Paolo Nutini's Hogmanay party

Paolo Nutini plays Radio 1's Big Weekend in Dundee in May 2006

Paisley singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini says he can't wait to play two Hogmanay gigs on the same day this New Year's Eve.

The New Shoes singer is opening the celebrations in Edinburgh before getting a police escort to Glasgow, where he's on stage before midnight.

He said: "Wherever anybody is in New Year, they're usually having a party."

The 21-year-old's also preparing to release the follow up to his debut album, These Streets.

Hogmanay

Paolo Nutini is playing Edinburgh's new Concert in the Gardens event along with Groove Armada and Friendly Fires.

The singer/songwriter kicks off the party at 9pm before getting in a car and being driven to Glasgow.

I've got one track especially, Pencil Full Of Lead, that I really want to play Paolo Nutini on playing tracks off his second album, out in 2009

He'll then headline the city's Hogmanay party in George Square and play through "the bells".

"It's good to be part of a street party," he said.

"It's better if you're on first. It's like the festival shows. It's where we've usually been on the bill.

"You're like the stepping stone on the way to the culmination of somebody's night."

And Paolo says he loves New Year because it gives everyone the chance to start again, regardless of what type of year they've had.

He said: "I just like the mood that it gets everybody in.

"Everybody seems to hear New Year and it opens everybody up.

"Maybe if the year wasn't so great for the person it gives them a bit of hope that the next one's going to be better and people celebrate that."

New material

Paolo's been playing songs from his second album at festivals around the UK this year.

"I've got one track especially, Pencil Full Of Lead, that I really want to play because I think that'll get everybody moving, everybody partying," he said.

The musician's been producing the record himself and has worked in studios in England, Wales and Ireland and say he hopes it'll be out soon.

"It's getting mixed just now. I'm in the process of trying to fight against the changes that certain people want to make to it," he added.

"I'm just trying to stick to my guns. Even that in itself is a bit of a challenge.

"I just want to get it out as soon as possible. I like the songs and I like the way they're put across."