First airing in 1993, Jules Holland’s Hootenanny has become a staple of British New Year’s Eve celebrations. The program is hosted by the renowned pianist, bandleader, and broadcaster, Jools Holland. It blends a lively party atmosphere with outstanding live music spanning a diverse array of genres such as pop, rock, jazz, soul, blues, and folk. 

At the heart of the show is Holland’s own Rhythm & Blues Orchestra who perform alongside a mix of both legendary and emerging artists. Interspersed with the musical performances are celebrity interviews, short comedy sketches, and traditional elements like the rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the countdown to the new year.

Over the years, the Hootenanny has hosted music royalty such as Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Prince. While pre-recorded weeks in advance, the show is presented as a live event and delivers an authentic celebratory vibe to welcome in the New Year.  

The hootenanny is coming!! Find out who’s set to feature on @JoolsOfficial‘s annual New Years celebration to ring in 2025 https://t.co/eGNTxp44Jg

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) December 30, 2024

This year, The Boomtown Rats are among the many acts performing on the show. Known for their high-energy performances and socially conscious lyrics, the iconic Irish band rose to fame during the late 1970s and 1980s. Their hits like ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ and ‘Rat Trap’ place them among the new wave movement that blended punk rock with pop influences. After reuniting in 2013, they’ve continued to release new music and captivate audiences. 

Another Irish act to take the stage on New Years Eve in CMAT, or Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson. Blending country, pop, and indie influences the Irish singer-songwriter is known for her quirky, confessional songwriting style and theatrical performances. Her debut album, ‘If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead’, released in 2022, features standout tracks like ‘I Don’t Really Care for You’ and ‘Every Bottle (Is My Boyfriend)’ which fans can hope to hear this New Years Eve. 

Formerly a member of one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, Little Mix, JADE has embarked on a promising solo career. Little Mix achieved immense success with six studio albums and numerous chart-topping singles before their hiatus in 2022. Jade has since released three solo songs in 2024 – ‘Fantasy’, ‘Midnight Cowboy’, and ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ – and hints at new music to be released next year.

The British modern soul and funk collective, Jungle, will also join Jools Holland on stage. Founded by Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland in 2013, Jungle is known for their infectious grooves and genre-defying sound. Their music is characterised by funky basslines, soaring falsettos, and danceable rhythms and has revitalised funk and soul for a new generation. The band were even nominated at the 2014 Mercury Awards for their self-titled debut album ‘Jungle’.

Other performers include Death South, Kathy Sledge, Ruby Turner, and Toby Lee, who will join Holland in the count down to 2025.

Join us New Year’s Eve for Jools’ Annual Hootenanny with this incredible line-up! The Boomtown Rats@cmatbaby@TheDeadSouth4@jadethirlwall@jungle4eva@KathySledge@MarcAlmond@PCarrack Roger Taylor@rubyturnersoul@tobyleeguitar NYE, 11:30pm on @BBCTwo & @BBCiPlayer pic.twitter.com/HNQWhOS9EC — Later…with Jools Holland on BBC Two (@BBCLater) December 27, 2024

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny continues to be synonymous with New Year’s Eve in the UK, offering a musical alternative to conventional countdowns. With its blend of timeless traditions, star-studded performances, and comedic moments, it remains a joyous way to welcome the new year. 

Tomorrow, it will be available to watch on BBC Two, and festivities will continue until 1:30am New Years Day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)

While Stewart made it clear this wasn’t the end of his live performances, the shift marks a significant change in the scale and style of his touring. He plans to focus on performing songs from The Great American Songbook series, and Swing Fever, an album he recorded with Jools Holland, in smaller venues starting in 2026.  

“Smaller venues and more intimacy,” he explained. However, Stewart left fans guessing, adding with characteristic cheek, “But then again, I may not [stop touring]…”  

Although he hasn’t explicitly detailed his reasons, Stewart hinted at age playing a role in his decision. In a recent interview with The Sun, he admitted, “I am more aware of my health now than before. You should be when you’re getting on.”  

In the summer, the singer cancelled three dates at his Las Vegas residency after contracting COVID-19, with one show cancelled only a few hours before he was set to take to the stage.

Stewart has spent decades on the road, beginning his touring career in the late 1960s as a member of the Jeff Beck Group. His first major solo tour came in 1977, where he performed 51 dates across North America, 10 in Australia and New Zealand, and 6 in the UK.  

