We believe Rock4Life will be the biggest open air concert to be staged in the region.

BBC: Status Quo to headline festival

He will also head south to Dublin to join The Divine Comedy at an open air concert outside Government Building.

BBC: Pop stars prepare to party

About 80, 000 revellers are expected to descend on Edinburgh city centre for an open-air concert, ceilidh and street party.

BBC: Edinburgh's Hogmanay 'will not be dampened down'

About 100 events are planned including a concert to open the Ryder Cup and a flotilla to celebrate the Forth Road Bridge's 50th anniversary.

BBC: Homecoming 2014

The year will open with a Sons and Daughters concert on 20 January 2013 in a new, purpose-built venue in Ebrington Square.

BBC: Derry-Londonderry starts UK City of Culture year

This could open up more possibilities, from concert ticket-buying apps based on a musician in an image, to a TripAdvisor-like travel review or Orbitz-like travel-booking app that pops up data related to the travel destination in the image.

FORBES: With $10.7M More, Luminate Launches App Store For Images

Performance programme director Ros Rigby said opting for an open weekend programme rather than a gala concert would allow around 15, 000 people to take part in a range of activities.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Tyne/Wear | 'Stunning' Sage gets opening date

Also planned are the redesign and creation of many public spaces as well as a number of buildings currently in development, like the Maison des Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, and the concert hall for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, scheduled to open in September.

BBC: The Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal's Broadway

Due to open in 2001, the first phase will house a 1, 800-seat concert hall and a 2, 000-seat theater.

CNN: GAINING CULTURAL CAPITAL