Raye
New Year's Eves ain't what they used to be round here. When the kids were little, we would invite other families round to see in the new year and we kept the children up late before linking arms and singing "Auld Lang's Syne". Fun times, laughter and togetherness. Generations moving on as our old calendars were thrown away. Ringing in the new. And before that there were nights in pubs or special New Year events involving music - at Hull City Hall , Sheffield City Hall and the like. As one millennium turned into another (1999/2000) the entire centre of Sheffield became a party venue for which you had to have tickets. But this New Year, Shirley went up to bed at eleven as I stayed up watching Jools Holland's annual "Hootenanny" on BBC 2. It has has become a New Year televisual tradition in this kingdom on the edge of Europe. As 2023 linked arms with 2024, Jools showcased three young British artistes - all female. They were Joss Stone, Olivia De...