Source: Setlist.fm

Fans have been overwhelmingly positive about the announcement, celebrating Stewart’s commitment to performing despite stepping back from arenas.   

Thanks for the memories Rod – all the way from the Glasgow Apollo in 1974 onwards . Looking forward to whatever comes next — Margaret Gray (@Stoneygray1) November 20, 2024

Stewart’s decision aligns with a trend among veteran musicians seeking more personal and stripped-back performances. Jonathan Richman famously transitioned to intimate acoustic shows to protect his hearing, and others, such as Sting and Noel Gallagher, have performed at smaller venues like Halifax’s Piece Hall, a historic location not traditionally associated with headline-worthy acts.

For now, Stewart has a busy schedule through 2025, with two American tours and a European tour culminating in his last large-scale show on August 15 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St Louis. Beyond that, fans will still be hoping for setlists filled with iconic hits like ‘Maggie May’, ‘Young Turks’, and ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’, even if they are more streamlined.

Rod Stewart’s move away from arena tours marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter for him. His pivot to smaller venues promises a more intimate way to experience his timeless hits, and at 79, Rod the Mod is proving he’s still as energetic and unpredictable as ever. 

Yesterday we launched our new community radio station – Sister Midnight FM!

We’ve been working on this behind the scenes for a while, and we can’t wait to see how it shapes up with the input of our community!

Tune in at https://t.co/IL5517DMYb pic.twitter.com/65M0UC8nzP

— Sister Midnight (@sistermidnightt) August 4, 2023

The radio station officially launched last week and is an effort to build up the music community in the area. The announcement comes after further attempts to put music venues back into the hands of fans and away from private landlords that often are accused of raising prices thereby locking ordinary members of the community out.

Sister Midnight music venue has been the culmination of two years of campaigning for a community owned music base that finally found a home in Catford Town Centre. Owned by Lewisham Council, the building in question represented a serious investment for refurbishment to bring the premises up to standard for its intended use.

Sister Midnight was able to secure a ten year lease that will see the company not having to pay any rent to the council as long as they can front the money to renovate the abandoned building. Once completed, the collective have space for a 300 capacity live room, a private yard and studio space on the upper floors.

The collective boasts that the sky is the limit for the venue and have plans to feature high quality local talent. The project has gained support from notable personalities throughout the UK, including Goat Girl, Porridge Radio and Jools Holland who has even agreed to become a shareholder of the venue. As of August 2023, the building’s construction is set to get underway but Sister Midnight have gone ahead with their radio station which has thus far featured music segments from DJ Gilla, Laani and Shovel Dance Collective. The station will also host local community shows.

Listen back to my JAZZ RE:FEST 2023 Special on brand new @sistermidnightt community radio ‘LAANI on SMFM’ by Sister Midnight FM is on #SoundCloud https://t.co/c6hTC8cNSe — LAANI (@alanna_henry) August 7, 2023

Sister Midnight’s Lenny Watson, while discussing the station and its input into the local scene said, “Sister Midnight FM opens up a whole new world of possibilities for engaging and growing the Sister Midnight community-both in the present while we’re still working on opening our new music venue, and in the future once we’re up and running. We’re so excited to see how the station grows and to have a way for local people to get creatively involved with our work!”

“We’re so excited to see how the station grows and to have a way for local people to get creatively involved with our work…” – @sistermidnightthttps://t.co/CLMQyMo1bW

— DMY (@dmymag) August 3, 2023

Grassroots music gig spaces have been under threat and calls for government action have been urgently voiced in recent years. Many commentators fear that local musicians and artists will lack the means to form a viable career and the UK will lose out on numerous talent acquisition in future. The collective in Lewisham represent one, of what many will hope will be many, local organisations that will invest in music scenes for the community.

Later…With Jools Holland first aired on 8th October 1992 and was initially intended to be a spin-off from the BBC 2 arts programme The Late Show, which in turn found popularity after the cancellation of The Old Grey Whistle Test. With over 60 series and over 450 episodes, Later…With Jools Holland is considered an institution within music and British culture. The programme soon became a favourite among die-hard music fans due to its variety of guests and ability to bring up-and-coming acts to the living rooms of the British public.

