteran of musicals and concert circuits, was back at Hogman-eh! after seven years with her band.  Anna was by joined fellow “Down East” fiddler Alexis MacIsaac and keyboardist/piper Calum MacKenzie for one of the most dynamic performances of the evening. Backed up by Graham Lindsay on drums and John Mitchel on keyboard, it was riveting.  

Mac & Mac backed up the smooth baritone voice of John Young who got the evening going with songs of Robbie Burns.

The Brigadoons, a veteran five-member Celtic folk group from Glengarry, popular throughout the Valley for decades, made their much-overdue appearance to the delight of the hordes of spectators in attendance.

Ally the Piper from Schenectady New York, is a sensational premier bagpiper and lovely singer and flutist who started her first Canadian tour on our stage with us. She engaged with an enthusiastic audience, some coming from miles (or kilometers!) to see this internet sensation in person.

Our old friends the Mudmen, a six-man band led by Sandy and Robbie Campbell from London Ontario, are famous for knowing practically everybody famous in Canada. They celebrated their 25th anniversary working together in 2023, and rang in the new year with a beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne, closing the show an hour later with their famous “Bagpipe Rock”.

In a stunning moment, Auld Lang Syne was picked up by the entire band of the RCMP Pipes and Drums after all those present held hands at midnight to sing the well-loved song about friendship and kindness.  Also celebrating their anniversary (150th) in their brilliant red serge uniforms, the RCMP pipers and drummers were joined by the beautiful RCMP dancers in two powerful concerts that evening, which capped a great year after they visited Brussels and Switzerland.

Well before their bedtime, the kids and parents got to see and dance to RCMP music during their earlier shows and rang in “New Year’s in Scotland” at 7 pm, which of course included the famous and much anticipated Balloon Drop.  The youngsters were also entertained in the Kid’s Zone with dance demonstrations by the Ottawa Highland Dance Association, a chance to see drums and bagpipes up close, and the opportunity to meet some real Mounties!

The Hall of Origins program opened earlier in the day with clan and genealogical information available to the public with exhibitors from many Celtic cultural arts and dance communities in the Ottawa region.  All who were present in the Horticulture Building enjoyed the lively traditional music of the Mullingar “Kitchen Party” Session while visiting the exhibits.  We were even treated to an “Immortal Memory” of Robbie Burns, recited by the Rev. Roger (Sandy) Scott accompanied by the singing of John Young.

Delicious food (Dhruvees, Falafel Guy, Mr. Churittos, Yummie Cookies) and the Scottish Innis and Gunn beer along with an embarrassment of whiskies (served by Thirst Responders) accompanied us throughout the long and exciting evening.

We owe much to our sponsors who supported us financially (or with treats such as Walker’s shortbread and Irn Bru donations, among others) and of course, we appreciate the 70 volunteers behind the planning and running of this event who are too many to list.  A huge thank you to all of you!

The Scottish Society of Ottawa is a dynamic group of volunteers dedicated to promoting the best of Scottish-Canadian Culture in our area and across the country.   Come out for our Burns Dinner and Kilt Skate or Kilt n’ Curl coming up soon.  

Join the SSO and get involved in planning Hogman-eh! 2024.  You’ll have a blast!

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