New Year's Eve: Love is in the Air

Miranda Wilford is a leading West End performer, known for her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. A published songwriter with Sony, Miranda has appeared in major roles both in London and internationally. Her credits include Lead Singer in Thriller Live!, Sheila in Hair (also serving as Resident Director), Mrs Walker in The Who’s Tommy, Rizzo in Grease, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Doris Day in the world premiere of Ol’ Blue Eyes. She has also recently played Marion in Priscilla Queen of the Desert alongside Joe McFadden.

Miranda is also in demand behind the scenes as a Resident Director and Choreographer. As a vocalist, she performs with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Spice Fusion and the London Movie Orchestra. A firm favourite at The Bridgewater Hall, she has hosted the venue’s New Year’s Eve celebrations for several years.

Damien Edwards is a versatile singer, songwriter and performer from Bristol, acclaimed for his powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence.  He is a regular at The Bridgewater Hall’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and audiences will look forward to hearing his incredible vocals live once more. He has appeared in leading roles across UK tours and West End productions, including Parson Nathaniel in The War of the Worlds, Captain Walker in Tommy, Roy Orbison in Three Steps to Heaven and The Roy Orbison Story, Richie Valens in Heaven Can’t Wait, and Mature Elvis in Elvis The Musical. Damien has also featured in Remembering the Movies, Supersonic: The 70s, Sensation, Notes From New York and Rock and Roll Heaven, among many others.

Andrea Grant is one of the lead vocalists for the hit television show, Strictly Come Dancing, showcasing her precision singing and stellar vocals live every week in front of millions of viewers. Andrea has also performed on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour from the very beginning: seventeen tours in total. After graduating from The BRIT School, Andrea secured two recording contracts with Deconstruction BMG and Warner Records. Andrea was headhunted to be one of the six backing vocalists on the Robbie Williams: Close Encounters world tour. Other artists Andrea has worked with include James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, Cliff Richard, Donny Osmond, Shirley Bassey, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse and Queen.

James Emmanuel’s journey into music began with a gentle nudge from his father, a preacher in Nigeria, who noticed his son could use some grounding amid the challenges of youth. James joined the church gospel choir, where he discovered his love for singing. Edinburgh is where James found a true musical home. His warm, soulful performances have become a mainstay at The Jazz Bar, and his gratitude for Edinburgh’s embrace shines in his track, Nothing But Love For This City. Inspired by the challenges he’s overcome and his sense of peace and belonging, James released Lonesome Man, a heartfelt debut that resonated far and wide, reaching US radio waves and a wider audience. James made his BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall in August 2025, performing alongside Beverley Knight and the BBC Concert Orchestra.