Hogmanay, or Scottish New Year’s Eve, has been celebrated since pagan times. Each year in Ottawa, the Scottish Society of Ottawa (SSO), offers up our own “Hogman-eh”.  You don’t need to be Scottish to participate - just have fun and enjoy a good time!

For families and people of all ages and backgrounds! - Celebrate the close of the year with great music, dance, friendly people, and food and drink. It’s the best value in town for a toe-tappin’ get-together that’s lively and safe.

New Location!

We’re at a new location this year—the Infinity Centre. One of Ottawa’s newest meeting spaces, it is elegant and spacious and has a large welcoming foyer. This move was necessary, as the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park (our home for the past few years) was unavailable.

Cheers! Bon Appetit!

Of course, no party can be without good food and drinks. Guests have the option of purchasing a food voucher at the door for $25 which will include a tasty main and salad, dessert, and tea or coffee to be prepared on-site by Dhruvees restaurant, whose Asian-style food is familiar to previous Hogman-eh attendees.

Brandy ‘N’ Port, based in Ottawa Ontario Canada, has been a mainstay in the Eastern Ontario Celtic music scene for several years now. Staying true to their Celtic roots since they formed in 1987, their longevity and success, with many performances at pubs, festivals, Highland Games and private events in both Canada and the USA can be attributed to consistently providing energetic and quality performances year after year. 

Brandy ‘N’ Port’s versatile, original & uplifting arrangements as well as adding wonderful dynamics to their beautiful ballads ensures several annual repeat bookings year after year. 

Brandy ‘N’ Port is a four member band made up of the following members:

• Alec Long from Derry Ireland on Drums & vocals. 

• Danny Byrne from Ottawa, Ontario on Guitar, Banjo & vocals. 

• Seamus Costello from Galway Ireland & 3 time All Ireland Accordion Champion on Keyboard, Accordion & vocals. 

• Bill Zulak from Winnipeg Manitoba on Fiddle & vocals. 

"FESTIVAL FAVORITES THAT GIVE FANS ELECTRICALLY CHARGED CELTIC MUSIC AT ITS FINEST!" -- NYS MUSIC

FROM SCOTLAND TO JAPAN, ITALY TO CUBA, SPAIN TO GUAM TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AND ACROSS NORTH AMERICA THIS ELECTRIFYING GROUP IS EMBRACING CELTIC, ROCK, WORLD MUSIC, AND MORE WITH DARING, SKILL, AND A WEE BIT O' CHEEK.  The original DEVIL'S BRIGADE, formally known as the First Special Service Force, was a highly decorated WWII commando unit comprised of Canadians and Americans. Their legendary heroism struck fear into the hearts of Nazis and their legacy can be traced directly to the Canadian Special Operations Regiment and Green Berets.  This band has long supported Veterans and by becoming THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE it seeks to not only honour those who serve but also reflect their Canadian/American identity.

John will open Hogmanay 2024 by singing songs based on the poetry of Robert Burns. John will sing well-known  favourites like My Love is Like A Red, Red  Rose, Scots Wha Hae and Auld Lang Syne and has the pleasure of being accompanied by Dr. James Wright who is an amazing pianist as well as professor at Carleton University. 

John Young is a gifted and passionate singer who moves easily between his baritone and tenor range. His voice is just as warm and inviting as it is strong and deep.

 He is a staple performer of Handel’s Messiah at the National Arts Centre with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa and has graced the stage as a soloist with The Big Soul Project Community Choir.  His musical theatre credits include a decade of playing Saint John in the Easter play “Love According to John” in Edmonton, performances with Sock N Buskin at Carleton, the Savoy Society, and Orpheus Musical Theatre Society. Scottish folk music credits now include three appearances at the Glengarry Highland Games, Hogmanay 2023, and supporting an Immortal Memory on the Art and Music of Robert Burns at St. Andrews’ Presbyterian Church in 2022.

Ernie Fraser is a professional fiddler and guitarist from Cape Breton Island. He began his musical career as a guitarist specializing in Blues, R&B and Jazz. Later, he developed a keen interest in fiddling, introduced to him by his famous grandfather, Little Simon Fraser from Meat Cove, Cape Breton. 

Ernie was a top ten finalist for the 2021 Canadian Grand Masters’ Fiddling Competition. He was heavily involved with the administration of the Ottawa Traditional Fiddling and Folk Art Society (OTFFAS) for many years. Ernie’s ability to focus very well on the Cape Breton style of fiddling has allowed him to become a sought after performer to play for local Cape Breton dances, typically hosted by the Cape Breton Club of Ottawa and Watson’s Mill in Manotick. His debut CD (2017) entitled Cape Breton Tributes is distributed by a number of organizations.