Many popular artists owe their blossoming careers to their UK television debuts courtesy of Later…With Jools Holland, the long list includes Amy Winehouse, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Kings of Leon, Kanye West, Metallica, Mary J Blige, Norah Jones, Taylor Swift, Stormzy and The Weeknd, plus numerous others. Please see below for a couple of Live…With Jools Holland‘s most iconic performances.

Speaking on the show’s upcoming anniversary, former Squeeze band member Holland has given the following statement, “It’s unbelievable that this year sees my show reach its thirtieth birthday. It’s a testament to the great power of music that we are still going strong , and are now the longest running international music show on earth . I’m delighted and honoured that we’re going to celebrate this monumental milestone with a special one-off event in the fabulous Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith the scene of so many legendary musical moments.”

Executive Producer Alison Howe has also given a statement,  “Later…reaching its 30th birthday is testament to Jools, all the incredible musicians who have supported us and our crew whose love and commitment of showcasing live music for the audience is unmatched. With our upcoming series, this special show and our 30th Annual Hootenanny, it’s going to be an incredible three months of live music.”

Director of Music, BBC Lorna Clarke states, “The BBC’s commitment to live music remains strong and in a year which has seen the return of live music performance, I’m hugely proud that after 30 incredible years, Later…with Jools Holland is still busy unearthing the superstars of tomorrow as well as featuring some of the world’s best-loved musicians, all to entertain the music-loving BBC viewers at home.”

A new series of the regular format of Later…With Jools Holland is also set to kick off this autumn, series 61 will be aired on 1st October 2022. The upcoming series will be available to watch on BBC Two and digitally via BBC iPlayer. Scheduled to appear with Holland are an array of guests from various eras and genres, confirmed to appear include Self Esteem, The 1975, Victoria Canal, Loyle Carner, Ural Thomas, Marcus Mumford, Burna Boy, The Big Moon, Phoenix and PVA.

Tickets for Later…With Jools Holland at 30 went on sale Friday 23rd September 2022 and can be purchased via this link.

The duo were accompanied by both horn and woodwind sections, alongside Holland on the piano. Their arrangement builds slowly, with Sheeran gently strumming away alongside a tenderly played piano line by Holland, singing the familiar opening lines: “On Raglan Road on an autumn day I saw her first and knew, that her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue”.  Gradually, the sound of the backing band creeps in, introducing a longing Gaelic melody as Crookes begins to sing: “On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge, of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion’s pledge”.

Around the two-minute mark, the song begins to take flight, with the rest of the backing band joining in. Crookes and Sheeran hum along, giving the spotlight to the jubilant melody played by the band, before rounding out the song with the final verse.

In other news regarding Ed Sheeran, the singer-songwriter had a very busy 2021, releasing his fifth studio album = on the 29^th of October, with the album having now spent two weeks total at the number one spot within the UK album charts. You can read more about this here. Moreover, Sheeran collaborated with legendary British singer-songwriter Elton John on a Christmas tune entitled “Merry Christmas”.

Joy Crookes has also had a big year, releasing her first album Skin on the 15^th of October following some successful singles, such as “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” which served as the lead single from the record, title track “Skin”, “When You Were Mine” and “Trouble”.

The singer-songwriter’s debut was praised highly, with NME saying in a four-star review of the album: “ ‘Skin’ rises from the most intimate pockets of Crookes’s life: the emotional turmoil around growing up, heartbreak, forgiveness, and relationships that don’t offer the sanctuary they promise. But here, she allows herself to revel in her own possibility of healing, singing directly about her past and who she wants to become, letting her formidable voice guide the way: cool, curious, full of momentum.”

Skin is available via all streaming services, and physical copies of the album can be purchased here.

The Scottish singer took to her social media channels to post a statement outlining the reasons for the termination of the tour.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KT Tunstall (@kttunstall)

In the statement the ‘Suddenly I See’ singer related her fears to a previous incident involving hearing loss during her 2018 tour whilst thanking her fans for their continued support. Within the statement the singer also announces her unfortunate withdrawal from her US tour dates with Hall and Oats, the rescheduled tour saw the singer recruited to support legendary pop duo. The outfit responsible for such hits as ‘Maneater’ and ‘I Can’t Go for That |(No Can Do)’ will still be hitting this road this summer under the name Daryl Hall + John Oates, joined by with special guests Squeeze.

Tunstall has stated that she previously experienced hearing issues a decade prior, the artist’s left ear incurred high-frequency issues. Tunstall has stated that she then developed tinnitus, a hearing-loss condition, that includes symptoms such as ringing, roaring and humming sounds in the ears. The condition is said to affect 15-20% of people, the issue has also been described as a permanent ailment among people diagnosed.

Earlier in the year, the singer addressed her fears on the threat of hearing loss, the singer attributed her concerns to her underuse of ear protection whilst listening to loud music. The 46-year-old singer provided the following description of her relationship with live music and her subsequent issues with tinnitus. “I’d never been particularly careful about my hearing over the years, especially as a clubber through my 20s and cranking the volume up on bad monitors at my early gigs, The kicker is, I still have the tinnitus, even in a deaf ear, I’ve adapted really well and can still perform and record, but if I could do it all again, I would definitely make sure I was going for regular hearing checks from a young age.”

KT Tunstall first rose to fan with the release of her 2005 single, ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’. The track landed at number 28 within the UK singles charts and was the lead single from the singer’s debut studio album, ‘Eye to the Telescope’ released in 2004, the album was later re-released under Relentless Records in 2005. The track was performed live in 2004 on the popular TV show, ‘Later… with Jools Holland’, the solo performance garnered public attention for the singer and showcased the artist’s original talents. Tunstall was soon winning awards and being nominated for various accolades, such nominations include the 2005 Mercury Prize and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 2007.

Tunstall has also been nominated for various awards at the Brit award ceremonies, in 2006 the singer was nominated for the categories Best British Live Acts and BRIT Award for Best Breakthrough Act. Tunstall would go on to win multiple Brit Awards in 2006 for two categories, Best British Female Artist and the European Border Breakers Award. The multitalented singer has also worked within the film industry, Tunstall has written soundtracks for a variety of films. She has penned the score and music for such films as ‘The Kid’, the Disney sports biographical drama ‘Million Dollar Arm’ and ‘Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast’. Tunstall also wrote two pieces of music for the Blockbuster film ‘Bad Moms’, entitled ‘Band Moms (Suite)‘ and ‘Enough Is Enough (Suite)’.

Exposure to loud music is an issue in which the World Health Organisation wish to address and have provided guidance regarding prevention and care. Such precautions suggested include carefully controlled settings of volume levels on phones and other mobile devices and noise-cancelling headphones. The World Health Organisation has also suggested safety measures for live music such as wearable ear protection.

They were joined on the line up by; Michael Kiwanuka, Roisin Murphy, Rick Wakeman, Ruby Turner, Chris Difford, and the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Batallion Scots Guards. There was also archive footage shown of iconic performances from previous years.

LOVE IS BACK IS OUT NOW Performing it tonight on Jools Holland’s New Years Eve Hootenanny 23.15 @BBCTwo https://t.co/gSyqYMPumQ pic.twitter.com/cs81e5CCb6

— Celeste (@celeste) December 31, 2020

Celeste also debuted her newest single Love is Back on the show. The new song is about finding new love after loss. The hopeful sentiment is the ideal song to kick off 2021. This song is a single off the newly announced debut album Not Your Muse, which is set to be release in February 2021.

Sir Tom Jones also performed Whispering Grass with Jools on the piano. He also revealed that he will have a new album out this year, saying; “I recorded an album just before the lockdown, at the beginning of the year. During lockdown, we’ve been mixing it and putting it together.” He added; “That’s what I’ll be looking forward to.”

He then went on to tell Jools that he has already received the COVID-19 vaccine saying; “That’s one good thing about being 80, you’re first in line for the jab.” Sir Tom Jones joins other stars such as Sir Ian McKellen, Prue Leith, Michael Eavis, Lionel Blair and Marty Wilde who are sharing their experiences of getting the vaccine in order to encourage other people to get it.

‘It was fine. It was like getting the flu jab.’

Great to hear @RealSirTomJones talking about getting the #CovidVaccine on Jools’ Annual Hootenanny last night.

Thank you and Happy New Year to #OurNHSPeople who continue to work so hard rolling out the vaccine. pic.twitter.com/lcI2WJEzdl

— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) January 1, 2021

You can watch Celeste and Sir Tom Jones’ performance of Blue Moon down below; the full show is available of the BBC iPlayer.